Bellaire unTapped

What's in a name?

2012-02-07T11:33:00.002-05:00

What does your name mean? Do you draw your identity from what your name is, where you work, or what your ethnicity is? What makes us who we are?

Recently, Christopher Paolini released the final book of his Inheritance Cycle. The books chronicle the adventures of a boy who is chosen to be a Dragon Rider. The story essentially serves as a homage to classic fantasy themes. One of the themes that the author explores in his final installment is the oft-used notion of true names.

In fantasy literature, the true name of an object or a person gives the wielder of that knowledge absolute power over the object of the name. A true name is not o much a name as it is an accurate description of something's truest nature. In the fantasy genre, finding one's true name can be a lifelong quest. True names are illusive and represent the greatest challenge for a hero to overcome.

While the notion of true names may make for compelling reading in adventure stories, but we live far outside the realm of fantasy fiction. So, how do we corral our true meaning, our identities? Is the secret to knowing who we really are stuck deep inside of us somewhere, just waiting to be discovered? Or is the secret to our identity right there in our name? What did our parents expect from us when they gave us the title that we will forever carry with us?

Join us at Short's Brewing Company for a conversation about meaning and identity.

nosce te ipsum

Improvement Plan

2012-02-01T08:13:00.000-05:00

What is one thing that you can do to make your life better?

Join us this Wednesday, 7pm at Short's for a conversation about self-improvement.

The Conquered Dilemma

2012-01-24T16:57:00.000-05:00

A hypothetical dilemma...

The City held out as long as it could. The citizens endured unspeakable privations and pushed themselves to startling extremes. Yet, in the end, the beleaguered City fell to the pressure of the conqueror.

After the surrender, the great conquering general led a procession of fierce and victorious soldiers through the city directly to the now-vacant throne. One of the general's first supplicants was the City's high priest. The priest had come to beg that the City's temple be spared, so the rituals and customs might continue uninterrupted under the new regime.

'Tell me of your religion, priest.' ordered the general.

So, the priest told the conqueror about the faith of the City. He spoke about the importance of prayer, worship, and the great teachings of their holy scriptures. The priest described the hope people found in their faith, and he extolled the benefits the faith brought to the people and the City.

The general pondered the priest's request for several long minutes.

'I have no use for religion, oh priest. I believe in the law and order,' the general finally responded. 'But, I am no monster.'

'Of course not, General' agreed the priest.

'Though I care for the plight of your people,' said the General, 'I cannot ignore the fact that your religion sustained the rebellion for too long. Only a fool would ignore a smoldering fire.'

'Can we not have both at once, my Lord.'

'No.' Then, the general offered a proposal to the priest. 'You must consider, priest, whether your religion is more concerned with the good of your people or with the worship of your god. Now, you must choose. If you choose to relinquish your religion, I will use my Empire's vast resources and guarantee that the hungry will be fed, the naked will be clothed, and justice for all will wash over the City. However, if you choose to retain your religion, I will enslave every citizen to the service of the Empire. You can have your religion, but you will worship as oppressed slaves that survive on the crumbs and scraps of the imperial table. Many of the City's children will starve and the people will constantly know the constant feel of my boot on their throat.'

The priest considered his options, staring at the ground between his feet.

'What say you, priest?' demanded the General,

The priest wet his lips, looked up, and staring directly into the conquerors eyes he expressed his decision.

________________________________________

How did the priest answer? How would you answer? What is or should be a religion's central concern? The social good? Religious tradition? Theology?

Join us this Wednesday at Short's Brewing Company, 7pm. We will discuss the religious dilemma.

Matchmaker God

2012-01-18T14:46:00.001-05:00

Internet dating has blown up the past several years and is now one of the most popular ways to find a date (and possibly a mate). Among the websites that offer to help in the matchmaking process are religious themed sites like Christian Mingle (http://www.christianmingle.com/) that advertises as a means of finding 'God's match for you.'

You can read more about matchmaking and faith on CNN's Belief Blog here.

Tonight, we're going to explore this topic. Is there such a thing as a soul mate? Does God have a perfect match for you? How exactly would a person determine the soul mate status of a potential partner?

Love, dating, and faith - all this week at unTapped.

See you at 7pm at Short's Brewing Company in downtown Bellaire, MI.

Time Machine

2012-01-10T10:48:00.003-05:00

It has been a favorite subject for hundreds of years among wacky fiction writers and equally wacky philosophers - time travel. Nobody is sure how to time travel, but most cosmologists are sure that it is possible.

Einstein figured out how to travel forward in time - go really fast. But, going backwards is a different ballgame all together. The late Carl Sagan explained some of the issues in a PBS interview. From reading Sagan's interview, it is easy to see that time travel has all sorts of boring philosophical and scientific issues connected to it and it is nowhere near as fun as the fictional versions we are accustomed to. In books like H.G. Wells' Time Machine, Michael Crichton's Timeline, or even Sagan's own Contact, the characters all have to navigate difficult scientific terrain, but it all comes together in an entertaining way. Sometimes, fictional time machines create humorous ethical dilemmas. In the film Back to the Future Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) accidentally attracts the romantic intentions of his own mother (yikes).

Whether or not time travel will be possible one day is a fun conversation, but generally irrelevant to most of our daily lives. The notion of time travel does bring up a personal challenge: if you could travel backwards in time, what is one thing that you would change? Why would you change that particular incident? If you indeed did change the incident how would that affect your present self? Would you be a better or worse person?

This also conjures a spiritual challenge for us to consider: was that one event supposed to occur as it occurred and when it occurred? Is our time line set in stone by God or the universe? When we wish to change the past are we wishing to change something that was placed in our lives intentionally and for a purpose?

Join us this Wednesday at Short's Brewing Company as we play time machine! We'll grab a pint and climb into our Delorean. Wheels up at 7pm!

Perfect Children?

2012-01-03T14:01:00.005-05:00

With the advances in technology that has happened over the last 20, 10, 5 or even last year, parents are able to find out so much about their children before they are even born. Within a few years it seems that it is going to be possible to be able to genetically engineer a baby. Scientist are saying that they will be able to determine all sorts of traits. (Listen to a NPR report here.)

What do you think about designing your child or grandchild? What ethical concerns do you have genetically engineering a baby? How would it affect humanity if we could eliminate handicapped babies from being born? How does your spirituality affect the way that you view this issue?

image source: Google image search

Holiday Memories

2011-12-20T11:32:00.001-05:00

This week we will share stories from our experiences with the Holiday season. Examining past experiences may tell us a bit about our spiritual perspective or our families' ethics. So, bring along a few memories both good and bad to Shorts this Wednesday.

What is your favorite memory of the holidays? What is your worst memory of the Holidays?

The True Meaning of the Holidays

2011-12-06T11:19:00.001-05:00

Its the holiday season and in the midst of all the celebrations and trappings, there is real conversation about what exactly we're celebrating. The Holidays (Chanukah, Christmas, etc.) seem to encompass more than just religious people. For instance, a Gallop survey found that 93% of Americans celebrate the Christian holiday of Christmas, yet only about 81% of those respondents identified themselves as 'Christian.'

So, what are the Holidays all about? Have they become a secular experience, or are the Holidays still a religious phenomenon?

This holiday season, will you emphasize the religious elements of the season, or are you going to attempt to avoid religious trappings? A little bit of both, perhaps?

Join us this Wednesday, 7pm at Short's Brewing Company as we attempt to learn from one another about the Holiday season!

Moral Humility

2011-11-22T09:55:00.001-05:00

Below is a video from TED. It features psychologist Jonathon Haidt presenting evidence of five morals that we all share to differing degrees. The difference in the importance we place on these morals defines many of the great social, political, and religious debates of our time.

Take a few minutes to explore your morality. Check out Haidt's site at http://www.yourmorals.org/ Where do you fall on the moral scale? Do you think of yourself that way?

What do you think of his concept of 'moral humility'? Aren't morals supposed to be fiercely defended? Isn't moral humility just another form of apathy?

Join us this Wednesday, 7pm at Short's Brewing Company as we explore morals!

Spiritual Leaders

2011-11-15T10:17:00.001-05:00

In your faith journey, do you require a leader?

Certainly most people have family and friends that help them explore spirituality in a vibrant, dynamic way. However, these people are more like peers than leaders. So, what does it mean to be a spiritual leader and what affect do spiritual leaders have that are different than peers?

As culture continues to change, younger generations are more skeptical of those presenting themselves as leaders. Some of this is due to generational cynicism, but some of it is also due to a philosophical mindset. Leaders have less of a role. Pastors, rabbis, and other leaders are not automatically respected or obeyed by younger generations just because those people are proclaimed leaders.

So, what about you? What role do leaders play in your life? Are they integral?

Join us this Wednesday, 7pm for a conversation about leaders, peers and the role of spiritual guides.

Surviving the Darkest Moments

2011-11-08T16:26:00.003-05:00

What was the worst moment of your life? When was the world the darkest for you?

If you're reading this then you are either in the midst of your darkest valley, or you somehow found a way to survive. How were you able to make it through the pain and the trouble? What kept you going?

Join us this Thursday and help us discover a light in the darkness. We gather every Wednesday, 7pm at Short's Brewing Company, downtown Bellaire, MI.

image source: deviant art

Inner Demons and Better Angels

2011-11-01T10:09:00.002-04:00

This week's topic comes to us via Barb:

Steven Pinker has a new book out called The Better Angels of our Nature. He says human nature is a constant pull of good and evil. He identifies 5 inner demons: sadism, revenge, dominance, violence in pursuit of ideology and violence in pursuit of practical benefit. The 4 "better angels" are self-control, empathy, morality and reason. He says civilization has given good the upper hand and we are kinder and gentler beings. He says we reframe conflict as a problem to be solved with brains and not brawn and that is a good thing. He says our world looks bad because of the news and such but when compared to the past we are much more moral and kind to others.

The following link will bring you to a video where Pinker gives a lecture at TED (about 20 minutes) where he gives evidence that as we advance in our societies, we are actually becoming more peaceful people. The violence and 'evil' of human beings are actually an illusory result of better reporting and more media exposure.

Steven Pinker on the myth of violence | Video on TED.com

So, what do you think? Are our better angels winning? Are we actually getting better? Is there a connection between the decline of religion and the advancement of peaceful societies?

Join us this Wednesday for a conversation about our inner demons and our better angels. We'll meet at Short's, 7pm!

unTapped Topic: Human Origins?

2011-10-25T10:58:00.002-04:00

This week's conversation:

One of our sometime conversationalists put on his facebook status a quote from Napoleon (Bonaparte, not Dynamite):

' All religions are made by men'

I whole-heartedly agreed with the quote, but I think I came to a very different conclusion for what that quote practically meant for my life and spirituality. So, do you think that religion is a human-made institution or do you believe there is a divine impetus at the center of your faith? Does a belief in a human-based automatically make you a non-religious person? Are people who question the veracity of religions historical being overly skeptical or are their concerns legitimate inquiries?

Join us this WEDNESDAY, 7pm at Short's Brewing Company in downtown Bellaire for a lively chat about faith origins and how they affect our paths.

unTapped Reminder

2011-10-25T10:57:00.001-04:00

UnTapped, at its core, is a weekly exercise for the ears. In the arena of faith, there are few places where it is safe to have a conversation with diverse perspectives. We are trying to make one of these safe places in our weekly conversation. We hope to establish a conversation where we can hear and learn from perspectives and experiences we would not otherwise hear about.

Our conversations are open and public. Open means that every perspective is welcome. Public means that we gather in a place that is not dedicated to any religious perspective at all. Instead, we gather at a great pub in a great town. That way, if you don't like the subject matter, you can still enjoy this:

Thanks to everybody that has been a part of the conversation over the past several years. Cheers!

unTapped Topic: Spiritual but Not Religious?

2011-09-15T10:51:00.000-04:00

There are many people that justify their lack of participation in an organized religious group (church, synagogue, mosque, etc.) by saying that they are more spiritual than religious. They are able to find their spirituality within themselves or alone in the woods, or by some other means. For them, organized religion is more of an interference than a facilitation.

Pastor Lillian Daniels is certainly not crazy about such a position. She writes about her views on a deeper religious experience within a community of believers. She believes that the whole notion of an exclusively personal spirituality is a symptom of 'self-centered American culture.'

Being privately spiritual but not religious just doesn't interest me. There is nothing challenging about having deep thoughts all by oneself. What is interesting is doing this work in community, where other people might call you on stuff, or heaven forbid, disagree with you. Where life with God gets rich and provocative is when you dig deeply into a tradition that you did not invent all for yourself.

So, what do you think? Can you be a spiritual person without a group?

Join us at Short's Brewing Company, Thursday at 7pm to discuss spirituality and relationships.

unTapped Topic: 9/11 Reflections

2011-09-07T09:47:00.002-04:00

Most of us can clearly recall where we were ten years ago as a group of terrorists used jet planes to kill Americans and destroy some of America's greatest architectural symbols. Thousands lost their life that day and the events led to a military response that claimed the lives of thousands more.

A decade has now passed and this Sunday will be a time when many mourn, pray, and reflect. Was your life affected at all by what happened ten years ago? What spiritual impact has the event had on you? When you think of national tragedies of this caliber, is your faith a source of peace or is it more of a source of confusion? Finally, do you feel any ethical responsibility to the victims or the perpetrators?

Join us this Thursday, 7pm at Short's Brewing as unTapped resumes.

unTapped is Back!

2011-09-07T09:45:00.003-04:00

Just a reminder: Summer is over and it is now safe for locals to come out.

After a beautiful Summer season, we are going to be resuming our Thursday conversations at Short's Brewing Company. As usual, we will meet at 7pm for weekly conversations about faith and spirituality.

See you there!

Living In Memory

2011-05-25T20:17:00.003-04:00

In Memoriam

This week at unTapped we're going to remember those who have gone before us. We will be gathering to bring together stories of those who have passed away, but remain in our lives by inspiring us. Our memories of these people motivate us in such a deep, powerful way that their influence is spiritual.

Join us with stories and memories of the people who inspire you from beyond the grave. We meet every Thursday at Short's Brewing Company, 7pm. See you then!

Doomsday?

2011-05-18T10:13:00.002-04:00

As you may have heard, the world is ending on the 21st. Actually, we're being told that the world is ending by a fringe Christian group in California. The group, Family Christian Radio, is a fundamentalist Christian sect that has spread the doomsday message across the country. Using a confusing, convoluted mathematical formula, a healthy dose of questionable scholarship, and a firm conviction that God prefers the Roman calendar, the group has decided the world will end this Saturday.

You can check out more 'doomsday' coverage on Belief Blog.

If Family Christian Radio's 2011 prediction turns out to be wrong, have no fear, there is another doomsday close behind. The Mayan's gave special significance to 2012 as the end of this world. So, of course, people have decided to flipout.

What is your response to this and other doomsday messages that come along from time to time? Why do you think that people continue to believe in these types of prophecies even when the prognosticators are continually wrong?

Join us this Thursday for a conversation about Doomsday, or the lack thereof. We meet at Short's Brewing in downtown Bellaire at 7pm. See you there!

Sobriety or Celebration?

2011-05-03T16:15:00.003-04:00

As you are no doubt aware, this past week Osama bin Laden was killed by American forces in Pakistan. There has been a mix of reactions from different portions of our society. Some members of the media could hardly contain their glee, spontaneous street parties have broken out, and even sporting events have taken time to celebrate.

CNN's Belief Blog chronicled several responses by faith leaders. While nobody decried the justice of what was done, all were a bit taken aback by party-like atmosphere that celebrated a man being killed.

Our very own Drew Filkins chimed in on the subject also. You can read his whole take here. He advocates mourning as a better response:

I am mourning Osama bin Laden because he was not able to experience the restoring, renewing, redeeming work of the resurrected Christ. As a Christian, I feel that we ought to mourn when anyone dies without having the restoring work of the resurrected Christ in their life, whether that be a close friend, family member or a terrorist. The power of the resurrected Christ could have moved Osama's life of violence and destruction to one of compassion and love, just as that power is doing in my life and maybe in yours.

What do you think? from your spiritual/ethical perspective, is Osama bin Laden's death a reason to celebrate or mourn or what?

Bring your thoughts this Thursday to Short's Brewing Company in downtown Bellaire at 7pm.

unTapped: Holy Week Break

2011-04-21T14:29:00.002-04:00

We are on break due to several different Holy Week events taking place at the same time, but we will be back next week for another conversation!

Who Is My Neighbor?

2011-04-13T17:43:00.003-04:00

AS Huston Smith pointed out, every religion has some version of the golden rule. The Christian equivalent of the Golden Rule is Christ's ethical imperative to 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'

This begs the question: who is my neighbor? Are my neighbors just those who live around my house? Are my neighbors only the people who share my faith? What about people I have never met, or people who live on the other side of the world? Who is my neighbor?

Join us, Thursday night 7pm at Short's Brewing for a conversation about priorities and ethics.

Monetary Obligations

2011-04-06T10:23:00.002-04:00

This week, unTapped returns right in time for tax season. This is the time of year Americans are finalizing their tax forms and finding out how much they owe the government or how much the government owes them.

Taxation is a topic that has ethical and spiritual implications. For instance, the Christian Gospel of Matthew, Jesus gives a remarkably ambivalent response to a question on taxes. In part, this was the response that Jesus recommended to his fellow Jews for unfair taxation that stained their entire history.

Taxation is an enforced collection of money by a government. However, some faiths refuse to pay taxes to any government.

Even people that are not necessarily joined to a faith refuse to pay taxes on grounds of morality, conviction, and ethics. A classic example of this is the American Transcendentalist Henry David Thoreau, who refused to be any part of government. he thought paying taxes made him a moral accomplice with a nation state that he never chose to be apart of.

Another form of enforced collection is found within faith. In Christianity and Judaism it is called tithing. Other faiths have versions of this. For instance, one of the Pillars of Islam is the Zakat.

From a spiritual perspective, are you obligated to pay taxes? What about tithing? What are your monetary obligations to your secular and faith communities?

Join us Thursday, 7pm, at Short's Brewing in Bellaire for a discussion about monetary obligations.

Afterlife Perspectives

2011-03-10T11:09:00.002-05:00

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.

Refusing To Lead

2011-03-03T12:13:00.000-05:00

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.

Moments of Clarity

2011-02-23T13:41:00.002-05:00

Have you ever had a moment of clarity - a time when the stars seemed to align and you clearly knew the direction for your life? The occurrences of these moments in literature and film are numerous.

One of the starkest examples occurs in Herman Hesse's novel Siddhartha. Siddhartha is struggling with his privileged life and haunted by the terrible poverty around him. He has searched far and wide, in every faith for the answers to his questions. As he sits by a river, everything comes together. He realizes that he is completely alone - a faith exile. Instead of shrinking from this realization, he decides to embrace it and this sparks a profound awakening:

I, who wished to read the book of the world and the book of my own nature, did presume to despise the letters and signs. I called the world of appearances, illusion. I called my eyes and tongue, chance. Now it is over; I have awakened. I have indeed awakened and have only been born today.

So, what about you. Have you ever had a stark moment of awakening? Can you recall a moment in film or literature? What is the meaning of these watershed moments?

Join us Thursday night, at 7pm for a conversation about epiphanies!

Faith and Orientation

2011-02-17T12:38:00.000-05:00

The video above features Christian author and pastor Jay Bakker (son of televangelist Jim Bakker). His views on Christian inclusiveness stand in stark contrast with his iconic last name. He has been decried for supporting gay community causes. The above video also reveals the hesitancy of many in the American Evangelical church to accept LGBT advocacy.

From a spiritual perspective, how do you view the gay community? What affect has your faith had on your perspective? Do you have a story that you are willing to share about a personal experience?

Join us, Thursday Feb 17, 7pm at Short's Brewing for a discussion about faith and sexual orientation.

Which Side is God on?

2011-02-10T12:14:00.003-05:00

Events in various parts of the globe - especially Egypt and Tunisia - have shown the transitory nature of political regimes - nothing seems to last in the world of politics and government. recent upheaval in Egypt and Tunisia have displayed a rarity for the middle east. The political changes seem to encompass a diversity of faiths (click here for more). Instead of Muslims versus Christians or other religious tensions, Muslims and Christians are coming together to bring down political establishments.

A BBC reporter witnessed this rare unity:

I saw three elderly men, two Muslims clutching gilded copies of the Koran, arms flung around a third, hugging an ornate cross to his chest.

A group of young men and women belted out a song of the 1919 revolution, accompanied by a guitar. "Arise O Egypt, arise. Arise Egyptians: Muslims, Christians and Jews."

We have grown used to seeing the very opposite of this. Too often, both sides of a conflict will claim God to be on their side. In recent years, in the United States, Muslim terrorists have attacked or attempted to attack American targets for religious reasons. Often, the American response has been religious.

Soon after the 9/11 attacks, President George W. Bush addressed congress and forthrightly claimed divine sponsorship of the American cause:

The course of this conflict is not known, yet its outcome is certain. Freedom and fear, justice and cruelty, have always been at war, and we know that God is not neutral between them. (source)

So, how do you know when God is on your side?

Abraham Lincoln explored this conundrum in his second inaugural address. He pondered upon the fact that both sides of the conflict thought that God was with them. Abolitionists of the North claimed that God had called them to fight for justice on behalf of the enslaved. Southerners felt sure that Slavery and State sovereignty was a divine mandate.

Both read the same Bible and pray to the same God, and each invokes His aid against the other. It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God's assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men's faces, but let us judge not, that we be not judged. The prayers of both could not be answered. That of neither has been answered fully. The Almighty has His own purposes.
- Abraham Lincoln (read the rest here)

In other words, God wasn't on wither side.

The question we will explore for our conversation is Which Side is God On? How do you know? How does God's will affect your political and moral proclivities?

Join us, Thursday, 7pm at Short's for a discussion about God and picking sides.

Money

2011-02-03T10:25:00.003-05:00

This week at unTapped, we will be discussing money. Faith and money are subjects that are often intermixed:

righteousness is this [...] give away wealth out of love for [Allah] to the near of kin and the orphans and the needy and the wayfarer and the beggars and for (the emancipation of) the captives, and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate; and the performers of their promise when they make a promise, and the patient in distress and affliction and in time of conflicts– these are they who are true (to themselves) and these are they who guard (against evil).
- The Qu'ran, Surah 2:177

Human happiness and human satisfaction must ultimately come from within oneself. It is wrong to expect some final satisfaction to come from money
- Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyattso

Where your treasure is, there your heart will be too.
- Jesus, Luke 12:34

The rich are wise in their own eyes;
one who is poor and discerning sees how deluded they are.
- Proverbs 28:11

So, what do you think about money? Is money intrinsically good or evil? Or, is money amoral? Do the rich owe anything more to society than the poor?

Join us for a fascinating conversation about wealth and faith. Thursday night, 7pm, Short's Brewing in downtown Bellaire!

Moral Dilemmas

2011-01-19T12:20:00.003-05:00

This week we will be discussing ethics and the way we come to a moral (or immoral) decision in our lives. Socrates once said of discussing ethics, “We are discussing no small matter, but how we ought to live.”

This Thursday, we will be asking a series of questions and presenting a few scenarios and getting your opinion about how people should respond to the hypotheticals. We are looking for everyone's moral compass. How do we determine what is right and good? Does your faith play a part in this?

There is a popular television program on ABC that presents ethical dilemma in a rather heavy-handed way, but it may be a decent primer for our conversation. Check it out on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRX31HOikws

We look forward to seeing you this Thursday, 7pm at Short's Brewing Company for a discussion of ethics and morality.

unTapped Topic: Violence As Means

2011-01-12T11:11:00.005-05:00

Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars... Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that

- Martin Luther King Jr.

This past week, many Americans watched the news in horror as a gunman fired into a crowd of people at an Arizona political rally. A congresswoman was shot in the head, a federal judge was among six killed, a dozen other people, including the congresswoman remain hospitalized. Saddest of all, an innocent nine year old girl, Christina Taylor Green, was caught by the shooter's fire.

While this incident is most likely the result of a deranged mind's skewed way of dealing with his misperceived world, it still brings up important questions:

What does this mean for our society? Are we too violent?
What reaction is prompted in terms of our spirituality and our ethics?
Is political violence ever justified? Is there an ethical difference between a government-sanctioned killing and an assassination committed by an extremist or terrorist?

These are challenging questions for our society. Faith may be a place to look for answers. The bishop in Tuscon, Gerald Kicanas, offered this in his homily at little Christina's memorial service:

God wills that we resist evil. That we live with integrity. That we speak and act with civility and respect

But, how are we supposed to 'resist evil'? Commenting about the tragedy, theologian J.R. Daniel Kirk writes that the Church has not been what it is supposed to be. From political and ecclesial power grabs to parenting our children, the church has been less than a beacon of peace and non-violence:

The church has not created within itself the counter-culture of peace that should serve as a witness against the ultimate futility of violence employed by the world around us.
We can and should react to such horrific events as we saw this past weekend with all due revulsion. But until we as followers of Jesus have managed to form communities of the cross rather than communities of the crucifiers we have no place either for self-righteousness nor, in the end, for surprise.

What do you think? Should Christian churches do a better job of resisting violence and modeling non-violence? What about other faiths? According to your faith, when is violence ever justified?

Join us at Short's Brewing this Thursday, 7pm, for a discussion of violence and spirituality.

unTapped Topic: Intentions 2011

2011-01-05T18:15:00.002-05:00

We're back from a holiday vacation! This week we have a great topic to kick off the New Year. So, please plan on joining the discussion this Thursday, 7pm, at Short's Brewing Company in downtown Bellaire!

It is that time of year again. It is the time of year where people can start over, and maybe even start fresh. We can forget about the past and move on to the future. It is the time of year for resolutions.

So, what are your resolutions this year? How did you do with the 2010 resolutions?

This Thursday, we are going to discuss resolutions, good intentions, and what the difference is. So, bring your list of resolutions or bring your reasons against making resolutions. Kick off 2010 with unTapped.

unTapped Topic: Gratitude and Entitlement

2010-11-17T14:23:00.000-05:00

Thanksgiving is next week (already)!

So, we thought that this Thursday at unTapped we could discuss the dynamic that exists between a sense of gratitude and a sense of entitlement. We've seen this play out on a number of different levels, of course. There is the way that it plays out on a national/international political level. It plays out in faith groups, and, especially in families and personal relationships.

On a political level, we have seen this most recently play out in Europe. Several governments have instituted austerity measures in order to pay off massive debt and avoid government bankruptcy. Such moves have not been well received by people who feel the government is mandated to pensions and retirement benefits. France, for instance, has been struggling with massive riots across the country for angry citizens who feel entitled to these benefits. Britain, Germany and others have also started an austerity program and the US may have to grapple with this reality next.

Faith groups often struggle with a sense of entitlement from their members. People insist on certain programs or ministries, but a minority of those same people are willing to participate or fund those things.

Do we even need to mention family members that seem to take everything we give them for granted? How many times have you heard about a friend or relative that receives a gift or help and will actually complain about it!?!?

With all this negativity surrounding entitlement, perhaps it is good to remember how to be grateful. Here in the US, we all have so much to be thankful for. None of it happened by accident and we would do ourselves a favor not to take it for granted.

In fact, scientists have researched the effects of gratitude on people's health. Read about it here.

Lives lived in gratitude are happier by about 25 percent, healthier, more fulfilling and often longer. Gratitude helps reduce feelings of envy, resentment, regret, bitterness and greed. Grateful people experience more vitality, optimism and hope, and thus greater satisfaction with life.

So, what are you grateful for? Does your gratitude affect your sense of entitlement? Can you feel grateful for the things you feel entitled to?

Join us this Thursday for our final discussion of 2010! We'll give everybody a chance to share what they are thankful for and what they are entitled to.

See you this Thursday at Short's Brewing in downtown Bellaire!

unTapped Topic: Our Four Gods

2010-11-03T10:28:00.005-04:00

This week's topic comes to us from Barb Lockrey. Thanks Barb!

How do you view God? What are assumptions and preconceived notions that you maintain about God and how do those notions shape the way you view him?

Take the God Test and find out! Take the Test and we can we discuss the results this Thursday.

According to a book and study from a Baylor University scholar, Americans tend to believe in one of four different Gods. Here is a section from USA Today's coverage:

Froese and Bader's research wound up defining four ways in which Americans see God:
•The Authoritative God. When conservatives Sarah Palin or Glenn Beck proclaim that America will lose God's favor unless we get right with him, they're rallying believers in what Froese and Bader call an Authoritative God, one engaged in history and meting out harsh punishment to those who do not follow him. About 28% of the nation shares this view, according to Baylor's 2008 findings.
"They divide the world by good and evil and appeal to people who are worried, concerned and scared," Froese says. "They respond to a powerful God guiding this country, and if we don't explicitly talk about (that) God, then we have the wrong God or no God at all."
•The Benevolent God. When President Obama says he is driven to live out his Christian faith in public service, or political satirist Stephen Colbert mentions God while testifying to Congress in favor of changing immigration laws, they're speaking of what the Baylor researchers call a Benevolent God. This God is engaged in our world and loves and supports us in caring for others, a vision shared by 22% of Americans, according to Baylor's findings.
"Rhetoric that talks about the righteous vs. the heathen doesn't appeal to them," Froese says. "Their God is a force for good who cares for all people, weeps at all conflicts and will comfort all."
Asked about the Baylor findings, Philip Yancey, author ofWhat Good Is God?, says he moved from the Authoritative God of his youth — "a scowling, super-policeman in the sky, waiting to smash someone having a good time" — to a "God like a doctor who has my best interest at heart, even if sometimes I don't like his diagnosis or prescriptions."
•The Critical God. The poor, the suffering and the exploited in this world often believe in a Critical God who keeps an eye on this world but delivers justice in the next, Bader says.
Bader says this view of God — held by 21% of Americans — was reflected in a sermon at a working-class neighborhood church the researchers visited in Rifle, Colo., in 2008. Pastor Del Whittington's theme at Open Door Church was " 'Wait until heaven, and accounts will be settled.' "
Bader says Whittington described how " 'our cars that are breaking down here will be chariots in heaven. Our empty bank accounts will be storehouses with the Lord.' "
•The Distant God. Though about 5% of Americans are atheists or agnostics, Baylor found that nearly one in four (24%) see a Distant God that booted up the universe, then left humanity alone.
This doesn't mean that such people have no religion. It's the dominant view of Jews and other followers of world religions and philosophies such as Buddhism or Hinduism, the Baylor research finds.

Be sure to read the rest of the article here.

If you have a few moments, you can go to the researchers' website and take an online quiz that will help you see the way you view God. Here is the link - http://www.thearda.com/whoisyourgod/index.asp There, you can take a text based quiz or an image based quiz about God's severity or ambivalence. It was these quizzes that the research team used to develop the Four Gods.

The research shows that the type of God people believe shapes how they see issues in the world. For instance, Sociologist Christopher Bader looked at evil in the world:

"When we talked about Hurricane Katrina and 9/11, the Authoritative God type was most likely to think God had a hand, directly punishing us for society's sinful ways," Bader says.

But believers in a Benevolent God "will focus on a fireman who escaped, or the people who rebuild homes, or the divine providence of someone missing a flight that crashed on 9/11," Bader says.

To someone who sees a Distant God, the 9/11 terror attacks amounted to a sign of man's inhumanity, not God's action or judgment, Bader says. And they see a storm as just a storm.

Believers in a Critical God say whatever happens now, "God will have the last word," Bader says.

Be sure to join us this Thursday night and tell us what kind of God you believe in. Do you believe in this God because of how you were raised, a personal experience, or because you reasoned it out? How does a belief in this type of God change you and your view of the world?

This Thusday night, 7pm at Short's Brewing, we will discuss Our Four Gods. Join us!

unTapped Topic: Spooky Spirituality

2010-10-27T14:45:00.003-04:00

This a redux conversation, but it seemed appropriate since this Sunday is Halloween.

Ghosts, witches, superheroes, and characters of all types will be showing up

at your door asking for candy. It is all in good fun, but it brings up a serious question: is this world ever interrupted by another? Is there a real basis for the idea that spirits and beings have real interactions with people in this life?

Do you believe in ghosts? Have you ever heard of a dead relative returning to visit a person? If you do, you are certainly not alone.

One of the most popular programs on cable television these days is a program called "Ghosthunters."
According to a Gallup poll, Americans are very open to the existence of ghosts with over a third of Americans stating they believe in "spirits of dead people" that return. Almost half of the population believe in some form of ESP. 55% of Americans believe that people can be possessed by the devil or evil spirits.

This week for unTapped we will discuss anomalous paranormal/spiritual experiences. How do such things fit with your experience, your faith, and your perspective of the world?

unTapped Topic: Toward a Theology of Food

2010-10-20T11:11:00.005-04:00

Does God care what we had for dinner last night?

Every major religion in the world has dietary restrictions. Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, and even some Christians have restrictions on food and drink. But does God really care?

How much of a role does your spirituality play in your dietary choices? Do you make ethical decisions about food - where it comes from, who it affects, what scripture(s) says about it?

Join us at Shorts this Thursday night for a conversation about food and faith. We meet at 7pm. Pull up a chair, grab some food and a drink (if you're allowed!), and join our discussion.

OPtional Cheat Video:
Our topic this week comes from Rev. Andrew Pomerville's sermon series on food within the context of church. You can get an interesting Christian perspective here:

10-10-10 Rev. Andrew Pomerville from Church in the Hills Bellaire,Mi. on Vimeo.

unTapped Topic: ET, UFOs, and Theology

2010-10-13T10:15:00.003-04:00

Lately there has been a lot of extra-terrestrials in the news.

Last month, astronomers announced that they had 'spotted' a planet 20 light years away from Earth that appeared to have many of the characteristics of a life-sustaining planet. The name of the planet is Gilese 581g. This is the first Earth-like planet found in another solar system that could have the conditions necessary for life as we know it.

Also last month, a group of seven retired air force officers held a press conference and claimed that during their time of service, they witnessed Unidentified Flying Objects disabling nuclear missiles. Of late, UFO's have even been sighted at O'Hare airport.

Reputable research has always found that close encounters are usually experiences best left to science fiction, conspiracy theorists, and cuckoos. But, the strange subject does bring up interesting faith questions. Seton Hall Professor David Opderbeck wonders how theology and faith changes if we indeed discover life outside of Earth. Opderbeck writes:

Such discoveries have the potential to upset Christian theology. We assume that the Biblical picture places humanity at the pinnacle of creation. Psalm 8, for example, affirms the exalted place of human beings in the order of creation. Notice, however, that even in Psalm 8, there are “heavenly beings” that occupy an order higher than humanity.

Where are we at in the universe? Are we alone? Are we the ultimate being or are there higher life forms out there? What does your faith say about all this and how could new discoveries affect your faith?

Join us for an out of this world conversation Thursday night at Short's Brewing, 7pm!

unTapped Topic: The Measure of a Person

2010-10-07T09:20:00.005-04:00

This month, a film called The Social Network was released in theaters. The film follows the rise of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerburg as he ascends the financial and social ladder.

In an interesting review, "Snobby Film Guy" Chris Monks notes that the real theme of the film is the definition of a man. Monks writes the following:

Every human feels the need to be defined; by somethng they did or something that transcends themselves. They want to be liked, wanted, needed, loved, and appreciated...in other words they feel the need to be important.

Humans feel the need to be immortalized. But, "What defines a man?"

You may think this is too deep for The Social Network but just watch the first scene and you'll know it's not. Zuckerberg tells his girlfriend that he wants to be a part of a group at Harvard because "It's elite. And fun. And it leads to a better life." He wanted the notoriety and the "better life" and arguably he got that in the end but still wasn't happy.

You can read the whole review by clicking here.

The singer Rich Mullins once wrote from a very different perspective. He regularly eschewed wealth, fame, and status in preference for service, poverty and obscurity. He wrote about the memory that he would leave behind:

If my life is motivated by an ambition to leave a legacy, what I would probably leave is a legacy of ambition. But, if my life is motivated by the power of God's spirit in me and the awareness of the indwelling Christ, if I allow His presence to guide my motives, that's the only time I think we really leave a great legacy

Thus, our question for unTapped: what defines our lives? What makes us who we are? If we accomplish our greatest ambitions how are we different than those who have none? Are we defined by our ambitions at all? What sort of legacy will we leave behind us?

Join us at Shorts Thursday night, 7pm for a discussion of ambition and definition!

unTapped Topic: Are Religious People Ignorant?

2010-09-29T10:28:00.004-04:00

Our topic this week comes from Barb! Our discussion will take place at Shorts Brewery this Thursday at 7pm.

Are religious people ignorant? A new study shows that religious people are some of the most ignorant on matters of religion and faith. On the flip side, agnostics and atheists tend to be some of the most educated about faith.

Click Here To Read the CNN BeliefBlog Post

So, what do you think? Are non-believers more knowledgeable than believers? Why do you believe/not believe this? Have you ever met someone whose confidence in their faith exceeded their actual understanding of that faith? Have you ever met someone whose knowledge about a faith was the major factor in their rejection of that same faith?

Here is a perspective from Mark Silk
Pew Forum presentation by Prof. Prothero

Join us this Thursday at Shorts for a discussion of religious literacy (or the lack thereof).

unTapped Topic: Science and Belief

2010-09-22T13:08:00.004-04:00

Our topic today comes from RevAndrew:

Was the universe designed to serve mankind? Hawking asks this questions because his study of physics has led him to believe that we are but a part of the greater cosmos, albeit the lords of our particular universe. Still, he cannot make any connection between creation and the existence of God.

Does the vastness of the cosmos and the propensity for untold numbers of other universe help justify or challenge your belief or lack thereof in the divine?

Here is the link to Hawking's Wall Street Journal article.

We hope you can join us this week at Short's Brewing for our conversation. We meet at 7pm. See you there!

unTapped Topic: Have You a Herd?

2010-09-15T18:56:00.006-04:00

Of late, the novelist and philosopher Ayn Rand has resurfaced as a major influence on politics and ethics in the United States. Ayn Rand was an effective apologists for Individualism (or Libertarianism), wherein the individual is seen as more important than a group. According to Rand, collective groups had to trample on the liberties of an individual to survive, and were thus immoral. Rand said that individual happiness was life's 'moral objective.'

Much of Ms. Rand's philosophy resonates with Americans , who typically value personal liberty and personal property, while distrusting governments. Americans are suspicious of collective politcal philosophies like Communism and tend toward a libertarian perspective. But, some of the recent economic hardship has been blamed on Ayn Rand's economic philosophy.

Collectivism is the philosophical antithesis to Ayn Rand's individualism. Collectivism considers an interconnected group as the highest ethical priority. Sometimes, according to collectivism, we as individuals have to make sacrifices for the good of the group.

What do you think?

A few years ago, a tourist's YouTube video of an African Safari went viral on the internet. The video (below) has now been seen over 55 million times and has received news coverage from major networks all over the world.

The video depicts a pride of lions attacking a few water buffalo and carrying away a calf to feast on. But, the powerful lions are interrupted, not once but twice. The first interruption comes from a hungry crocodile, looking to steal the lions' prey. Soon after that distraction is dealt with, the lions are then interrupted by ... water buffalo! A whole huge herd returns to rescue their calf from the predators. It is an amazing display of the strength of numbers, and the power of courageous loyalty.

Morally/ethically, who do you root for or identify with in this video?

This video brings up several interesting questions:

how does this video illustrate the power of individualism, collectivism?
who was the victim in this video?
how were the hungry lions overpowered by the lowly water buffalo?

Join us at Short's Brewing this Thursday for a conversation about Individualism and Water Buffaloes!

unTapped Topic: Who is in control?

2010-09-08T10:07:00.003-04:00

This Saturday, we mark the anniversary of September 11th. Some very familiar questions arise: where was God? How much control does God have over tragic events like 9/11?

Some people see God as a giant puppet master. To them, God is in constant, and Immanent control over every aspect of the universe. Others, however, see God taking a more hands off approach, allowing human choices actions along with the consequences thereof.

Then, there is this video, which has made its rounds on the Net. It shows a giant puppet being intimately cared for by a team of marionettes. Here, the large transcendent figure is actually controlled by smaller subservients, which may be a good illustration of a skeptic's of faith and religion (the faithful control the deity). What I like about the video, is that the beauty is in the spectacle more than in concerns over who is in charge.

Faith and Orientation

2010-08-05T10:19:00.003-04:00

Our conversation this week will take place at MOKA coffee in downtown Bellaire. Join us at 7pm!

This week, a federal judge struck down California's Proposition 8 ballot initiative, which banned same sex marriage in California. You can read the full story here. Some people of faith have greeted the decision with celebration while others have bemoaned the decision as an example moral failure and as a violation of their faith ethics.

What is your perspective and your faith's perspective on homosexuality and the legality thereof?

Join us for what promises to be an interesting conversation about a difficult topic.

unTapped Topic: Healed!

2010-07-29T13:28:00.003-04:00

Next up for unTapped: what role does faith play in our physical health and wellbeing?

Topics we may cover:

Are spiritual people healthier/happier?
What role does faith play in your medical decisions?
Do you know of people who have waived certain medical procedures on the basis of their faith?
Do you pray for those who are sick? What are your expectations from those prayers?

Join us at MOKA all Summer long for conversations about ethics, faith and spirituality.

unTapped Topic: Who wrote the Bible?

2010-07-22T09:14:00.004-04:00

So much of Western faith is revolves around the Bible. Some people recognize only the Tanak, while others recognize the New Testament, as well. Our question tonight: who wrote this book?

Here is a small, somewhat silly video that a group of youth put together. This represents a fairly run of the mill understanding of Christian Biblical Inspiration and Canonization:

Join us for a conversation about scripture and source, tonight (7/22/10) at MOKA, 7pm.

unTapped Topic: Why Faith?

2010-07-14T09:30:00.003-04:00

In the past 10-12 years, there has been an aggressive push against faith in God from a group of people that have been labeled the "New Atheists." People like Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, etc. have really started to take the gloves off in countering what they call superstition and irrationalism. (For a CNN article about the New Atheists, click here.)

Join us this Thursday at MOKA and tell us why you are a person of faith, or why you are not a person of faith. Why do you believe the way that you believe? What has brought you to the point of this belief? Faith is a subject that is very sensitive to personal perception and experience. So, the best way to understand it is for everyone to bring their own perceptions and experiences to share with the rest of the group.

We'll see you Thursday, 7pm at MOKA!

unTapped Topic: Smörgåsbord

2010-07-08T11:13:00.002-04:00

TONIGHT (7.8.10): We will be having a Smörgåsbord conversation! Yep, we will be discussing anything that you bring to the table. Our two best conversationalists (the 2 Andrews) won't be able to make it tonight, and I can't come up with anything. So, you bring the topic!

We will talk about whatever you'd like to tonight. Join us at Moka, tonight at 7pm for a conversation of your choosing!

unTapped Topic: Sweet Land of Liberty

2010-06-30T10:43:00.005-04:00

Liberty means responsibility. That is why most men dread it.

~George Bernard Shaw

This week at unTapped, we will discuss the meaning of liberty and freedom, as we approach Independence Day. What does it mean to you to be free? Does Freedom mean that our nation is merely politically independent from other nations, or does it mean that the United States is a geographic zone of personal freedom? Does your belief in freedom make you more or less patriotic? What does it mean to have freedom of religion to you?

We will be meeting at Moka this Thursday, 7pm. Join us for a conversation about freedom, faith and patriotism!

unTapped Topic: Who is Missing?

2010-06-24T10:41:00.003-04:00

REMEMBER: This week we are meeting at MOKA

I heard a conversation between two people who were discussing the United States' Constitution. One of the people claimed that the US Constitution was weak because it failed to include the voices of women and ethnic minorities. "Rich white men wrote it for rich white men" he insisted. At the time the Constitution was written, there was very little interest in including African-Americans, Native Americans, or women. In fact, just being poor left you out of the process (only land owners could vote or run for office). But, this seeming injustice was merely a reflection of the time that the document was written.

Most faiths depend on traditions and texts that were written hundreds or thousands of years ago. Only recently, however, have people of faith purposefully attempted to include those who were left out of the formative processes.

So, who was left out of your faith's formation? Has that changed?

join us tonight at MOKA for a discussion of faith, theology and the missing voices.

unTapped Topic: Many Faiths One Truth?

2010-06-17T09:38:00.003-04:00

Join us, this week at MOKA (7pm) in downtown Bellaire for a discussion on interreligous harmony, and compassion.

A few weeks ago, the Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso, wrote an op-ed piece for the New York Times (click here). In his opinion, religious people need to be ardent adherents to their faith, but must also seek to learn from other faiths. He says that all major faiths contain a "strong unifying thread" and that thread is compassion. The Dalai Lama pleads for people of faith to refocus on the religous mandates for compassion. He says "mutual understanding among these traditions is not merely the business of religious believers — it matters for the welfare of humanity as a whole."

A Boston University religion scholar, Dr. Steven Prothero responded to the Dalai Lama's op-ed in a piece that Dr. Prothero called "The Dalai Lama is Wrong" (link). Prothero writes,

Religious exclusivism is dangerous and naïve. But so too is pretend pluralism. The cause of religious harmony is not advanced in the least by the shibboleth that all religions are different paths up the same mountain.

Prothero contends that compassion is not at the root of all religions and he calls the notion of religious harmony based on compassion "youthful naiveté".

What do you think?

Join us, this week at MOKA (7pm) in downtown Bellaire for a discussion on interreligous harmony, and compassion.

unTapped Topic: Judgement Day

2010-06-09T10:30:00.003-04:00

REMEMBER: This week's conversation will take place at MOKA!

The topic this week comes from Barb!

Recently, our area has heard much about a tragic story (found here) where a mother (Susan Avery Miller) was accused of killing her own teenage son. While awaiting trial, she committed suicide. There was a lot of speculation and chatter after the suicide. Amidst the chatter was an opinion expressed in several letters to the editor and internet message boards that Avery-Miller had not escaped justice and that Judgement Day would be her true sentencing.

Nobody knows the truth of this particular case and it is probably not up to us to judge. So, who is it up to? Do you believe in a Judgement Day? Who will be the Judge?

Join us for the conversation this week, 7pm, at MOKA in downtown Bellaire!

unTapped Topic: Ceremonial Faith

2010-06-03T08:23:00.002-04:00

REMINDER: tonight's discussion takes place at MOKA

Weddings and Funerals are two events that go far in defining our lives and the lives of most families. What is the purpose of these ceremonies? What is accomplished by them? Is a relationship unconsecrated if there is no ceremony? Is a person's future in jeopardy if there is no funeral ceremony?

Usually, these ceremonies are almost always spiritual or religious events. Some faith traditions see weddings and funerals as a worship service (or mass). But, should they be religious ceremonies? What are the important things to have at a funeral or wedding?

Join us, tonight, at Moka for a conversation about weddings and funerals.

unTapped Topic: Redemptive Violence

2010-05-27T09:45:00.006-04:00

Can good come from violence?

There is a common, well worn theme in American literature and cinema: a person (usually a lone man) is failed by the corrupt, injustice system and is forced to take matters into his own, violent hands. Here are a few examples:

In the film "Edge of Darkness," Mel Gibson's character (Tom Craven) says "You better decide if you're hanging on the cross or bangin' in the nails." To solve the injustice of his daughter's murder, he brings violence to the powerful perpetrators.

The ultimate American example of the belief in the Redemptive uses of violence is the American Western. Here is Gary Cooper in High Noon. The Sherrif forsakes even his pacifist wife to violently solve the problems of the terrorized town.

All this leads to our topic: in real life, does violence solve anything? Pacifists tend to think that violence only causes more problems. Is this true? Are there times when violence and killing are necessary? What role should violence in media (television, film, video games, literature) play in developing our understanding of violence?

Here are a few more links to check out:

LINK - The effects (or lack thereof) of violent video games on our ethics and spirituality
LINK - "I'm a pacifist because I'm a violent son of a bitch" Theologian Stanley Hauerwas on being in a Christian pacifist minority
LINK - Dr. David Martin on how a pacifist religion becomes a violent power

REMEMBER: Tonight's conversation will take place at Moka. Join us at 7pm for the conversation!

unTapped: Break Time

2010-05-06T12:20:00.001-04:00

Short's is hosting a CD release party the next 2 Thursdays. It should be lots of fun with live music. However, that also makes a conversation rather difficult. So, feel free to head to Short's this Thursday and next, but unTapped will not be hosting a conversation for those weeks.

See you soon!

6 Years of Shorts!

2010-04-29T13:14:00.004-04:00

Congratulations to our hosts at Short's Brewing. Short's is celebrating their sixth anniversary! Check it out: click here

unTapped Topic: I Pledge Allegiance?

2010-04-28T11:15:00.006-04:00

As American citizens, we give our allegiance to the flag and to our country. Some people of faith, however, feel that giving allegiance to anything but God is a sin. There is some legitimate textual evidence behind this. The Torah forbids oath taking in Deut 23:23. In the Christian New Testament, Jesus speaks sternly about pledges and oaths (Matt. 5:33-37). What do you think? Can people give their allegiance to both God and country?

Join us for the conversation, 7pm this Thursday at Shorts Brewing, downtown Bellaire.

unTapped Topic: What is Faith?

2010-04-08T12:54:00.001-04:00

Sorry I am late getting this out. Tonight's topic for our unTapped conversation will be the question "What is Faith?" Now this may seem like a very obvious and short answer to you, but others will undoubtedly see faith in a very different way. For instance, some people equate faith with a religion. Others, think of faith in terms of their personal spiritual experiences. Is faith possible outside an organized religious/theological tradition?

What is faith and what does faith mean to you? That is the topic tonight at 7:00pm. Join us at Shorts Brewing in downtown Bellaire!

Corey

unTapped Topic: Top of the List

2010-03-18T13:37:00.001-04:00

this week from Drew!

Top of the List.

March Madness started today. It is the college basketball tournament that see who the best is each year but before the tournament can even start the teams must be ranked. Forbes magazine comes out with the richest people in the world list. People magazine and others have the 50 sexiest people. In school, we compared our grade with the other students. When sales reports come out, we check to see where we are on the list.

Why do we feel the need to rank ourselves and others? Do you feel a need to be at the top of any ranking list? What does ranking each other say about how we value each other?

unTapped Topic: The Next Big Thing

2010-03-11T01:08:00.002-05:00

this week topic comes from Andrew:

As kids we look forward to the next year in school. “When I’m in first grade, things will be great because I’ll be able to write…when I’m in sixth grade things will be better because I’ll be in middle school…when I’m in high school things will be better because I can drive…when I’m in college things will be better because I’ll be on my own.”

Many of us take this attitude throughout our lives, always looking and striving for the next big thing. “Things will be better when…”

That “when” might be married, with kids, retired, in a new job, out of an old job, when you move, etc.

Are we ever satisfied in the here and now? Do we ever feel like now, at this moment, is the happiest I can be? Existentially, when do when are we content? How does our faith play into this? Are we always looking for the next big thing?

Virtually Lost

2010-03-05T19:50:00.003-05:00

I was pointed to this horrible and sad story by Blake Huggins:

South Korean police have arrested a couple for starving their three-month-old daughter to death while they devoted hours to playing a computer game that involved raising a virtual character of a young girl.
The 41-year-old man and 25-year-old woman, who met through a chat website, reportedly left their infant unattended while they went to internet cafes. They only occasionally dropped by to feed her powdered milk.
"I am sorry for what I did and hope that my daughter does not suffer any more in heaven," the husband is quoted as saying on the asiaone website.
According to the Yonhap news agency, South Korean police said the couple had become obsessed with raising a virtual girl called Anima in the popular role-playing game Prius Online. The game, similar to Second Life, allows players to create another existence for themselves in a virtual world, including getting a job, interacting with other users and earning an extra avatar to nurture once they reach a certain level.
"The couple seemed to have lost their will to live a normal life because they didn't have jobs and gave birth to a premature baby," Chung Jin-Won, a police officer, told Yonhap. "They indulged themselves in the online game of raising a virtual character so as to escape from reality, which led to the death of their real baby."

This story is so incredibly disturbing. It is so sad to think that we as human beings would forsake the love and nurture of a child so that we could enjoy a virtual pseudo-reality.

Is life so unsatisfying that we prefer the reflection of this life in the cyber-verse? Are we that lost?

Topic: Naughty By Nature?

2010-03-04T09:21:00.003-05:00

What's the problem here?

We trample eachother, kill eachother, hate eachother, kidnap eachother, overpower eachother, etc.

Something is wrong. There seems to be a problem with people. What is it? Some think that we have a sin nature, which gives us our urges to do wrong. They believe that we are an evil mess at our core level. Others, believe that we are forgetful or ignorant of what is right and good, but we are intrinsically good.

What do you think? What is the source of sin and human evil?

We meet at Shorts Brewing, in downtown Bellaire, every Thursday at 7pm! See you there!

Topic: Fame and Privacy

2010-02-24T14:01:00.003-05:00

Andrew and Drew put our topic together this week.

Is there a difference between the privacy we expect and the privacy we give others?

On Tuesday, Rochette Joannie, a Canadian figure skater, had the performance of her lifetime. It was a national story because two days prior her mother passed away from a heart attack after arriving in Vancouver to watch her daughter skate. The Canadians have taken great length to protect Rochette from the media and the Canadian Olympic organization has taken some criticism for not allowing reporters to talk to this young skater.

On the radio a reporter said, "It is moments like this, these are Olympic moments!" speaking about the situation surrounding this Canadian skater and expressing his disappointment that the Canadian Olympic organization hasn't allowed interviews.

On the less heroic side of things, another sports figure - Tiger Woods - is under intense media surveillance since admitting to several affairs. Is this really our business?

Finally, do we overemphasize our own private lives on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter? Where should a person draw the line in reading and publishing information about themselves? Is there a perverseness to this obsession?

Here are a few more links to check out:

Empathy and Voyeurism (NPR)
Social Media killed privacy (CNN)
Tiger Woods apologizes to his daughter's pre-school because of paparazzi (Candadian Press)

Does our news media ever move from simple reporting to voyeurism?
Is there something in human nature that makes us want to hear in detail about the tragedies and triumphant in other people's live without actually knowing them?
How differently do we invade someone’s privacy and how much do we let them?
Does your faith/spiritually speak these situations?

Topic: Ghosts!

2010-02-18T13:37:00.002-05:00

Do you believe in ghosts? Have you ever heard of a dead relative returning to visit a person? If you do, you are certainly not alone.

One of the most popular programs on cable television these days is a program called "Ghosthunters."
According to a Gallup poll, Americans are very open to the existence of ghosts with over a third of Americans stating they believe in "spirits of dead people" that return. Almost half of the population believe in some form of ESP. 55% of Americans believe that people can be possessed by the devil or evil spirits.

This week for unTapped we will discuss anomalous paranormal/spiritual experiences. How do such things fit with your experience, your faith, and your perspective of the world?

Topic: Love

2010-02-11T09:59:00.002-05:00

What is Love?

As we approach St. Valentine's Day, love is on many minds. But, what does it mean to love? We'll get perspectives on love this week at unTapped! Join us at 7pm, Shorts Brewing Company in beautiful downtown Bellaire.

Topic: Ethical Preaching

2010-02-03T14:05:00.002-05:00

what to do when people behave badly

Most people believe that it is wrong to judge another human being for their actions. However, certain occasions in life need a response. What is our ethical responsibility when we notice our neighbors and fellow humans behaving unethically? We'll examine this topic from three different perspectives - individual, familial, and political.

Here are a few things to consider:

A Georgia Man was convicted of child abuse. He observed a crying child, walked up to her mother and said “If you don’t shut that baby up, I will shut her up for you.” He then slapped the child four times. Did he overstep his bounds? What is our responsibility when someone else's child is misbehaving?
Howard Zinn passed away last week. The thinker is famouse for saying that "dissent is the highest for of patriotism." He felt that we owed it to our fellow human being to check people in power.
Good Samaritan high speed chase. Is it our responsibility to help police our neighborhoods? would the Good Samaritan have chased down the criminals in Jesus parable, or is it enough to simply care for the victim?

We'll discuss this and more this Thursday night at Short's Brewing Company in downtown Bellaire!

Conversation: Textual Faith

2010-01-27T10:19:00.002-05:00

Drew developed our unTapped topic this week. So, blame him!

Topic: Textual Faith/Spirituality
How would religion/spirituality be different without sacred texts i.e. the bible, the Qu'ran, or whatever? Could there or would there be religion/spirituality without sacred texts?

Join us for our discussion this Thursday, 7pm at Shorts Brewing Company in downtown Bellaire.

Why be part of a faith community?

2009-09-30T10:07:00.002-04:00

I hear more and more people tell me that they are "spiritual" but just don't want to or feel the need to join a church or religious organization.

Without getting in too much trouble, I agree. It's tough to talk about reasons for being a part of something when we're unfocused and unsure about the necessity for such involvement.

I'm a joiner, I'll admit it. But even in the church, I'm not sure if joining is necessary. Too often it feels forced. We recently had someone come to our church asking for help with rent. Without getting into the details, the request we necessary and legit. She said she hadn't received any support from other churches because, "Each place she asked said they only helped people who were members of their congregation."

Wow.

I can't think of any worse reason for someone to have to join a church.

Is this what happens in most places? Are we still stuck in the "bread for Jesus" mentality of the mid 1800's?

What do you think? Why have you or have you not joined a faith community?

We're back on at Short's on Thursday nights at 7:00 pm. We're meeting on the couches in front of the stage in the overflow room. Hope to see you there,

Andrew and Corey

Spirituality and Opium

2009-07-09T09:11:00.002-04:00

Karl Marx once famously stated that "religion is the opiate of the masses." What Marx meant by that is that religion is a place that people flee in times of hardship instead of actually doing something about it.

Do you think that is true? Does religion hinder social progress? Does faith keep us sated while inequality runs rampant? Are we too doped up by spirituality to see the reality around us?

Join us at Shorts Brewing tonight for an interesting conversation on whether faith inhibits or initiates positive societal change.

What is Our Nature?

2009-07-02T16:32:00.001-04:00

Some people believe that we are all born with a sin nature, while others are sure that we are in fact not. What do you think? Tonight we will be examining these questions and more at Shorts Brewery in downtown Bellaire. I hope you can join us!

Shorts Review

2009-06-23T15:04:00.001-04:00

Shorts received some well deserve praise. Read about it here. Also, we hope to see you this Thursday for unTapped!

Doors, doors, and more doors

2009-06-12T09:59:00.003-04:00

Last night's meeting at Short's Brewing Co. began with a question about regret and doubt. How often do we make decisions and then go back and wonder what would have been if you'd made the other decision?

Someone compared it to walking through a door. Once you've gone through that one door, you will always wonder what was behind the other doors. Then someone else in the group said, "There are other doors?!"

How much fate vs. free will, or destinity vs. chance is there in our decisionmaking process? Better question, what is the place for regret and wonder in these decisions?

Change in values?

2009-04-28T10:58:00.005-04:00

I have two friends who recently posted pictures on Facebook that I appeared in. The first picture is from 1998, my freshman year in college,

and the second picture is from two years ago, right before I graduated from seminary.

And for a point of reference, here is a picture of me now -

My point in showing these "fantastic" pictures of me is to note that I can remember those times like they were yesterday, yet I know how much of a different person I was then compared to now. I can't quite put my finger on how and why I think of myself as a different person, but I know that what I thought, what I believed, what I wanted, and what I hoped for were entirely different things in each of these three snapshots of my life. In addition to looking different, I just feel different than I did then.

So what is the concrete, immutable me? Is there a part of us that doesn't change? Are we the same person and it's just our external pressures and environment changes, or are we truly a million different people from one day to the next?

Who are we and who are we going to be? Do those things have to be mutually exclusive?

What is our true identity?

Discuss: Art, Kids and God

2009-04-16T14:21:00.002-04:00

Tonight for unTapped we will continue our discussion about art and beautuy as well as discuss the legitimacy and reality of childhood spiritual experiences.

hope to see you at Short's, tonight at 7:00pm

Earliest Memories

2009-04-13T10:11:00.003-04:00

Yesterday was a fantastic day to celebrate Easter. It was beautiful out in Northern Michigan - the birds are returning, the snow has melted, and green things are just around the corner.

We took my daughter outside to find eggs in the yard. She LOVED it. My son (10 mo.) didn't quite grasp the concept but my daughter, she was in her glory. At nearly 3 years old she is doing some pretty incredible stuff and I'm loving watching it happen.

I told someone at work about this this morning and she said, "My boys talk about the first outdoor easter egg hunt they did when they were three or four...right around the same age as your girl."

Then I made the strange connection/realization that my daughter might actual retain some of the memories she experiences these days. Up until this point, I was pretty sure she wasn't going to remember the time we got stuck in the mud while driving. At least, I figured she wouldn't remember it when she was in her twenties so it wouldn't come back to haunt me.

Nope. Now she remembers things and she's starting to build up a memory of her life.

I talked to another friend about something that happened to us in college and he said, "Wow, I don't really remember that. I guess a little bit, but I don't remember it like you do."

Why do we hold on to some memories more than others?

No unTapped this Week

2009-04-08T17:08:00.001-04:00

We won't be meeting this week for unTapped. But, feel free to swing by Short's anyway.

Sharing the Shins

2009-03-26T11:01:00.005-04:00

What do you love? What are you passionate about? Do you ever find yourself telling everybody you know about a sports team, band, or film? What is it about cultural things that make us want to bring the reality of the experience to other people?

I'll give you a double example. Years ago, a friend of mine kept badgering me to see a film called Garden State. I was not a big fan of scrubs, so I consistently refused. However, I was won over by my friend's passion about the film. When, I finally did see it, I was blown away by one line in particular.

For years now, I have been a huge fan of the Shins, an indie band from Albuquerque. Before Garden State most people had never heard of the Shins (they are on the soundtrack). So, for the most part, I was alone in my adoration for the Shins' baroque pop discography. That is, until I saw Garden State and heard the line. Check out this scene from the film to get what I am talking about.

"The song" was "New Slang" by the Shins. I almost jumped out of my seat. Somebody else loved the Shins! I don't know why that was so exciting to me other than the fact that I now realized that I was a part of something bigger.

in the film, Sam's passion for her music and for sharing it with others is beautiful and magnetic. But is it always magnetic to share your passion?

The other day, my wife was paid a visit by a local religious group that is trying to recruit people to their Easter services. More than anything, their door-to-door is annoying to most people, but aren't they sharing their passion? Why is it annoying when religious people share what they are excited about, but it is not so annoying when people share their passion about sports, music, books, television, etc. ?

Another interesting perspective on this subject comes from a committed atheist, Penn Jillete. Listen to what he has to say:

So, an atheist seems to think that if religious people believed that their faith really had eternal implications, they would be sharing it with everyone.

What do you think? Should religious people share their faith?

Who's in? Who's Out?

2009-03-19T10:09:00.004-04:00

Last week we discussed the fear and expectation of life after death from several different perspectives. Now, we turn to a very difficult concept to grasp - who gets rewarded and who gets punished in the afterlife?

In the conversation, some of us were concerned about the idea of justice last week. While it is comforting to think of rewards and benefits in the afterlife, it is equally disturbing to think about punishment for evil in the afterlife. The traditional Christian concept of eternal punishment is full of flames and agony. Other traditions like Hinduism refer to unappealing reincarnations.

So, what does it take to get the good reward and avoid the horrible consequences? Some faiths require a person to be "good," while others require some sort of conversion experience.

What do you think? If you believe in God or a just force in the universe, how do you think the delineation is made between good and evil people? For those who do not have faith in an eternal justice, is time heading toward some balance and is that a comforting thought to you?

Hopefully you can join us at Shorts for a great conversation.

Heaven, Hell and Salvation

2009-03-17T13:36:00.003-04:00

Last week, we discussed the various ways that faiths view the afterlife. We discussed death, hope, justice and the fear of what happens next.

We're going to continue this conversation. This Thursday, we will discuss what salvation is to various perspectives. What does it take to be a part of a faith?

If you have some thoughts on this topic, join us Thursday night at Shorts Brewing Company!

Flow

2009-02-25T22:11:00.009-05:00

If any of you are around when I have to meet my day, I don't want a long funeral. And if you get somebody to deliver the eulogy, tell them not to talk too long. Every now and then I wonder what I want them to say. Tell them not to mention that I have a Nobel Peace Prize, that isn't important. Tell them not to mention that I have three or four hundred other awards, that's not important. Tell him not to mention where I went to school.

I'd like somebody to mention that day, that Martin Luther King, Jr., tried to give his life serving others. I'd like for somebody to say that day, that Martin Luther King, Jr., tried to love somebody. I want you to say that day, that I tried to be right on the war question. I want you to be able to say that day that I did try to feed the hungry. I want you to be able to say that day that I did try in my life to clothe those who were naked. I want you to say, on that day, that I did try, in my life, to visit those who were in prison. I want you to say that I tried to love and serve humanity.

Yes, if you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice; say that I was a drum major for peace; I was a drum major for righteousness. And all of the other shallow things will not matter. I won't have any money to leave behind. I won't have the fine and luxurious things of life to leave behind. But I just want to leave a committed life behind. And that's all I want to say.

- from The Drum Major Instinct
Delivered at Ebenezer Baptist Church, Atlanta, GA, on 4 February 1968
Martin Luther King, Jr.

This morning, I visited the birth home of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. I visited his church. I visited his memorial.

The displays and exhibits were stirring. The art and tributes were also poignant. It was awesome to see groups of school children (integrated groups of children) touring the historic site. However, nothing stirred more than Dr. King himself. His sermons and speeches were playing in various spots. His words were inscribed throughout the sites.

He still speaks.

I spent some time looking at the reflecting pool that surrounds his memorial. At the top of the pool, fountains gently push water into the lower tiers of the pool. One pool flowed into another, until the flow pooled around the memorial at the bottom. The whole time I sat there watching, the water continued to flow and to flow... and it continues still.

But let justice roll down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.
-Amos 5:24

Ruminations on King and Gyros

2009-02-25T21:27:00.000-05:00

I'm in Atlanta, GA, writing this on my crackberry. I found a little gyro joint downtown (I know: not exactly Southern delicacy).

I pride myself in a couple of things when traveling:

1. Not looking like an annoying tourist

2. My ability to traverse an urban jungle without a car.

So with these principles in mind I tested Atlanta's mass transit. I visited Centennial Olympic Park, the World Congress Center, CNN Headquarters, etc. But, the highlight of the day was a visit to the MLK Center for Social Change.

Dr. King's passion and resolme are only eclipsed by his accomplishments. It was a moving visit to a great man's home, church, and memorial. I'll write moe on it later.

Atlanta's transit was better than expected. The gyro wasn't bad either.

Any travel tips for me? Wha( is your worst and best travel experience?

y
Sent from my BlackBerry Smartphone provided by Alltel

Happy Ash Wednesday...I guess?

2009-02-25T10:18:00.002-05:00

What are we supposed to feel about a church season that focuses around the darkness and passion approaching the cross?

Do any of you observe anything for Ash Wed and the darkness of winter or is this just more churchy language and ritual? I'm curious because while my denomination makes a big deal about the church seasons, I'm always worried we don't see things within the bigger picture.

I'm tired of winter and ready for something good to happen. That's what Lent always reminds me of...the fact that it's still freezing, we've had snow now for five straight months, and I HOPE there is something new, fresh, and springy just around the corner.

That's just me. What about you?

Madmen and Babies!

2009-02-19T13:48:00.001-05:00

A vile, wretched and dastardly villain who dresses all in black complete with a moustache that twitches with evil has kidnapped your child and placed him or her on one train track. On a different train track the mustached madman has has tied twenty total strangers to the rails. When you come upon the scene there is a speeding locomotive barreling toward the two tracks, and you don’t have enough time to get to either your child or the twenty strangers. But, you do have enough time to get to the switch that changes the path of the locomotive. essentially you are forced to choose between your child or the twenty strangers. How do you choose?

Join us for a conversation about ethics and choice!

Catching Up With the Present

2009-02-14T11:04:00.001-05:00

It seems to me that I live most of my life catching up with the present.

This morning my son woke me up way too early. Yet, even through my groggy, sleepy eyes, I had a disturbing question: who was this amazing, wonderful little boy? Where did he come from? How was this possible?

He didn't want much. He just wanted to sit on my lap and wait for me to wake up.

As terrible as it sounds, I spend most of my days as if I do not have a wonderful and a beautiful life.

It seems like yesterday I was so young, that days seemed to last forever. I could dip my feet into the waters of time and remaindry. Now, as my small son bounces his feet up and down on my lap, not making a sound, I know the days are moving faster than my perception.
Sent from my BlackBerry Smartphone provided by Alltel

The Fear of the Meta-Narrative

2009-02-11T12:33:00.002-05:00

Is there a generational divide over the subject of transparency with regards to personal info?

I recently discussed with someone slightly older who was put off by the concept of putting too much personal, experiential moments out for the world to explore and share. He argued that these existential, defining moments happen to everyone...but they don't need to be broadcast to the world as though they are entirely unique.

I thought I heard him saying that the general narrative of humanity defines or explains the individual, special revelation as experienced by the individual. I understand his point, but I think there might be a cultural shift that denies this point of view in favor of the move toward the individual experience defining the general. There is not one story for a generation, but thousands of individual experiences that form an overall view INSTEAD OF one story for a generation that is exemplified by thousands of similar individual accounts.

Thoughts?

In Other News...

2009-02-08T09:51:00.002-05:00

Check it out!

The Traverse City Record Eagle did a great write up on unTapped in their faith feature section. The link above will take you to it. Also, featured in the article is a similar group over in Traverse City that we may need to crash sometime. It is called Pub Theology and they meet at Right Brain Brewery.

Take a look at the article and let us know what you think.

Thursday Recap

2009-02-06T08:31:00.001-05:00

2.6.09

We had a great time at Short’s last night. Several of us got together and discussed the reality of hopelessness and suicide in our world and community. We were able to discusses causes, and share our own stories of experiences in our families and relationships.

Big thanks go to Andrew who was on baby duty.

One of the things that came up is the fact that we have so much stuff in our lives – wealth, possessions, etc, but we struggle with depression more than third world countries. Maybe we assume all the stuff we accumulate is going to make us happy, but turns out to be very disappointing.

What do you think? Is there a connection between materialism and depression?

If you’re in the Bellaire area, join us at 7pm next Thursday, Shorts Brewing Company, in downtown Bellaire!

We're All Going to Die! Just Not Yet.

2009-02-05T10:07:00.004-05:00

Recently, our village has been hit by a string of suicides.

I love life. I lead a happy, fulfilling, wonderful existence that is full of joy and pleasure. It is hard for me to comprehend the notion of purposefully offing myself. However, there was a time when I tried to do this very thing. You can read about it here.

I read somewhere that the American mortality rate is 100%. In other words, we're all eventually going to die. We should learn to get beyond our fear of that. On the other hand, we should not be too eager to embrace it.

For some however, death is all too welcome. Can life really get to be that bad, or is there something else going on?

Have you ever known anyone who has attempted suicide? Has your family been affected by suicide?

What do yo think causes someone to try it: hopelessness, fear, psychological problems?

Religous Rudeness

2009-01-31T16:54:00.002-05:00

This story drove me crazy (click here).

i don't really want to get into the idea of Lord's Day in Christianity or Sabbath in Judaism. Instead, I want to focus on why so many religious people use their faith to be rude, inconsiderate, and nasty. It seems to me that our faith ought to lead us to be more loving, better customers, and down right nicer people.

What do you think? Have you heard about this kind of behavior?

Thursday Nights

2009-01-30T17:05:00.001-05:00

The unTapped disscussion group meets every Thursday night at Short's Brewing in downtown Bellaire.

Last Thursday we discussed cynicism in our lives - where it comes from and how it affects everything from our ethics to our choice of music.

Join us next week!
Sent from my BlackBerry Smartphone provided by Alltel

Greatest Generation

2009-01-28T14:13:00.002-05:00

There has been a massive call to arms, as of late, to be servant leaders in our communities. I have heard and overwhelming response in wake of Obama's election by people who feel called to serve.

I'm not sure I buy it.

Don't get me wrong. I LOVE this idea of service to others and trying to get out of our consumer-based, me-first mentality. But is a change really happening?

I was fascinated by a friend of my recently who was volunteering with the United Way for a soup kitchen project. My buddy just turned 30, isn't married, and to me, seemed an unlikely character to offer his time this way. I don't mean that as insult, only that I don't see this sort of selflessness around me very often. He was serving because he wanted to help. It wasn't to impress someone, to meet and obligation, or to meet a girl...he was just serving because there was a need.

Does the Gen X/Millennial gen serve in the same way their grandparents did in the oft quoted times when "life was harder, people were more connected, and the world needed them?" Do we serve more? I want to believe we respond to the call to be the hands and feet of love in the world, but I seem to doubt.

Help my cynicism and correct me on this one.

The Challenge of Ascendence

2009-01-28T13:40:00.004-05:00

We've grown used to wonders in this century. It's hard to dazzle us. But for twenty-five years the United States space program has been doing just that. We've grown used to the idea of space, and, perhaps we forget that we've only just begun. We're still pioneers. They, the members of the Challenger crew, were pioneers.

And I want to say something to the schoolchildren of America who were watching the live coverage of the shuttle's take-off. I know it's hard to understand, but sometimes painful things like this happen. It's all part of the process of exploration and discovery.

-President Ronald Reagen, January 28, 1986

Twenty three years ago today at about 10am, I was a six year old school boy, watching a television screen with two dozen other kids in a suburban school outside of Houston. On the TV screen, a rocket-powered space shuttle pushed itself towards space. It almost poetically rolled as it ascended. Then, it exploded.

I watched as white smoking pieces of debris fell and fell and fell from five miles above the earth. I watched as the rocket boosters spun away in a mad, spinning panic. Even as a first grader, I knew something had gone terribly wrong.

Just weeks before the explosion, I recall visiting a space museum and actually seeing moonrocks. The idea of traveling through space was fascinating. The stars seemed closer. But, it all was so surreal at the same time. The stars weren't closer and the moon was a million miles away. How could this paradox be?

I had not yet gotten used to the split custody between my parents - Dad on the weekends, Mom
on the weekdays. Holidays were negotiable. There was fighting and yelling. Sometimes I wondered if the Moon was such a bad place to live.

Watching what remained of Challenger get reclaimed by the force of gravity, I realized that the Moon was too far away. I experienced my first taste of cynicism. I knew that the tragic was the real.

A year later, my mother passed away. Even as a second grader, I knew something had gone terribly wrong. The Moon was too far away, and outer space was something beyond my reach. All kids have wild hopes and dreams, but at that time, it seemed like mine were descending in a million burning pieces back to the ground.

When did you have your first experience with "gravity?" When did life reclaim your stratospheric hopes or dreams? What was that like? Have you changed since then?

Doubtful

2009-01-27T17:23:00.000-05:00

You know, one of the things that faith traditions fear most is doubt. For some people, doubt is debilitating and difficult. It can crush a person's spirit.

However, other people find a lot of depth and insight by exploring their doubts. Some spiritual seekers can learn more about life and faith through questions than answers.

Where are you at? Have you ever struggled with doubting your beliefs and values? Is doubt a good thing?

Torture and Faith

2009-01-22T23:24:00.006-05:00

Disclaimer: The following is one person's opinion and not necessarily yours or any organization's. It belongs to the author, alone.

Some people carry around the tag "American" like it is a woeful burden. Not me. I love my country. I always have. However, there are times when my country's government does things that are hard to accept, times that seem shameful.

I was hopeful that the previous administration would have ended the dreadful practice of torture and inhuman interrogation. However, I had to wait until our current administration to see such an injunction come to pass. I am glad that the president signed the injunction and hopeful that our country can leave such madness behind.

What does this have to do with faith?

Faith should remind our leaders of basic moral rights that God gave to every human being. Without faith, I worry how our moral compass will work. America has faith and should look to its faith(s) to inform it s policies.

No matter where you are at politically, I believe that the idea of torturing another human being should shock and nauseate. It is sad to me that America would allow things to be done to other humans that we have outlawed against animals.

The notion that national security is a legitimate reason for such acts is also an inadequate reason. For, every act of torture lessens us as human beings. No matter what an inmate has done, does he deserve to be treated as less than an animal - like a lab rat? Additionally, can we really expect good to come as a result of an evil deed?

Martin Luther King JR said,

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.

This nation has unprecedented dangers and threats to respond to. It is our government's responsibility to keep its citizens safe. However, we must be careful not to violate our most intrinsic values in the process of securing our lives and our liberty. we cannot achieve morality through immoral means, and if we do, what have we really gained?

We have tried for years now to pursue a means of securing our nation that resembles the tactics of Jack Bauer more than the high ideals of our greatest spiritual leaders. As a person of faith, I am thankful for the wise and moral decision of our current leader, and I am not alone in this gratitude.

So, what do you think of torture and faith's role in the conversation?

I Believe in God

2009-01-21T00:01:00.000-05:00

On a regular basis, I enjoy having conversations with various friends about faith, belief, and the reality of s supreme deity. As you could probably guess, these conversations can get heated. They also tend to be unhelpful, since they tend toward predictable patterns like this:

"You prove it!"

"No, you!"

As you can see, pretty pointless.

I think one of the dirty little secrets that many believers are hiding is the fact that in an age dominated by postmoderns, the old apologetic just doesn't work anymore. In fact, it didn't work all that well in the first place. We have reached the limit of our logical arguments, our persuasive pitches, and our philosophical rhetoric and we have failed.

Now, mind you, faith has not been disproved. Instead, both arguments for and against faith have been put in doubt to the point that apologists on both side of the argument have fallen victim to apathy. I am one of these.

For many believers, this has caused a crisis of faith. Many have turned their backs on faiths and traditions. They have seen the failure of argument, logic and traditional claims and just walked away. I am not one of these.Instead, I am the father of Caedmon.

You see, the many who have lost their faith have actually lost faith in a logical system, a philosophical perspective. I have found that faith can remain strong while the arguments and the systematization erodes. This is because our faith

Today, I came home at lunchtime and my son was waiting for me at the door. He looked at me, beamed and said "hi." To me, his simple miracle transcended every objection I could raise.

I believe in God. I believe that there is truth in hope.

This I Believe

2009-01-20T17:15:00.003-05:00

National Public Radio hosts a wonderful conversation called "This I Believe." This project encourages people to write in and share their values, and the things that life has taught them to passionately believe in. While it is not an inherently religious conversation, spirituality is covered.

The project features the perspectives of people as diverse as Albert Einstein and Tony Hawk. There is even a spot where you can contribute your own perspective.

What I like about the site (other than the wonderful content) is that the site recognizes that belief is a conversation, a comparison of perspectives, and an opportunity to learn from one another. In our world, we are forced to watch the pain and suffering brought about by people so passionate about their own perspective that they are unable to listen to any other viewpoint. Dialogue is a better way.

So, What do you believe? What do you believe in? What are those things that are the core of who you are?

Media Pawn? Me?

2009-01-17T11:17:00.000-05:00

iMonk wrote an interesting post (rant) that you can see here. He writes about the media saturated world we live in now and compares it to the world of his parents, where media was not so encompassing. A snippet:

No…I think their world was better. And I say that with full knowledge that I never saw my parents read a book or listen to music that wasn’t on the radio. They were deprived of a lot, but their world wasn’t utter and complete chaos.

They didn’t believe the nonsense we believe. They weren’t enslaved to the consumer religion. They didn’t judge their children in comparison to anyone other than Wally and the Beaver. They didn’t judge their lives in comparison to the houses on the Better Homes Channel. They didn’t judge a meal by Rachel Ray or a church by Joel Osteen.

Media occupied its place in their world. They didn’t serve as pawns in the world of media.

And that’s what many of us have become. Pawns in a game where we hardly exist except as an audience for the information, consumer and entertainment establishment.

I hope you go and read ~~the~~ ~~entire rant~~ most of the post. What do you think? Is our world so dominated by media, information, and news that we have become pawns for them? Are our livesd increasingly defined by the ebb and flow of the information current?

Miracles

2009-01-15T09:17:00.000-05:00

"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."
- Albert Einstein

Do you believe in miracles? Do you believe that God supernaturally intervenes into our lives and our world?

Einstein seemed to have thought that typical religous coneptions of the miraculous would hinder from recognizing the truly miraculous, which is all around us.

Another perspective on this comes from Michael Spencer who blogs over at iMonk. He wrote a post about a conversation he had with a friend about signs and wonders.

"I believe that religion, as a human phenomenon and by its very nature, creates a world where people believe that things happen that haven't happened. The line between fact and reality goes very thin and takes a good bit of the week off."

While Spencer us probably correct, I don't know if that is such a bad thing. What's wrong with living with a perspective that anything can happen, even if it is not true?

What do you think?
Sent from my BlackBerry Smartphone provided by Alltel

Happiness

2009-01-13T15:42:00.001-05:00

The newspaper in the town I grew up in used to have a section of their classifieds called "Happiness Is..." For a small fee, you could tell the readership about something that had made your day by finishing the sentence "happiness is."

People would put all sorts of stuff in there. "Happiness is attending our family reunion." "Happiness is visiting my aunt's cabin on the lake." "Happiness is catching up with my old friends." You get the picture.

Happiness is something that we can all agree on its value - we all want it. We can also agree on its elusiveness - we all don't quite have it yet.

What is happiness to you? Is it something you can achieve, or is it a state of mind? Do we have a responsibility for others' happiness or just our own?

What is happiness?
Sent from my BlackBerry Smartphone provided by Alltel

Dalai Lama on the Economy

2009-01-12T23:07:00.003-05:00

I found this story over at Bloomberg's site (link).

Jan. 13 (Bloomberg) -- The Dalai Lama, Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader, blamed a lack of spirituality among people today for the global financial crisis.

The Buddhist monk, speaking during a weeklong religious seminar in the Indian holy city of Varanasi, told followers that “rampant corruption in the world” is due to a decline in culture and spirituality.

“People have become selfish and materialistic, which has led to the economic slowdown,” the 73-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner said in an address at the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies yesterday, Indian state-run broadcaster Doordarshan reported.

What do you think? Is there some sort of spiritual conection between spirituality and the economic crisis? It seems to me that there is an undeniable connection between the crisis and ethics (or lack thereof).

Magic

2009-01-12T22:48:00.001-05:00

“How’s the weather your way?” my Dad asks. He always wants to know about the weather. I answer and then ask him “How’s the weather your way?” I always want to know about the weather. You see, he lives farther in the North.

There is a strange enchantment that surprises me and my neighbors every year. It is the Cold. The Cold waves a wand over our North and the ground turns to white. The Cold waves its wand and the precipitation turns to snow. The Sun disappears.

In the North, the cold is the crisp climate greeting that meets me as I walk out the morning door. This cold permeates every part of life. It is a part of the atmosphere, the air. This cold is not alone, though; it also brings the smell of woodsmoke, the sound of of trudging footsteps and the sight of my breath exhaled.

Today, I left the house coated, sweatered, and hatted. The drive to this coffeeshop was slow as car’s tires slipped and tended toward the ditch several times. But, upon arriving, the coffee was hotter than in months gone by. Everything I touched had a warmth that has always been there - my skin had just forgotten how warm the world actually is.

My perspective has been skewed from a lack of winter. I am grateful for the unfamiliar magic, for the Cold.

I’ve removed my jacket now and Billy Collins is in my cold hands:

In the usual iconography of the temple or the local Wok
you would never see him doing such a thing,
tossing the dry snow over a mountain
of his bare, round shoulder,
his hair tied in a knot,
a model of concentration.

Sitting is more his speed, if that is the word
for what he does, or does not do.

Even the season is wrong for him.
In all his manifestations, is it not warm or slightly humid?
Is this not implied by his serene expression,
that smile so wide it wraps itself around the waist of the universe?

But here we are, working our way down the driveway,
one shovelful at a time.

We toss the light powder into the clear air.
We feel the cold mist on our faces.
And with every heave we disappear
and become lost to each other
in these sudden clouds of our own making,
these fountain-bursts of snow.

This is so much better than a sermon in church,
I say out loud, but Buddha keeps on shoveling.
This is the true religion, the religion of snow,
and sunlight and winter geese barking in the sky,
I say, but he is too busy to hear me.

He has thrown himself into shoveling snow
as if it were the purpose of existence,
as if the sign of a perfect life were a clear driveway
you could back the car down easily
and drive off into the vanities of the world
with a broken heater fan and a song on the radio.

-Billy Collins, from “Shoveling Snow With Buddha”
read the whole poem here

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cross posted here