unTapped Topic: Redemptive Violence

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

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!

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?

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?

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

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

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?