Davison's Doodle

Posted by: madtheologian | 05/02/2013

National Day of Prayer

I must confess that I’ve never been a participant in the National Day of Prayer nor the primarily evangelical driven, See You At the Pole. These events just don’t sit well with me because I’m not sure non-Christians would be actually welcome to lead the prayers as “equally” relevant to the ears of the divine. Mostly, this feels like another form of theocratic government and helps support the misguided or intentional misinformation that the United States was founded as a “Christian” nation. The founders, many of them, were at best deists fleeing a government that believed in and practiced “manifest destiny.” Odd how our country has become like the “Lords and surfs” of that continent of so long ago.

Please don’t misunderstand, I’m all for prayer and praying for our nation and our leaders is an important thing to do, but the National Day of Prayer is one example of how Christianity is “privileged” in our nation rather than under attack. A friend and peer of mine does a much better job of giving voice to my concerns in his latest post on “Along the Way.”

National Day of Prayer Misunderstands both Nation and Prayer
by Rev. David Cobb

I’m proud of the God and Country award I earned as a Boy Scout. I’m also passionate about preserving the freedom of those whose religion is different from mine as well as of those who profess no religion at all.

We Christians don’t need a National Day of Prayer to work together for the people Jesus called us to serve: the poor, the hungry, the sick, the disabled, and the oppressed. We need a government that protects religion without promoting it, ensuring all of us the freedom to pray or not as we please.

National Day of Prayer misunderstands who we are as a nation. It also misunderstands the source and power of genuine uncoerced prayer.

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Posted in Culture, DOC Thoughts, Guest Column, Theological Rant

Posted by: madtheologian | 04/25/2013

Nostalgia for “Stop and Think”

EJ Dionne’s words in the Washington Post today are applicable for living in our time. Actually, they are applicable to any age and across several disciplines, even religion. Stop and think.

Stop and think about the behavior of the current crop of Republican lawmakers, and opinion makers, in Washington and in some states as well. Their behavior and rhetoric are observational evidence of the cognitive dissonance that has taken over their party and is the foundation for my next statement. The current crop of Republican leaders in Washington, and in some states, are only interested in governing in a one party rule system where the current form of Republicanism has all the power. The message and policies serve to strengthen white America against those whom embrace the melting pot upon which the American experiment relies. To be fair, those persons probably embrace the melting pot ideal as long as persons of color understand their “place” which is equal, and possibly social mobile, but only to a point. The changing color of leadership in America frightens many in our Nation.

The recovery following the financial crash has seriously benefited the connected investor class only. The policies of austerity are creating a “Lords and Peasant” society in America in the 21st century in the name of decreasing the debt for the Nation’s future generation. Cognitive dissonance. If those in Congress and the Senate wished to solve the nations problems they would be working with POTUS rather than against him. Stop and think. When President Obama embraces a Republican idea then Republicans are immediately against it. The observational evidence attests to this conclusion: the current Republican leadership and opinion makers not only want this Democratic President to fail no matter what it does to the country, they really don’t want a non-white President to succeed because then it will be easier for other non-whites and gasp, even a woman, to be elected President of these United States. The evidence is out there if you get away from the Washington Times and FoxNews. Stop and think. That is what The Daily Show and the Colbert Report do and why they are compelling, Truth telling, and funny. Maybe it is why many people get their news from these two shows rather than “straight” news. These United States need the fourth estate to do their job rather than make money for the corporation.

The Culture of PreConception
EJ Dionne Jr | The Washington Post | April 24, 2013

I’d acknowledge that none of us can get through the day without making a lot of assumptions. All of us have intellectual, ideological and moral commitments that we bring to bear upon what we think about almost everything.

But the hyperpolarization of our moment has sped up the rush to (contradictory) judgments, a practice further accelerated by new technologies. We have less patience than ever with the often pain staking task of gathering facts. We are better informed yet seem more efficient than ever in manufacturing conspiracy theories.

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Posted in Culture, Guest Column, Michael D

Posted by: madtheologian | 04/16/2013

MLK Jr: Letter from a Birmingham Jail

This letter reminds me how much dialogue is “out there” and within my own denomination between the clergy as much as needs to happen between the laity as well as between laity and clergy. I also read this wondering where MLK Jr would be on marriage equality. Having stood at the MLK Jr Memorial last month these words echo as MLK, like Lincoln, looks back towards the Capitol building keeping an eye on the work of each new legislature as if to say, “You made a down payment years back, but still have insufficient funds for the obligation of freedom and self determination of all America’s citizens.” Click the title to read the entire letter.

“Letter from a Birmingham Jail [King, Jr.]“
16 April 1963

My Dear Fellow Clergymen:
While confined here in the Birmingham city jail, I came across your recent statement calling my present activities “unwise and untimely.” Seldom do I pause to answer criticism of my work and ideas. If I sought to answer all the criticisms that cross my desk, my secretaries would have little time for anything other than such correspondence in the course of the day, and I would have no time for constructive work. But since I feel that you are men of genuine good will and that your criticisms are sincerely set forth, I want to try to answer your statement in what I hope will be patient and reasonable terms.

Moreover, I am cognizant of the interrelatedness of all communities and states. I cannot sit idly by in Atlanta and not be concerned about what happens in Birmingham. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. Never again can we afford to live with the narrow, provincial “outside agitator” idea. Anyone who lives inside the United States can never be considered an outsider anywhere within its bounds.

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Posted in Culture, Guest Column, Michael D, Theological Rant

Posted by: madtheologian | 04/16/2013

The Response that Follows . . .

So many are talking about the bombing in Boston and participating in what an entertainment and information culture do: fill time through speculation, looping the same images over and over, and reporting before verifying. Too many echo the voices of Eliphaz, Bildad, Zophar, and Elihu. A friend, colleague, and peer in ministry offered these words on her blog that highlights our propensity for needing an explanation.

When Good People Say Dumb Stuff
Erin Wathen | irreverin | April 16, 2013

In the wake of a tragedy like yesterday’s bombing, we ask the age-old question: why do bad things happen to good people?

And in the hours and days following such an event, we might also find ourselves wondering: why do good people say dumb things?

Through our collective prayers, we seek understanding; we ask for God’s comfort with the wounded and those suffering loss; we give thanks for our own loved ones, safe at home, by some stroke of grace or luck; we pray for justice and peace. These sacred petitions bind us together in face of unspeakable violence, and connect us with the God of our being. Our prayers speak blessed, simple truth into the chaos.

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Posted in Culture, Guest Column, Theological Rant

Posted by: madtheologian | 04/09/2013

Do the Right Thing: A Short Walk from Congress

Last month I led a group of high school youth on a trip to Washington D.C. and New York City. It is something we call “International Affairs Seminar.” It is a study trip during spring break. Over 8 days the group walked 32 miles around D.C. and New York as well as spent 27 hrs in seminar classes over 3 days of the trip. It can be life changing and world-view altering. As I wandered the Memorials I had to manage my blood pressure and frustration with our current Congressional leaders and SCOTUS. Just a short walk down the National Mall is the inspiration to do the right thing for all Americans, and all nations for that matter, enshrined on many of our Memorials that hail the mythology of what the experiment we call America is all about.