Last Thursday, my organization, People Reluctant To Kill for an Abstraction, orchestrated an overwhelming show of force around the globe.
At precisely 9 in the morning, working with focus and stealth, our entire membership succeeded in simultaneously beheading no one. At 10, Phase II began, during which our entire membership did not force a single man to suck another man's penis. Also, none of us blew himself/herself up in a crowded public place. No civilians were literally turned inside out via our powerful explosives. In addition, at 11, in Phase III, zero (0) planes were flown into buildings.
During Phase IV, just after lunch, we were able to avoid bulldozing a single home. Furthermore, we set, on roads in every city, in every nation in the world, a total of zero (0) roadside bombs which, not being there, did not subsequently explode, killing/maiming a total of nobody. No bombs were dropped, during the lazy afternoon hours, on crowded civilian neighborhoods, from which, it was observed, no post-bomb momentary silences were then heard. These silences were, in all cases, followed by no unimaginable, grief-stricken bellows of rage, and/or frantic imprecations to a deity. No sleeping baby was awakened from an afternoon nap by the sudden collapse and/or bursting into flame of his/her domicile during Phase IV.
For the rest go to the link
Friday, August 27, 2004
Broken wrist
Well. I hurt my wrist wrestling 2 or 3 weeks ago, but I figured it would get better. Today I went to the doc and it turns out I have a broken Ulna, so now I'm wearing a silly little splint on my right hand. I think I have problems with pain tolerance. Since was born into heart surgeries and the like I figure things don't hurt until they break open my whole chest (every rib, except for 1 they took out when I was young) cavity and twiddle around in my heart. Therefore I don't really think of a lot of things as painful (like my wrist) instead just an irritant.
If anyone feels like praying for my ol' wrist I would appreciate it.
Peace,
Chris
If anyone feels like praying for my ol' wrist I would appreciate it.
Peace,
Chris
Thursday, August 26, 2004
The Death mobile and a break down of JE's stump speeches
Well. First off I'm still driving for the homeless shelter here in Cheyenne, though the van I drive has taken a turn for the worse. Driving up a hill it stalls, driving down a hill it stalls, stopping at a sign or light it stalls. WEEEE.
And here are John Edward's promises.
raise the minimum wage;
spend more money on: early education, public schools, child care, afterschool programs, and salaries for teachers in the communities where they're needed;
raise taxes on: companies that take jobs overseas; individuals who make more than $200,000 a year;
reduce taxes for: small businesses that create jobs in communities with high unemployment; individuals through a $1,000 tax credit for health care and a $4,000 tax credit for college tuition (in addition to promising four years of tuition to individuals who perform two years of public service);
improve health care by: making the congressional health-care plan available for purchase by all Americans; covering all children; allowing prescription drugs to be imported from Canada; and allowing the government to use its bulk-purchasing power to negotiate lower drug prices from pharmaceutical companies;
reform labor laws by: swiftly and severely punishing employers that violate labor laws; banning the hiring of permanent replacements for strikers; "make card-check neutrality the law of the land";
fight the war on terror by: strengthening alliances to help "get terrorists before they get us";
improve the situation in Iraq by: improving our relations with allies so that NATO will agree to get involved; keeping Iran and Syria from interfering; and getting "others involved in reconstruction besides Halliburton."
And here are John Edward's promises.
raise the minimum wage;
spend more money on: early education, public schools, child care, afterschool programs, and salaries for teachers in the communities where they're needed;
raise taxes on: companies that take jobs overseas; individuals who make more than $200,000 a year;
reduce taxes for: small businesses that create jobs in communities with high unemployment; individuals through a $1,000 tax credit for health care and a $4,000 tax credit for college tuition (in addition to promising four years of tuition to individuals who perform two years of public service);
improve health care by: making the congressional health-care plan available for purchase by all Americans; covering all children; allowing prescription drugs to be imported from Canada; and allowing the government to use its bulk-purchasing power to negotiate lower drug prices from pharmaceutical companies;
reform labor laws by: swiftly and severely punishing employers that violate labor laws; banning the hiring of permanent replacements for strikers; "make card-check neutrality the law of the land";
fight the war on terror by: strengthening alliances to help "get terrorists before they get us";
improve the situation in Iraq by: improving our relations with allies so that NATO will agree to get involved; keeping Iran and Syria from interfering; and getting "others involved in reconstruction besides Halliburton."
Wednesday, August 25, 2004
I've talked about the short stories, here are a few examples
Darkest Night, lightest day
Here in Wyoming, the sky is different than in your neck of the woods. For all its negative qualities Wyoming’s sky almost makes up for all of them. Here one can watch sunset, and moonrise. Here one can be transported into the vastness of infinite space. Here one can realize they are nothing without meditations and ruminations. Here one can become a speck upon the ball of lint. Here one is overwhelmed each morning and each evening.
That of course is why I am telling you this. You do not know what you ask of me, to take you here and see the problems of Wyoming, because Senator, the problems are empty, as is the sky. I would recommend you go back to DC where you belong, where you are enclosed by domes and pocketbooks. Where importance is something thrust upon you, something bought and sold. As for me, I shall stay here, and watch how these people cope with the emptiness. I shall see them root and fuck. I shall see them contemplate themselves to gunshot wounds. I shall see them slit their wrists. I shall see them break. I shall see them live.
It is not a pleasant duty for which I have dedicated my life. It is not a happy place to be a watcher, but for Science, God, and Country I shall observe, and report. Howl.
A question or three
“Why must everyone die father?”
The kindly old man, named Abraham looked down at his son, bound upon the altar to his foreign God, “My son,” said he, “death, is part of life. You see. Sacrifices, are offered because they are something blessed. So too are we. We are blessed, only because we have a finite amount of time in which to make choices. Therefor our own impending death creates value, we have to make choices, separate great from good, good from so-so, and so-so from not so good.”
With that he scrapped the sacrificial blade again, no Mesopotamian was he, but instead the first exile, he had chosen a value higher than country, that of ideology, and God.
“Why are these values good? What use is there for hierarchy?”
He thought of that, wondering at Isaac his famous son, and chose his words carefully, “Remember your brother Ishmael, yet I say I have but one son, you Isaac. Don’t you see, I have chosen the more valuable one as a Gift to the one who Shalt Be.”
“What makes me a more pleasing sacrifice? Why am I better to kill than my brother? Why must you differentiate between the two?”
And with that Abraham could stand it no longer, the knife came down, toward the boy’s throat.
There is more to life than dying characters
“Have you heard of such a thing as love Mr. Higgins?”
The old teacher nodded at his bright young student.
“And what have you to say on the matter?”
He smiled, in an odd way, “Well, Donald. There are things to think about. For example, may I ask what,” he paused, smiling further, “or should I say… who, brought up this topic of conversation?”
“I think you well know that. Don’t you sir?”
“I do,” he nodded, and continued, “I know you have looked at Ms. Poe for three long days.”
“Yes, sir,” he said, blushing from happiness, not embarrassment (a feat the author could never do, at least not when the fairer sex is concerned).
The old man smiled, “What is it that strikes you about her? What is it about her that makes your heart leap.”
“Sir, it is an indescribable thing.”
Mr. Higgins looked at the boy, “I’m an English teacher. I know you can describe this.”
“True,” said Donald, and continued, “Angela Poe is an angel.”
“There have been many angels before Donald, one’s that are in fact pieces of the Throne of the Blessed one, Holy be he, one’s that are cupidic, ones that avenge the Holy will, and devils too. Be more specific, describe the concreteness of this attraction.”
“I,” he began, unsure of himself, “I know that to others she is simply a,” he couldn’t bear to say it, yet he said it anyways, “another girl, but to me. She seems to be a immaculate statue, carved out as an ode to beauty…”
“Stop. What is Beauty? What is beautiful about this statue to an… abstraction.”
“It is,” he paused, “oh, I see sir. Let me go again.”
“Rather.”
“She is an immaculate marble statue carved out by some god to represent caring. It is a healing maiden, a Virgin Mary, but with spunk and love.”
“Love. How is this love manifest in spunk dear Donald?”
“You are right,” he said, “spunk, she will heal, she will bear forth the Christ Child whether God wants her to or not. She will manifest the Will of the Holy One Blessed be He whether or not He wills it or not.”
“That is sacrilege, but most love it. Continue.”
“Where shall I continue sir?”
“Where ever you feel like it.”
He breathed deeply, “okay. In her very existence you see the propensity to be compassionate no matter what.”
“I think you’ve already said that.”
“Well… Sir. That’s because it is true. I love her for her compassion. I love her for her willingness to… I don’t know sir.”
“You do. The Idea and the Deed. That is where you are headed, or should be if I’ve taught you anything.”
“Yes,” he exclaimed, “she is the idea, that is idealism, along with the deed, praxis. She knows what needs to be done, and she will do it whether it is accepted or not.”
“Is that love or tyranny?”
“Both,” Donald said, misty eyed and smiling. Mr. Higgins could do not but nod.
Wisdom poetry
“And what did he mean by this?” asked the Rabbi.
The student looked up to him, and said, “that Abraham is the… what kind of spice?”
“Does the kind of spice matter? What is the point of the text?”
“The text is infinite,” said the boy, twisting his tefilim.
“So what?” asked the Rabbi, “Does that matter? What is the point at essence?”
“That’s for you to know,” said the boy.
The Rabbi’s face darkened, his earlocks practically curled, “I ask these questions, for I do not know the answers.”
“Abraham makes Isaac a solemn sacrifice, but he does it believing, knowing that the Holy one, blessed be He shall resurrect Isaac, or stop the sacrifice in some way.”
“Or?”
“Or that the command of the Holy One, blessed is He is so all powerful, all encompesing that he has to obey."
“Which would the Christians believe?”
“The first.”
“Which do you believe?”
“The second.”
And with that the Rabbi slammed the TaNaK shut, and whipped out a cigar, “Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“The Christians would believe one or the other.”
“The first,” said the student, stepping away from the smoke, “I already said, the first.”
“We would believe both. Saying the text is infinite, and living into an omnipotent text are two different things.”
Here in Wyoming, the sky is different than in your neck of the woods. For all its negative qualities Wyoming’s sky almost makes up for all of them. Here one can watch sunset, and moonrise. Here one can be transported into the vastness of infinite space. Here one can realize they are nothing without meditations and ruminations. Here one can become a speck upon the ball of lint. Here one is overwhelmed each morning and each evening.
That of course is why I am telling you this. You do not know what you ask of me, to take you here and see the problems of Wyoming, because Senator, the problems are empty, as is the sky. I would recommend you go back to DC where you belong, where you are enclosed by domes and pocketbooks. Where importance is something thrust upon you, something bought and sold. As for me, I shall stay here, and watch how these people cope with the emptiness. I shall see them root and fuck. I shall see them contemplate themselves to gunshot wounds. I shall see them slit their wrists. I shall see them break. I shall see them live.
It is not a pleasant duty for which I have dedicated my life. It is not a happy place to be a watcher, but for Science, God, and Country I shall observe, and report. Howl.
A question or three
“Why must everyone die father?”
The kindly old man, named Abraham looked down at his son, bound upon the altar to his foreign God, “My son,” said he, “death, is part of life. You see. Sacrifices, are offered because they are something blessed. So too are we. We are blessed, only because we have a finite amount of time in which to make choices. Therefor our own impending death creates value, we have to make choices, separate great from good, good from so-so, and so-so from not so good.”
With that he scrapped the sacrificial blade again, no Mesopotamian was he, but instead the first exile, he had chosen a value higher than country, that of ideology, and God.
“Why are these values good? What use is there for hierarchy?”
He thought of that, wondering at Isaac his famous son, and chose his words carefully, “Remember your brother Ishmael, yet I say I have but one son, you Isaac. Don’t you see, I have chosen the more valuable one as a Gift to the one who Shalt Be.”
“What makes me a more pleasing sacrifice? Why am I better to kill than my brother? Why must you differentiate between the two?”
And with that Abraham could stand it no longer, the knife came down, toward the boy’s throat.
There is more to life than dying characters
“Have you heard of such a thing as love Mr. Higgins?”
The old teacher nodded at his bright young student.
“And what have you to say on the matter?”
He smiled, in an odd way, “Well, Donald. There are things to think about. For example, may I ask what,” he paused, smiling further, “or should I say… who, brought up this topic of conversation?”
“I think you well know that. Don’t you sir?”
“I do,” he nodded, and continued, “I know you have looked at Ms. Poe for three long days.”
“Yes, sir,” he said, blushing from happiness, not embarrassment (a feat the author could never do, at least not when the fairer sex is concerned).
The old man smiled, “What is it that strikes you about her? What is it about her that makes your heart leap.”
“Sir, it is an indescribable thing.”
Mr. Higgins looked at the boy, “I’m an English teacher. I know you can describe this.”
“True,” said Donald, and continued, “Angela Poe is an angel.”
“There have been many angels before Donald, one’s that are in fact pieces of the Throne of the Blessed one, Holy be he, one’s that are cupidic, ones that avenge the Holy will, and devils too. Be more specific, describe the concreteness of this attraction.”
“I,” he began, unsure of himself, “I know that to others she is simply a,” he couldn’t bear to say it, yet he said it anyways, “another girl, but to me. She seems to be a immaculate statue, carved out as an ode to beauty…”
“Stop. What is Beauty? What is beautiful about this statue to an… abstraction.”
“It is,” he paused, “oh, I see sir. Let me go again.”
“Rather.”
“She is an immaculate marble statue carved out by some god to represent caring. It is a healing maiden, a Virgin Mary, but with spunk and love.”
“Love. How is this love manifest in spunk dear Donald?”
“You are right,” he said, “spunk, she will heal, she will bear forth the Christ Child whether God wants her to or not. She will manifest the Will of the Holy One Blessed be He whether or not He wills it or not.”
“That is sacrilege, but most love it. Continue.”
“Where shall I continue sir?”
“Where ever you feel like it.”
He breathed deeply, “okay. In her very existence you see the propensity to be compassionate no matter what.”
“I think you’ve already said that.”
“Well… Sir. That’s because it is true. I love her for her compassion. I love her for her willingness to… I don’t know sir.”
“You do. The Idea and the Deed. That is where you are headed, or should be if I’ve taught you anything.”
“Yes,” he exclaimed, “she is the idea, that is idealism, along with the deed, praxis. She knows what needs to be done, and she will do it whether it is accepted or not.”
“Is that love or tyranny?”
“Both,” Donald said, misty eyed and smiling. Mr. Higgins could do not but nod.
Wisdom poetry
“And what did he mean by this?” asked the Rabbi.
The student looked up to him, and said, “that Abraham is the… what kind of spice?”
“Does the kind of spice matter? What is the point of the text?”
“The text is infinite,” said the boy, twisting his tefilim.
“So what?” asked the Rabbi, “Does that matter? What is the point at essence?”
“That’s for you to know,” said the boy.
The Rabbi’s face darkened, his earlocks practically curled, “I ask these questions, for I do not know the answers.”
“Abraham makes Isaac a solemn sacrifice, but he does it believing, knowing that the Holy one, blessed be He shall resurrect Isaac, or stop the sacrifice in some way.”
“Or?”
“Or that the command of the Holy One, blessed is He is so all powerful, all encompesing that he has to obey."
“Which would the Christians believe?”
“The first.”
“Which do you believe?”
“The second.”
And with that the Rabbi slammed the TaNaK shut, and whipped out a cigar, “Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“The Christians would believe one or the other.”
“The first,” said the student, stepping away from the smoke, “I already said, the first.”
“We would believe both. Saying the text is infinite, and living into an omnipotent text are two different things.”
Kerry Wisdom of the day
"You'd be amazed at the number of people who want to introduce themselves
to you in the men's room," he said. "It's the most bizarre part of this entire
thing."
Monday, August 23, 2004
Kerry's response to Swift-boat folk
A front group for the Bush campaign called 'Swift Boat Veterans forTruth' continuing to spread their lies about John Kerry's militaryrecord. Their statements have been contradicted by official Navyrecords, the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Chicago Tribuneand every man who served under John Kerry yet George Bush refuses tocondemn their tactics. Through his silence George Bush is approvingtheir action. In fact, Bush campaign officials in Florida are evenpromoting events for this front group. Today we're calling for all of you to join together and stand withJohn Kerry. Tell George Bush: stop the smear, get back to the issues.Sign John Kerry's petition by visiting:http://www.johnkerry.com/oldtricksEnough is enough. No matter what these Bush campaign shills now say,John Kerry's commanders in 1969 remarked that 'In a combat environmentoften requiring independent, decisive action, LTJG Kerry wasunsurpassed.' In fact all John Kerry's performance reports (availableon John Kerry's website) display an absolutely heroic record ofservice. John Kerry's campaign has just release a new internet adcalled 'Old Tricks' which shows John McCain asking George Bush toapologize for attacking his own heroic record.View the ad by visiting:http://www.johnkerry.com/oldtricks
Thursday, August 19, 2004
Electorial College vote as of today, and new music
Well, if you check out the Electorial College Vote you will see Kerry wins 301 to 213, with 24 votes tied.
In other news I increased my CD collection by about a fifth. Just bought Tracy Chapman by... Tracy Chapman. I also bought Keep Right by KRS-One.
I've been writing a lot, all of it short stories and reading Lord of the Flies as well as the complete works of Lord Byron.
I've been pretty worried about the stuff going on in Najaf, I really think harming the Ali Mosque could really screw the US in the short and long term. It would be like blowing up the Vatican just because the Pope was taking potshots at Lutherans.
At any rate, I hope we don't end up shooting ourselves in the foot, and I hope Al-Sadr quits shooting at us.
In other news I increased my CD collection by about a fifth. Just bought Tracy Chapman by... Tracy Chapman. I also bought Keep Right by KRS-One.
I've been writing a lot, all of it short stories and reading Lord of the Flies as well as the complete works of Lord Byron.
I've been pretty worried about the stuff going on in Najaf, I really think harming the Ali Mosque could really screw the US in the short and long term. It would be like blowing up the Vatican just because the Pope was taking potshots at Lutherans.
At any rate, I hope we don't end up shooting ourselves in the foot, and I hope Al-Sadr quits shooting at us.
Wednesday, August 18, 2004
Song by Woody Guthrie
Jesus ChristJesus Christ was a man who traveled through the land,A hard working man and brave.He said to the rich "Give your goods to the poor."But they laid Jesus Christ in His grave.
Jesus was a man, a carpenter by hand,His followers true and brave,One dirty little coward called Judas IscariotHas laid Jesus Christ in His grave.He went to the preacher, He went to the sheriff,He told them all the same,"Sell all of your jewelry and give it to the poor,"But they laid Jesus Christ in his grave.
When Jesus come to town, all the working folks aroundBelieved what He did say,The bankers and the preachers they nailed Him on a cross.Then they laid Jesus Christ in His grave.
The poor workin' people, they followed Him around,They sung and they shouted gay,The cops and the soldiers, they nailed Him in the air,And they laid Jesus Christ in His grave.
Well, the people held their breath when they heard about His death,And everybody wondered why,It was the landlord and the soldiers that he hired,To nail Jesus Christ in the sky.This song was written in New York City,Of rich man, preacher and slave,But if Jesus was to preach like He preached in Galilee,They would lay Jesus Christ in His grave.
Jesus was a man, a carpenter by hand,His followers true and brave,One dirty little coward called Judas IscariotHas laid Jesus Christ in His grave.He went to the preacher, He went to the sheriff,He told them all the same,"Sell all of your jewelry and give it to the poor,"But they laid Jesus Christ in his grave.
When Jesus come to town, all the working folks aroundBelieved what He did say,The bankers and the preachers they nailed Him on a cross.Then they laid Jesus Christ in His grave.
The poor workin' people, they followed Him around,They sung and they shouted gay,The cops and the soldiers, they nailed Him in the air,And they laid Jesus Christ in His grave.
Well, the people held their breath when they heard about His death,And everybody wondered why,It was the landlord and the soldiers that he hired,To nail Jesus Christ in the sky.This song was written in New York City,Of rich man, preacher and slave,But if Jesus was to preach like He preached in Galilee,They would lay Jesus Christ in His grave.
Monday, August 09, 2004
Camp, Al-Sadr and more on LUT
Well. I've been gone for a while. Went to Sky Ranch in Colorado. I've never been to a Christian camp before. It was really fun. Stayed up all night playing "chancy chancy" with a group of pastors. Went for a couple of hikes, got a bit lost, but found myself (by that I mean I think I'm going to Africa for a year between College and Seminary). Good times.
Here are my thoughts on Al-Sadr. I think he plans to get himself killed while praying at Ali's tomb. His last words will be "We must not allow infidels in this holy place."
Why do I think that? Because Ali was Martyred (he got his head split open while praying alone in the dark) while praying and his last words were something like don't fight on my grave. So I think that Al-Sadr, for the sake of a radicalized Islamic Iraq will allow himself to follow in Ali's footsteps. At least that is what I'd do if I was Al-Sadr.
Finally, there is the issue of Marxism within L.utheran U.nderground T.heology. I'll be brief. Marx saw "the Party" as a nursemaid to ease the "birthing pains" of the revolution. I say, likewise "the Church" is the nursemaid of the end times, for Jesus says "Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never suck!" during "the days that are coming." (Luke23) Yet there shall be those nursing and birthing, and the church must be there to ease the birthing pains. Basicly, since we are in the inbetween times, the Already not Yet, we must prepare, and pre-figure what the Kingdom of God shall be like, yet still knowing that the Kingdom of God s to come.
So, to answer Brian C I'm not talking about tearing up the church and replacing it with Stalinism, I'm talking about intentionality and recognition of the time period in which the church is in.
One final note, I got a letter from one of the peeps at Christus house where I'm staying next year, the way things work out I'll be leaving Cheyenne on my 21st birthday (9/20) to go back to Eugene.
Peace all,
Chris
Here are my thoughts on Al-Sadr. I think he plans to get himself killed while praying at Ali's tomb. His last words will be "We must not allow infidels in this holy place."
Why do I think that? Because Ali was Martyred (he got his head split open while praying alone in the dark) while praying and his last words were something like don't fight on my grave. So I think that Al-Sadr, for the sake of a radicalized Islamic Iraq will allow himself to follow in Ali's footsteps. At least that is what I'd do if I was Al-Sadr.
Finally, there is the issue of Marxism within L.utheran U.nderground T.heology. I'll be brief. Marx saw "the Party" as a nursemaid to ease the "birthing pains" of the revolution. I say, likewise "the Church" is the nursemaid of the end times, for Jesus says "Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never suck!" during "the days that are coming." (Luke23) Yet there shall be those nursing and birthing, and the church must be there to ease the birthing pains. Basicly, since we are in the inbetween times, the Already not Yet, we must prepare, and pre-figure what the Kingdom of God shall be like, yet still knowing that the Kingdom of God s to come.
So, to answer Brian C I'm not talking about tearing up the church and replacing it with Stalinism, I'm talking about intentionality and recognition of the time period in which the church is in.
One final note, I got a letter from one of the peeps at Christus house where I'm staying next year, the way things work out I'll be leaving Cheyenne on my 21st birthday (9/20) to go back to Eugene.
Peace all,
Chris
Tuesday, August 03, 2004
L.U.T. Lutheran Underground Theology
Apparently my last post was confusing (looking back at it that is rather apparent). So here is the low down about Liberation Theology.
Liberation Theology is cooked up in Latin America in response to accusations that the Roman Catholic church was only on the side of the rich oppressors. This brand of theology takes a lot of Marxist theory and funnels it into Christianity. Liberation Theologians look for instances in the Bible where acts of liberation of the poor and the oppressed take place. They figure the role of the church is to protect and elevate the poor and the oppressed. One of their justifications of this policy is that because of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection the kingdom of God is already here. This concept of kingdom of God already present is also called realized eschatology. This is the part of Liberation theology which I find heretical.
I maintain that instead of a realized eschatology Christians need to live in a pre-figurative eschatology, that is living as if the Kingdom of God is already here, but at the same time is not yet here. That means we can acknowledge that God's message of salvation, given to us through the living word, that is Jesus, is true and real, and here, but we can also acknowledge that humanity was and is still so cruel that we crucify our God. To reiterate, we realize the hope that is in Jesus the Christ, the Messiah, the very Son of God, and we still recognize the present reality of the nihilistic chaos of Sin, Death, and the Devil. With this pre-figurative eschatology, we should live in the hope of the already not yet come Kingdom of God.
In this way the Lutheran concept of Already-not-yet can redeem the heterodox base of Liberation Theology. My thought though is that maybe Lutheran Theologians need to create a new socially conscious theology, born not of Catholic shame toward their sins in Latin America, but instead some sort of North American prophetic movement where we may, like John the Baptist before us cry out
I hope that was more clear.
Anyways, I'd like to hear some comments about this thought.
Peace,
Chris
Liberation Theology is cooked up in Latin America in response to accusations that the Roman Catholic church was only on the side of the rich oppressors. This brand of theology takes a lot of Marxist theory and funnels it into Christianity. Liberation Theologians look for instances in the Bible where acts of liberation of the poor and the oppressed take place. They figure the role of the church is to protect and elevate the poor and the oppressed. One of their justifications of this policy is that because of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection the kingdom of God is already here. This concept of kingdom of God already present is also called realized eschatology. This is the part of Liberation theology which I find heretical.
I maintain that instead of a realized eschatology Christians need to live in a pre-figurative eschatology, that is living as if the Kingdom of God is already here, but at the same time is not yet here. That means we can acknowledge that God's message of salvation, given to us through the living word, that is Jesus, is true and real, and here, but we can also acknowledge that humanity was and is still so cruel that we crucify our God. To reiterate, we realize the hope that is in Jesus the Christ, the Messiah, the very Son of God, and we still recognize the present reality of the nihilistic chaos of Sin, Death, and the Devil. With this pre-figurative eschatology, we should live in the hope of the already not yet come Kingdom of God.
In this way the Lutheran concept of Already-not-yet can redeem the heterodox base of Liberation Theology. My thought though is that maybe Lutheran Theologians need to create a new socially conscious theology, born not of Catholic shame toward their sins in Latin America, but instead some sort of North American prophetic movement where we may, like John the Baptist before us cry out
“In the Wilderness, make straight the path of the LORD.”In becoming a pre-figurative movement we could, to quote ol' Marx for a second,
“Ease the Birthing Pains”of the end times.
I hope that was more clear.
Anyways, I'd like to hear some comments about this thought.
Peace,
Chris
Monday, August 02, 2004
Carrot/Corn 2004
Good Ol' PETA. They are running a tough campaign, but I don't see them winning against Bush, Kerry, or Nader.
In other news I wrote a thank you letter to a retired Pastor who gave me the complete works of Martin Luther! Good stuff. I'm reading Leslie Stevenson's book, "Seven Theories of Human Nature" which critiques Christianity, Freud, Lorenz, Marx, Sartre, Skinner, and Plato. I think Leslie doesn't get Freud quite right. The book was pretty fair to Christianity, though these are some many Christianities out there than the critiques were REALLY broad. Did introduce me to something new, Christian Atheism. God as foundational reality. Eh.
I'm surprised no one has wrote a response to my thoughts about Liberation Theology and Lutheranism. Here is some more thoughts. Liberation Lutherans should co-opt Marx's justification for the need of a party, that is to "ease the birth pains" (though I think Marx was actually influenced by Christianity in this respect) to justify their need to act in a social justice minded way. If we throw away the Catholicish idea of Realized Escotology and replace it with a Prefigurative Escotology then the goal of the church is not to live in the kingdom now, but instead to be a midwife to rapture (as opposed to Marx's "midwife to history"). Why shouldn't the church agree with Marx that "it is always wrong to treat any human being as only a means to an economic end." At any rate the key to unlocking the power of the Christian Church's involvement in Liberation Theology can only come clear when the Hetrodox belief of Realized Escotology is replaced with a Lutheran Pre-figurative Escotology, which makes the Church catholic into the midwife of rapture.
Eh, I'm not being very clear yet. As my good friend Robert has learned to say "I'm still in process."
More later, off to call Philly and see if they would let me tour their Seminary.
Peace,
Chris
In other news I wrote a thank you letter to a retired Pastor who gave me the complete works of Martin Luther! Good stuff. I'm reading Leslie Stevenson's book, "Seven Theories of Human Nature" which critiques Christianity, Freud, Lorenz, Marx, Sartre, Skinner, and Plato. I think Leslie doesn't get Freud quite right. The book was pretty fair to Christianity, though these are some many Christianities out there than the critiques were REALLY broad. Did introduce me to something new, Christian Atheism. God as foundational reality. Eh.
I'm surprised no one has wrote a response to my thoughts about Liberation Theology and Lutheranism. Here is some more thoughts. Liberation Lutherans should co-opt Marx's justification for the need of a party, that is to "ease the birth pains" (though I think Marx was actually influenced by Christianity in this respect) to justify their need to act in a social justice minded way. If we throw away the Catholicish idea of Realized Escotology and replace it with a Prefigurative Escotology then the goal of the church is not to live in the kingdom now, but instead to be a midwife to rapture (as opposed to Marx's "midwife to history"). Why shouldn't the church agree with Marx that "it is always wrong to treat any human being as only a means to an economic end." At any rate the key to unlocking the power of the Christian Church's involvement in Liberation Theology can only come clear when the Hetrodox belief of Realized Escotology is replaced with a Lutheran Pre-figurative Escotology, which makes the Church catholic into the midwife of rapture.
Eh, I'm not being very clear yet. As my good friend Robert has learned to say "I'm still in process."
More later, off to call Philly and see if they would let me tour their Seminary.
Peace,
Chris
Friday, July 30, 2004
The Kerry Speech
It was good. Real good. He spliced some of his stump speeches together along with some of his political ads, sounded a bit JFKish and managed to speak faster than he normally does. Rumor has it spending all that time with Edwards is making him speak like a real human being! My favorite line was:
I will return trust and credibility to the white house.
As well as the:
"Help is on the way" refrain.
Gdub eat your heart out. Your message has been co-opted
Thursday, July 29, 2004
Hey, I'm still alive and such, not sick any more
I'm doing okay. Been writing some (short "Kafkaesque" stuff) and thinking about Liberation theology a bit.
I think the problem with Liberation theology is it's tendency toward realized escotology. That is why Lutherans are the only Christians that can handle Liberation Theology, we realize the Kingdom of God is already here, but not yet here. We don't fall into either the trap of thinking everything in hunky dorie(sp) nor do we think we have to wait until this apocolyptic thing. In short Lutheranism alone can carry the ideology of Liberation Theology upon it's backs and still be non-Heretical Christians.
Just a thought.
Peace, Love, Unity and all that Jazz
Chris
I think the problem with Liberation theology is it's tendency toward realized escotology. That is why Lutherans are the only Christians that can handle Liberation Theology, we realize the Kingdom of God is already here, but not yet here. We don't fall into either the trap of thinking everything in hunky dorie(sp) nor do we think we have to wait until this apocolyptic thing. In short Lutheranism alone can carry the ideology of Liberation Theology upon it's backs and still be non-Heretical Christians.
Just a thought.
Peace, Love, Unity and all that Jazz
Chris
Saturday, July 24, 2004
Friday, July 23, 2004
An article about states rights
Not a bad piece, consume.
I'm reading "in the Margins" right now. I'm not too impressed yet. Terry goes on for about a dozen pages saying how Margin communities should never return to the church, misquoting a bunch of theologians, then turns aroun and says these communities need to be a prophetic voice within the church. Odd that.
More later.
I'm reading "in the Margins" right now. I'm not too impressed yet. Terry goes on for about a dozen pages saying how Margin communities should never return to the church, misquoting a bunch of theologians, then turns aroun and says these communities need to be a prophetic voice within the church. Odd that.
More later.
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