Evangelical Leaders Join Global Warming Initiative - New York Times

Evangelical Leaders Join Global Warming Initiative - New York Times:
(Free registration required)

By LAURIE GOODSTEIN
Published: February 8, 2006

"Despite opposition from some of their colleagues, 86 evangelical Christian leaders have decided to back a major initiative to fight global warming, saying "millions of people could die in this century because of climate change, most of them our poorest global neighbors."

Among signers of the statement, which will be released in Washington on Wednesday, are the presidents of 39 evangelical colleges, leaders of aid groups and churches, like the Salvation Army, and pastors of megachurches, including Rick Warren, author of the best seller "The Purpose-Driven Life."
..."

This is a hopeful sign. There has alway been support for environmental stewardship among evangelicals, but that fact has not always been acknowledged in the press, nor played up by the evengelicals themselves.

The list of people supporting this initiative tends toward the center of the evangelical spectrum, and there have been some high-profile people such as Chuck Colson and James Dobson that oppose taking a stand. There have been equally high-profile people such as Rick Warren and Duane Litfin, Wheaton College president, who are in support of this initiative.

There are legitimate scientific questions that need to be addressed, such as whether we are seeing a cyclical event that will eventually swing the other way, or whether we are seeing permanent change. Hopefully science will trump ideology as people strive to deal with these issues.

Happy 96th Birthday, BSA!

On this day in 1910, the Boy Scouts of America was founded.

Over the past 46 years of Boy Scout History, I have been proud to be a part of such a successful program. I started out as a Cub Scout in BSA's 50th year, and I look forward to celebrating its 100th year in 2010.

Overtures reveal major issues for GA action in Birmingham

Overtures reveal major issues for GA action in Birmingham:
(The Presbyterian Outlook has free registration)

Leslie Scanlon, Outlook national reporter
02/07/2006

"Skimming the early batches of overtures submitted to the 2006 General Assembly is sort of like watching a one-minute highlights show of the controversies of the Presbyterian Church (USA).

Divestiture.
Gay ordination.
Churches withholding per capita.
Non-geographic presbyteries.
The Theological Task Force.

It’s all there – and more, in the first opportunity the church has had in two years to ask the assembly to take a stand.

But these overtures also reflect a real desire that the PC(USA) be a light of hope to a hurting world – that it be a denomination not afraid to wade in to troubled waters in places like Haiti and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

So far, more than 60 overtures have been formally submitted, with more surely on the way. Here’s some of what lies ahead...."

It sounds like the 2006 General Assembly has some work to do. Leslie Scanlon has done a pretty good job of summarizing the overtures to date. For those who wish to go to the source, the 217th General Assembly web page has a page listing the overtures received to date. The Outlook article mentions many that are not yet on the PC(USA) list, but I expect the page will be updated as new ones are received.

PC(USA) News: MRTI on divestment

PC(USA) News: MRTI on divestment:

MRTI won’t have any recommendations
for GA on Israel/Palestine divestment issue

Several presbyteries expected to submit
overtures urging reversal of '04 decision

by Toya Richards Hill

"NEW YORK CITY — Almost two years after getting its assignment, the committee overseeing possible divestment from corporations whose business practices promote violence in Israel and Palestine isn’t ready to make recommendations on the issue to the upcoming General Assembly...."

I was the elder-commissioner from my congregation to the meeting of the Prebytery of Missouri Union on Saturday (2/4/2006), and we voted on an MRTI-related overture. This was not to reverse the 2004 action, but to provide a new charge to the committee: to focus on actions that would enhance the well-being of both sides of the Israel/Palestine conflict. My assessment of what was being proposed was that it was more affirmative in its thrust than the 2004 action. It passed on a voice vote, without dissent.

I have been concerned for some time with the apparent imbalance of PC(USA) actions in the Middle East, and I would like to see our response to the conflict be a little more pastoral than punitive.

Bono Waxes 'Prophetic' - Christianity Today Magazine

Bono Waxes 'Prophetic' - Christianity Today Magazine:

Rock-star/activist inspired by Leviticus and Isaiah.
by Sheryl Henderson Blunt | posted 02/06/2006 09:45 a.m.

"While every celebrity seems to have a cause, few stars get their inspiration from Scripture.

That is what sets lead U2 singer Bono apart. Sporting his trademark tinted sunglasses, the rock star spoke to an audience of more than 3,000 at the National Prayer Breakfast February 2, imploring them to respond to the United States' urgent responsibility to help "the least of these."

Two passages drive his message, Bono says: the call in Leviticus 25 for a Year of Jubilee and debt forgiveness, and the command in Isaiah 58 to share with the hungry and provide for the poor.

"Thus sayeth the Lord: 'Bring the homeless poor into the house, when you see the naked, cover him, then your light will break out like the dawn and your recovery will speedily spring forth, then your Lord will be your rear guard," Bono quoted from Isaiah 58:7-8...."

There is no question about Bono's dedication to the cause of suffering in the world.

His involvement in such organizations as The ONE Campaign intersects with the Presbyterian Church's interests in the relief of suffering in the world. It also resonates with my personal interests as chair of my congregation's Mission Committee. We recently researched a covenant relationship with Bread for the World for our congregation, and wrote out a rationale for joining with this organization, which also partners with The One Campaign.

What impresses me about The ONE Campaign, Bread for the World, and Bono's involvment is that fact that they recognize that the problem is multifactored, and therefore the solution must deal with the various factors that lead to hunger, poverty and disease.

Twenty some years ago Mike Kruse, who blogs at the Kruse Kronicle, introduced me and my wife to this group called U2. I'll admit that it took a while for the music to grow on me, as my tastes run more to Bach, Mendelsohn, and that ilk, but my wife really likes U2, so we have most of their albums. U2 has grown on me, but more than that, my respect for Bono has grown, and I hope his continued involvement in relief of suffering gets more people, politicians and nations involved.

Author worries sports becoming America's new religion

Author worries sports becoming America's new religion:

Sunday, February 05, 2006

By RAIN SMITH
Reporter

While absent public bathhouses, slave trade and emperors, you'll find one ancient Roman tradition thriving in modern America, especially on "Super Sunday" –– organized athletics.

But, according to a retired East Tennessee State University professor, Americans should re-evaluate how much stock is put in sports. If not, he says, the country risks paying the consequences.

"Think about the role of athletics in our society, and compare that to the role of athletics in other societies that aren't around anymore. There might be a reason for it," said Johnson City's Jack Higgs, 73. "I would invite comparison to the role of athletics in the British Empire, Nazi Germany, the fall of Rome, the fall of Greece, and on and on."

Higgs has an interesting analysis of how the pervasive influence of sports on our lives raises some serious questions.

(Of course, my views are skewed by the fact that the Broncos didn't make it in...)

I agree with Riggs in that sports, by itself, is not the problem. It is how we allow it to pervade our lives that we need to recognize and deal with.

Bono, after years of skepticism, finds partner in religion

Bono, after years of skepticism, finds partner in religion:

By Kevin Eckstrom
Religion News Service

"WASHINGTON - Born to a Roman Catholic father and a Protestant mother in the sectarian strife of 1960s Ireland, U2 frontman Bono has more than a few reasons to distrust organized religion.

Far too often, Bono did not see his experience of Christian faith reflected in what he saw as a preachy moralism that neglects the poor and usually "gets in the way of God."

So Bono was as surprised as anyone to find himself the keynote speaker at the Feb. 2 National Prayer Breakfast. Not only that, he was extolling churches and faith communities for their efforts in his global crusade to rescue Africa from disease, debt and economic destruction...."

A good article about how Bono has "finally found what [he's] looking for."

After years of avoiding "organized religion" he is realizing that the Church is indeed a powerful force for changing the world -- and come Christian groups have been historically involved in the things to which Bono is lending his considerable influence and expertise.

A rock star?!? Well, that gets him an audience not only among his fans, but also among the powerful, including President Bush, who is quoted in this article as saying "The thing about this good citizen of the world is he's used his position to get things done."

This article touches on another issue that I have been concerned about for many years -- the diversion of our resources and energies to fight battles over political and sexual issues in the PC(USA) and other denominations. If we all can be diverted from our personal agendas and unite in the caring for the "least of these", then the Church can make a tremendous difference in the world today, instead of continuing to decline.

Reporters often not prepared to write about religion

Scripps Howard News Service:

Reporters often not prepared to write about religion

By TERRY MATTINGLY
Scripps Howard News Service
01-FEB-06

"It's a law. Whenever the Vatican issues a papal encyclical, journalists have to figure out what the pope was trying to say.

To do this, we contact scholars, politicos and clergy for background information and edgy quotes. Thus, a reporter recently called Father Richard John Neuhaus of the journal "First Things" to discuss Pope Benedict XVI's "Deus Caritas Est (God is Love)."

During this interview Neuhaus referred to the pope as the "bishop of Rome." The reporter then said, "That raises an interesting point. Is it unusual that this pope is also the bishop of Rome?"

(Sound cue: One comedy-club rim shot.)..."

Terry Mattingly, in his usual witty way, tells why he thinks reporters make so many mistakes when reporting about religion.

As a Presbyterians know well, there is often a large gulf between what General Assembly does, and what the press says it did.

It is, perhaps, unreasonable to expect reporters to understand the finer points of Presbyterian polity, but maybe our spokespersons can take a litle extra time to explain things.

Mattingly merges Occams Razor and something C.S. Lewis said: "Do not multiply explanations when ignorance will suffice." Or as a friend of mine says from time to time, "Assume positive motives."

[UPDATE: Terry Mattingly has also blogged on this story at GetReligion.org]

Learning from Fools - Christianity Today Magazine

Learning from Fools - Christianity Today Magazine:

Learning from Fools
The safe thing to do with power and possessions.
by Andy Crouch | posted 02/01/2006 09:00 a.m.

"When I tell my grandchildren about America at the turn of the century, I will tell them about houses and wars.

I will tell them about houses in places like Wheaton, Illinois, a one-time center of mild, middle-class, Midwestern evangelical Christianity, where grand teardown mansions loom where bungalows once stood. I will tell them about the heady days of option ARMS, cash-out refinancing, and homebuilders whose stock prices made the front page.

I will tell them about our wars, fought with blustering confidence and dubious competence, ambitious and precarious, like a teardown on a tiny lot.

Then I will tell them two of Jesus' most misinterpreted parables.

In Luke 14, Jesus tells the stories of a tower builder and an embattled king. In many English Bibles, these twin parables are labeled "The Cost of Discipleship." But Jesus' first hearers would have known that label was exactly backwards. For these stories are not about disciples, but fools...."

Crouch's take on this is a little outside standard interpretations, but he makes some good points. He wants to make this the cost of non-discipleship by focussing on poor stewardship and planning. There is no reason why that can't be the case, since, like much of Jesus's teaching, it can be taken on more than one level. In the group that heard him speak, some probably nodded their heads in agreement that yes, it WOULD be pretty imprudent to start a construction project without the resources to finish it. Others might have realized that the costs of following Jesus were more than they could bear. And some might have weighed all that they heard, and followed Jesus, knowing full well that Jesus wanted their entire being.

As Crouch points out, we have more possessions than we know what to do with, and that leads us to believe that we are self-sufficient. We think we have the resources and power to do anything we want, including building structures, businesses, empires, fighting wars, and so on. What we are forgetting is that unless what we do is God's plan, then all we do is in vain. We need to count the costs of what we do as well as what we fail to do.

I may not agree with all that Andy Crouch says, or the emphases he places on different aspects of these parables, but he certainly provides stimulating ideas to consider.

^{Luke 14:26} “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. ²⁷ And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

²⁸ “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? ²⁹ For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, ³⁰ saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’

³¹ “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? ³² If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. ³³ In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.

³⁴ “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? ³⁵ It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out. “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

A Religion That Grew From a Lot of Brew

A Religion That Grew From a Lot of Brew (free registration required):

On the South Pacific island of Tanna, beneath a volcano that rumbles and smokes, a guy wearing a fake U.S. Army uniform raises an American flag. Then 40 barefoot men march past, carrying fake rifles made of bamboo, their brown chests decorated with red paint spelling out "USA."

Later, a group of men slinging fake chainsaws sing a homemade hymn: "We've come from America to cut down all the trees so we can build factories."

This isn't a protest or a piece of performance art. It's a religious ceremony held every year on Feb. 15 -- John Frum Day, the high holy day of a South Pacific religion that worships a messiah who is, as Paul Raffaele writes in a wonderfully weird story in the February issue of Smithsonian, "an American god no sober man has ever seen."

This is a bizarre story dating from the 1930s, through WW2 and on to the present. Our copy of Smithsonian arrived a couple days ago, but I haven't gotten to it yet. I plan to rectify that situation this evening...

CNN.com - Coretta Scott King dies - Jan 31, 2006

CNN.com - Coretta Scott King dies - Jan 31, 2006:

ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Coretta Scott King, the widow of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., died Monday night in California, according to a former aide and a public relations firm representing the family.

She was an icon of the Civil Rights Movement, and she will be missed.

Traditional View of an Angry God Has Softened - Los Angeles Times

Traditional View of an Angry God Has Softened - Los Angeles Times:

By Louis Sahagun and Jocelyn Y. Stewart, Times Staff Writers

"To err is human. But is punishment divine? And if God is unleashing his wrath, how do you know?

These eternal questions arose last week when New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin said the hurricanes that devastated his city showed that "God is mad at America" and black communities. A few weeks earlier, TV evangelist Pat Robertson suggested that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's stroke was payback for pulling out of the Gaza Strip.

The remarks raised eyebrows and prompted quick apologies, but they were nothing new. Humans have long invoked a deity — or deities — when trying to make sense of the world...."

Ask what Jonathan Edwards is best known for, and more likely than not the answer will be his sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God." The idea that God is a vengeful God is well-entrenched in popular writings, and sad to say, among Christians who should know better.

Mark Noll, in his book The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind (1994, Eerdmans), suggests that Edwards "was responsible for the most God-centered as well as the most intellectualy subtle reasoning in all of American evangelical history" (Noll, p. 80). Ironically, he was also one of the driving forces behind the revival that led to the eclipse of his intellectual works. This led to "evanglicalism's most discriminating thinker [being] best known for one fairly atypical sermon, 'Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God'." (Noll, p 81). This is unfortunate, as people who have studied Edwards' sermons see a far more compassionate God at work.

Where does the idea of a "vengeful God" come from? Where, for that matter, does the idea that there is a "Old Testament God" and a "New Testament God" come from? Thomas Cahill, in his book "The Gifts of the Jews" (1999, Random House), makes a compelling case that the divine attributes we prefer to think belong to the New Testament God are to be found in the Hebrew Scriptures. To be sure, there are some disturbing narratives in the Old Testament, and by focussing on those to the exclusion of the rest, one could come to the conclusion that the Old Testament God was a thoroughly unpleasant sort. But in its entirety, one is left with the realization that God is a God who protects, heals, loves, and redeems His people. and in fact keeps calling His people back in the face of constant rejection -- hardly the actions of a God of vengeance.

The Los Angeles Times article quotes Ted Haggard, President of the National Association of Evangelicals, as saying "There is no indication that God is not vengeful — if you do awful things, awful things will happen to you," said Haggard, a pastor in Colorado who heads a congregation of 12,000. "If a guy is out at 2 a.m. in a bar with a bunch of hookers, the likelihood is greater that he'll end up with a disease than [will] a little old lady in bed at that hour."

I have to disagree with this statement. A better way to characterize the example Haggard gave would be that disease is a consequence of promiscuous sexual activity; not a punishment. Otherwise how would you characterize Haggard's guy passing his disease to his wife? How you you characterize the hemophiliac children who receieved AIDS-tainted blood? Are these secondary victims of disease being punished for someone else's sins. The clear testimony of Scripture argues otherwise (Ezekial 18; John 9:1-5). The tragedy is that they ARE bearing the consequences of sins committed by others.

This article ends with this:

But many religious leaders argue that those who search for God in calamities would do better to search for him in the aftermath — in the actions of those offering help and comfort.

Rabbi Kanefsky recalled an essay on suffering by Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik, a noted 20th century scholar, who "was very explicit in saying when a calamity occurs, 'Why?' is the wrong question."

Said Kanefsky: "The only question that we ask is … how can we help?"

So -- How are we going to respond?

The Call - New York Times

The Call - New York Times:

The Call

By DANIEL BERGNER
Published: January 29, 2006

The mission church is scarcely more than a shed with open sides. Rusty beams support a roof of corrugated metal, and a wooden lectern, unadorned, serves as the pulpit. No cross rises from the roof or hangs behind the lectern on the blue-painted cement wall; there is no cross anywhere. The house of worship is almost nothing. But it is too much for the missionary Rick Maples. "I want this to be the last church," he said. "This should be the last church built in this section of the valley."...

This is the first paragraph of a lengthy article about how one family acted on their call from God. This was not an easy decision to make, as young children were involved, but they are now immersed in the local culture trying to make a difference.

In the sub-saharan areas of Africa, Christian evangelism has been fairly successful in that the people were encouraged and empowered to take leadership in their own congregations. Since the early 20th century, when missionaries first came to Kenya, female circumcision was a significant challenge; it is still a challenge, and the missionaries then and now have made it a priority. One of the most poignant stories in this NYTimes Magazine article was how the Maples' 12 year old daughter witnessed a circumcision and wrote about it in her journal. Female circumcision is deeply embedded in the culture, and is not easily counteracted.

The ethnic group that the Maples are trying to reach present some different issues. They are monotheistic with a rich oral tradition, and seem to have no concept of a "savior".

Rick and Carrie talked about converting the Samburu in a new way. They envision developing what they call a Samburu-style church. They intend, gradually, to hold more and more Christian services not under a roof but under the acacia trees amid the manyattas. They want the sparsely attended church down the path from their house to be superseded. And they plan to teach the lessons of the Bible not through the preaching of written verses but through an emphasis on expansive storytelling that will fit with the Samburu's oral tradition. Rick said that the first lesson he had to impart, the first truth he had to instill in the people, was "a sense of sin and separation from God" - a separation that could be reconciled only through Jesus. He drew from 1 Corinthians to capture the essence of his message: "I give you Christ and Him crucified."

This article is long, but well-written, and most of all, it is fair in its presentation. It shows the difficulties in serving in such a place, especially the challenges faced by two young children. It shows the mission field on a far better light than "conventional wisdom" would lead people to believe.

Religion takes center place in Milwaukee voucher debate

The Badger Herald - University of Wisconsin-Madison:

Religion takes center place in Milwaukee voucher debate

"Freedom of choice is a staple of American culture that should be available to every American citizen, but many choices are limited due to factors such as socioeconomic status.

For children born into these circumstances, choices are made by parents to ensure the best possible future. Many are lucky and grow up within the confinement of a good public school district, and so private schools are not needed. For some, private schools are chosen despite good public schools for religious or academic reasons. Then there are those who do not have a competent school district or the option of private schools due to extreme tuition costs and location...."

This editorial raises some interesting points in a fairly balanced way. It is not what one might expect from a student newspaper in what some have called "The Peoples' Republic of Madison."

When one looks at the central issue of WHY Milwaukee chose to go with this voucher system 15 years ago, it may not be as surpising that The Daily Badger took this stance.

Where the public school systems are well-administered and the curriculum is well-taught, then this issue is generally moot. But when the schools are below standards and are not safe places, then private schools become more important. The affluent have far greater access to such schools than the poorer segments of society, so with some reflection, it is actually an egalitarian issue.

But, as 60 Minutes might say, "There's a dark side to all of this." There are 115 private school in Milwaukee that accept vouchers. According to this editorial, most of them do not meet the standards expected, due in large part to the fairly easy requirements to become a voucher school -- and this is just the administrative side of things. The curricula are not always challenging and the teachers are not always required to be certified. Perhaps the worst thing is that there seems to be no accountability when it comes to student success. Absenteeism is one factor, as is the lack of standardized testing; and neither is required to be reported to the state.

The editorial makes the valid point that when nearly $6000 per student per year is allocated to the voucher schools, there must be higher requirements to become a voucher school, and the same accountability that the public schools are expected to demonstrate.

This opinion piece singles out one school for high praise: The Believers in Christ Christian School. This school enrolls 213 voucher students and has had a 100% college admission rate over the past few years. Why? In part, because nearly all the religious voucher schools require certified teachers, in contrast to the nonreligious schools.

The writer ends in a confusing way. On one hand she seems to be calling for higher standards and greater accountability for the voucher schools as a solution to the existing problem. On the other hand she seems to be calling for the end of the voucher program, and the reallocation of the funding to the public schools. My gut feeling is that it would be more cost-effective to insist on higher standards for the voucher schools. The students deserve far better than either the public schools or the voucher schools are currently providing.

Ignorance by design

Holocaust is a religion of Zionism for gentiles: Hoffman:

"...Skepticism is not allowed because the "Holocaust" does not entail the history of World War Two, rather it is a religion, the religion of Judaism for gentiles. To question the details of the gas chambers is to be a "hater" and an "anti-Semite." Historical accounts can be questioned and doubted. Religion cannot be questioned or doubted. The "Holocaust" is a religious cult masquerading as history. It is a means for Judaizing the West...."

I waffled on whether to post this or not.

The Holocaust -- the murder of around 6 million Jews -- is well documented by the perpetrators themselves. When the Allied Forces gained control of the extermination camps, the horrifying results were obvious to even the most casual observer.

This "interview" conducted by an Iranian news outlet consists of softballs pitched to a former newsman who then used them to promote his denial of documented history.

I suppose one can consider the source, and move on, but there is a disturbing trend toward minimizing the historical reality of the attempted extermination of the Jews. Holocaust denial has been around for some time now, but facts simply do not support the notion that it never happened.

True ignorance can be cured by education. Ignorance by choice takes a little more effort. What this former newsman is doing is promoting ignorance by design, and trying to proselytize the people who are truly ignorant of history. I fear this will become easier as those who lived through the events die and are no longer able to speak out.

Daily Herald - IN OUR VIEW: Confusing religion with science

Daily Herald - IN OUR VIEW: Confusing religion with science:

"To listen to some senators in the Utah Legislature, schoolchildren are being indoctrinated in a strange religion. It is called science, and some senators believe they have the antidote.

Senate Bill 96, sponsored by Sen. D. Chris Buttars, passed on Monday and now moves to the House, where it is being sponsored by Rep. Jim Ferrin of Orem. The bill would require science teachers to tell students that there are several theories on the origin of life.

While the bill does not mention "intelligent design," "divine design" or any other euphemism for creationism by name, the implications are clear: A number of legislators want to push religion into the public schools by force of law...."

"...The dictionary reports that the word "religion" is associated with "belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe" or "a personal or institutionalized system grounded in such belief and worship." We think the government would be wise to stay out of this. Unfortunately, S.B. 96 nudges God into science class, using code words like "theory" as though one's belief in God were as externally valid as any scientific pursuit. The proposition that God exists, that he created the universe and gave life to man is not a theory -- it is faith. It may turn out to be true, but it is not science. Misapplying scientific words to what amounts to a faith-based argument is ultimately not constructive. It is dishonest...."

I'm not sure I would use "dishonest" in this context; "misguided" is probably closer to reality. But the editorialist of the Daily Herald in central Utah makes a good point here.

Science and Faith are two belief systems with different methods and sources of authority and trying to force them into the same teaching framework is just not useful. People shouldn't be afraid to discuss the issues, and there are issues to discuss, but a science classroom is not the proper place.

Quotidian Grace: Squirming in the Pew

Quotidian Grace: Squirming in the Pew:

"Too often we are merely auditing Christianity. Buy the books. Register for the course. Take it for a grade."

This was something Quotidian Grace heard during the sermon yesterday at church.

It really needs no further comment.

USATODAY.com - Two justices who 'get' religion

USATODAY.com - Two justices who 'get' religion:

"...Our Constitution separates church and state not to confine religious belief or silence religious expression, but to curb the ambitions and reach of governments. The point of the First Amendment is not to 'put religion in its place,' but instead to protect religion by keeping the government "in its place." The Amendment's Establishment Clause is not a sword, driving private religious expression from the marketplace of ideas; rather, it is a shield that constrains government precisely to protect religiously motivated speech and action...."

I ordinarily avoid getting into the political realm, having seen how it plays out in the blogs, but I recommend this opinion column in USATODAY. This is not so much for its conclusions (with which I happen to concur), but for its analysis of how the debate has distorted a fundamental constitutional principle in furtherance of a particular political ideology. Richard Garnett, a law professor at the University of Notre Dame, has clearly defined the issues of Church and State and how they apply to the current confirmation hearings for Judge Alito.

Read the excerpt and then read the full article. Comments, as always, are welcome.

The End of the Spear -- A Short Review

Yesterday I posted an article about a story that appeared in the Miami Herald concerning five missionaries who gave their lives 50 years ago this month. They were killed by several members of the Waodani tribe in Ecuador for a variety of reasons, fear among them. This tribe was on the verge of extinction due to their propensity for killing each other for revenge, women, and sometimes for no apparent reason. The movie about this event and the subsequent reaching of these people, The End of the Spear, was released yesterday and I went to see it with my family.

The film is rated PG-13, and that rating is quite correct. The violence is depicted in detail, and young children may find it too intense.

The story begins with Steve Saint, the son of Nate Saint, the missionary pilot, and Mincaye of the Waodani taking a trip together to an destination made clear toward the end of the film. The scene moves back to the mid 1940s when the child Mincaye is caught up in a raid by a rival group of Waodoni. He and a young girl hide and escape the killing, and not long thereafter the girl, Dayumae, approaches a group of men and goes with them even after being told by Mincaye that they would kill her and eat her. The story moves forward over a decade as a group of missionaries, having heard Dayumae's story, searches for the Waodani and, on locating them, prepares to make contact with them. They do, and shortly after they land on a sand bar they are killed by the spears of the Waodani, Mincaye included.

The rest of the story concerns Rachel Saint (Nate Saint's older sister), and Elisabeth Elliot, the widow of another of the slain missionaries, as they make contact with the Waodani. They are able to show, by their love, what the five men had no chance to do -- that there is a better way than revenge at the end of a spear.

This was a moving story, and one that will offer many topics for discussion.

Two things in the AP article by Richard Ostling stood out. One was the assessment of a University of Connecticut anthropologist that, before the missionaries came, the Waodoni were on the verge of cultural extinction due to the extreme violence that characterized their lives. The anthropologist, James Boster, is quoted as saying "of all the ways in which native people confront the larger society, often the most benevolent and caring face of the other culture is by missionaries."

The second thing that stood out in Ostling's article was that Steve Saint was at first reluctant to assist in the filming of the movie because the Waodani did not want it to happen. When they heard of the horrifying events a Columbine High School, in Littleton, Colorado, they changed their mind. It is sobering to realize that people who are seen by some as "savages", feel the need to show us a better way -- and they are uniquely qualified to do so.

As I suggested with The Chronicles of Narnia, don't be in too big a hurry to leave the theater when the credits start to roll, as the real Steve Saint and Mincaye are shown in excerpts from a documentary about the filming of The End of the Spear.

AP Wire | 01/19/2006 | Religion today

AP Wire | 01/19/2006 | Religion today:

"NEW YORK - Far from home, five American missionaries died in brutal fashion: speared and hacked to death by tribesman in the dense jungles of Ecuador.

That nightmare moment 50 years ago this month evolved into a remarkable example of reconciliation, and one of the most influential incidents in 20th century Protestant mission lore.

Now the saga is being retold in "End of the Spear," a moving feature film about redemption in the jungle with a bigger budget ($17 million) and broader release (in 1,200 commercial cinemas this weekend) than many films of this genre...."

I remember this story from the 1960s, not that long after it happened. It affected me then, and while I have not thought about it in years, it looks like the events of 50 years ago, and the inspiring events that followed, will be before the public again.

Richard Ostling's report is well-written and worth reading in its entirety. I look forward to seeing the film, which is already being shown in Columbia, MO.