3.10.2011

Afterlife Perspectives

Recently, two dramas have been playing out in front of the national media that involed spiritual/faith subjects. First, a congressional committee this week started holding hearings examining radicalization within Islam. Despite wide support, the hearings have wide support as a large majority of Americans are concerned about radical Islam and want Congress to look into the issue. This type of hearing is unprecedented. The hearing specifically is targeting a particular faith and examining the extremes of that one faith.

One of the major concerns people have is the motivations of radical Muslims. It has been well documented that some suicide bombers are hoping to receive a reward of 72 virgins in the afterlife. In all actuality, most Muslims find this story to be a silly exaggeration that is necessary. Additional descriptions of these Virgins seem to reinforce the silliness of the notion - they are ninety-feet tall, transparent, they never urinate or menstruate, etc.

But, even as political leaders examine these radical ideas, many Christians are pausing to consider some the stranger elements of their afterlife beliefs. For instance, a Grand Rapids pastor is receiving a lot of (mostly negative) attention because of an upcoming book which re-examines some evangelical beliefs.

Where does your ideas about the afterlife come from?

Join us Thursday night, 7pm, at Short's Brewing for a conversation about faith and the afterlife.

3.03.2011

Refusing To Lead

Are there certain people that are more gifted when it comes to spirituality? If there are truly these type of people in our society are they owed more than other people? What does it mean to be a spiritual leader in our society? What sort of qualifications should be required of these leaders?

Below is a video from Irish philosopher and theologian, Peter Rollins. He provocatively questions how we think about leadership within the Christian realm and claims that a true Christian leader is more of an anti-leader. What do you think?




Join us this Thursday for a discussion about clergy (or lack thereof). We meet every Thursday at Short's Brewing in beautiful downtown Bellaire.

unTapped

In order to live man must believe in that for which he lives.
- Huston Smith
unTapped is a conversation about faith and spirituality. There are many people frustrated by being forced to think of faith in the same old patterns, and would prefer to explore spirituality in different ways.

Anything goes here. No matter where you are or who you are, we want to hear from you. Feel free to join in the conversation!

You can also join us in person, every Thursday night at Short's Brewing Company in Downtown Bellaire, MI.
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