An ABC news investigation has discovered that some US military high-powered rifles have New Testament Bible verses cited on their sights. Trijicon, a Michigan-based company, has sold the US military these sights that essentially make the shooter see a verse like "2 Cor 4:6" as they're aiming to fire the gun.
This is an enormous breach of the US military's policy of remaining religiously neutral and un-biased. Whether or not the military knew about the verses being on the sights, they are still responsible and need to correct the problem and re-state their very explicit rules about religion equality and freedom.
What makes me shudder the most is that when soldiers are preparing to shoot a gun at other humans in battle, they are ironically doing so through a lens that is obviously promoting Christ and Christianity, which are, on my view, about love, equality, justice, compassion, and healing -- not hate, killing, violence, etc.
I would love to hear other people's reactions to this issue. Please feel free to comment on New Testament verses being put on US soldiers' gun sights.
Joseph Rhee, Tahman Bradley and Brian Ross of ABC news have the story at Faith in Public Life.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Friday, January 15, 2010
Bishop Spong Offers New E-Course
Bishop John Shelby Spong, a retired bishop in the Episcopal Church and outspoken advocate of progressive interpretations of Christian beliefs and practices, is leading an E-course online through Christ Community Church.The course will be for three weeks Mon.-Fri. January through February 12, 2010 and will focus on outlining and discussing his newest book Is There an Afterlife: A New Vision Beyond Religion, Beyond Theism, Beyond Heaven and Hell. Here is what the Center for Progressive Christianity has to say about the book and related E-course: "His latest and last book goes beyond religion, beyond heaven and hell, and explores a very different interpretation of what the Christian story and history can mean to a modern mind. It is a refreshingly honest pursuit of truth in the face of life's toughest questions. Combining science and theology, Bishop Spong examines the 3.7 billion year long human journey from a single cell life into the complexities of modern self-consciousness; as well as drawing from his own personal journey."
To learn more about the E-course, book, and Christ Community Church visit the community's website here.
Or sign up directly for the course here.
(Photo from Center for Progressive Christianity website)
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Buddhist Violence?
There is a new book out by Michael Jerryson and Mark Juergensmeyer called Buddhist Warfare (Oxford, 2009).
This book chronicles the history and significance of violence caused by Buddhist practitioners and their reasonings and rationale for engaging in such actions. The notion of violence by Buddhists flies in the face of most Westerners' stereotypes of Buddhism as a thoroughly peaceful and non-violent religion. Indeed, while the principles of Buddhism and the Buddha himself largely advocated for peace and non-violence, nonetheless, in the harsh reality of daily life in the world of samsara violence and aggression have been argued for and engaged in by devout Buddhist practitioners.
I believe this simply goes to show how ambiguous religion (any religion) can be. Religious principles and faith can be used to develop some of the most loving, compassionate, and selfless acts the world has ever seen but can also be used to justify the most heinous of actions causing hatred, suffering, and destruction. Yes, even Buddhism:)
For more info on the new book visit OUPs website.
To read a commentary on the book see Religion Dispatches.
This book chronicles the history and significance of violence caused by Buddhist practitioners and their reasonings and rationale for engaging in such actions. The notion of violence by Buddhists flies in the face of most Westerners' stereotypes of Buddhism as a thoroughly peaceful and non-violent religion. Indeed, while the principles of Buddhism and the Buddha himself largely advocated for peace and non-violence, nonetheless, in the harsh reality of daily life in the world of samsara violence and aggression have been argued for and engaged in by devout Buddhist practitioners.
I believe this simply goes to show how ambiguous religion (any religion) can be. Religious principles and faith can be used to develop some of the most loving, compassionate, and selfless acts the world has ever seen but can also be used to justify the most heinous of actions causing hatred, suffering, and destruction. Yes, even Buddhism:)
For more info on the new book visit OUPs website.
To read a commentary on the book see Religion Dispatches.
Interfaith Vigil of Prayer, Hope & Action
"Beginning now and until health-care legislation is signed by President Obama, Christians, Muslims and Jews, across the country will be conducting a Vigil of Prayer, Hope and Action organized by Faithful Reform in Health Care (FRHC), a Cleveland, Ohio-based interfaith coalition." (Faith in Action, 1/13/10)
Read more of the story at Faith in Public Life.
Read more of the story at Faith in Public Life.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
This Week on Unity.FM
There is going to be some intriguing and important discussion on Unity.FM this week:
On the program "The Universe Responding" there will be conversation about the misunderstanding of the simplicity of the "Law of Attraction." It's not just "think it, then get it"; it's more about thinking being the source and starting place that then influences and impacts actions from the inside out into the world of relationships and society.
On the program "A World That Works" guest Theresa Tolan will speak about her peacework organization called Children's Global Peace Project which uses songs, games, dance, and play to help children understand what prejudice is and to realize their own potential to create equal and compassionate relationships with each other and in larger communities. This is good stuff.
Also, on the new program "Inside Out," guest Kelly Sullivan Walden discusses her foundation called The Dream Project U.N., which is an organization established on the 2015 United Nations Millennium Development Goals. Listen to how this forward-thinking woman and her project are helping to change the situations of many inner city schools.
Go to Unity.FM to listen to these Unity-based programs and more.
On the program "The Universe Responding" there will be conversation about the misunderstanding of the simplicity of the "Law of Attraction." It's not just "think it, then get it"; it's more about thinking being the source and starting place that then influences and impacts actions from the inside out into the world of relationships and society.
On the program "A World That Works" guest Theresa Tolan will speak about her peacework organization called Children's Global Peace Project which uses songs, games, dance, and play to help children understand what prejudice is and to realize their own potential to create equal and compassionate relationships with each other and in larger communities. This is good stuff.
Also, on the new program "Inside Out," guest Kelly Sullivan Walden discusses her foundation called The Dream Project U.N., which is an organization established on the 2015 United Nations Millennium Development Goals. Listen to how this forward-thinking woman and her project are helping to change the situations of many inner city schools.
Go to Unity.FM to listen to these Unity-based programs and more.
Online Teleseminar Series from Integral Enlightenment
Integral Enlightenment, EnlightenNext, among other sponsors, are hosting a free online teleseminar series called Awakening the Impulse to Evolve. The purpose of these online speakers and interactions will be to explore what it means to consciously participate in the process of evolving and developing ourselves, relationships, the culture, and the world.
Visit the teleconference website to register for free.
It should prove to be a compelling inspiration for spiritual growth, no matter what faith path you might be on.
Visit the teleconference website to register for free.
It should prove to be a compelling inspiration for spiritual growth, no matter what faith path you might be on.
Peacebuilding Conference @ Notre Dame This Spring
The Peace and Collaborative Development Network, which specializes in "building bridges, networks and expertise across sectors," has forwarded a call for papers for a student peace conference at Notre Dame.
This Notre Dame Peace Conference is being called "Investing in Peace: Uncovering the Practicality of Peacebuilding" and will be held March 26-28, 2010. The deadline for paper submissions/proposals is February 12.
Though I probably won't have any time to prepare a proposal for presentation at the conference, I will be supporting these efforts through encouraging others invovled in peace movements to participate as much as possible in this much-needed collaboration among thinkers, writers, artists, and practitioners of peacebuilding from a variety of sectors.
For more info on the conference this spring visit the call for papers site at Peace and Collaborative Development Network.
This Notre Dame Peace Conference is being called "Investing in Peace: Uncovering the Practicality of Peacebuilding" and will be held March 26-28, 2010. The deadline for paper submissions/proposals is February 12.
Though I probably won't have any time to prepare a proposal for presentation at the conference, I will be supporting these efforts through encouraging others invovled in peace movements to participate as much as possible in this much-needed collaboration among thinkers, writers, artists, and practitioners of peacebuilding from a variety of sectors.
For more info on the conference this spring visit the call for papers site at Peace and Collaborative Development Network.
Friday, January 1, 2010
New Thought Orgs Join Together at Parliament of World Religions
The Parliament of World Religions, which just met Dec. 3-9 this past year in Melbourne, is the largest interfaith gathering in the world. During the Parliament's proceedings, various New Thought organizations (including Unity School of Christianity) came together as a larger movement of spiritual traditions to convey New Thought perspectives on many of the critical social and environmental issues and to present a unified and cohesive identity on the international stage.
Also, as it turned out, there was held a Pre-Parliament Conference where The Association for Global New Thought, The Association of Unity Churches Intl, Unity School of Christianity, Agape International Spiritual Center, Affiliated New Thought Network, The International New Thought, Alliance, and others assembled to exchange ideas and learn from each other.
This shows an incredible move to interact and dialogue within the larger New Thought outlook on the world. It's an effort that shows great interest in developing mutual support and further understanding in the process of spiritual transformation. However, as a caveat, while dialogue among New Thought groups is wonderful we must be sure, as with any dialogue, that each distinct group doesn't get watered down into a generalized lowest-common denominator, doesn't loose its specialness and uniqueness. In other words, lets not emphasize unity at the expense of diversity, but rather promote a unity-in-diversity which recognizes common ground and connectedness while also affirming the differences and plurality of our situation. The Agape Center's beliefs, ideas, practices, and governance are not the same as Unity School of Christianity which is, in turn, not identical to the Association of Global New Thought. While their worldviews maintain many commonalities they are nontheless discrete traditions with differences in belief and practice. (In fact, these principles may also apply to the unity-in-diversity among individual people. More on this at a later time.)
For more information about the pre-Parliament New Thought Delegate Conference, visit www.agnt.org/powr.
Find information on the Parliament of the World's Religions at www.parliamentofreligions.org.
Watch this AGNT video for the 2009 Parliament of the World's Religions.
Also, as it turned out, there was held a Pre-Parliament Conference where The Association for Global New Thought, The Association of Unity Churches Intl, Unity School of Christianity, Agape International Spiritual Center, Affiliated New Thought Network, The International New Thought, Alliance, and others assembled to exchange ideas and learn from each other.
This shows an incredible move to interact and dialogue within the larger New Thought outlook on the world. It's an effort that shows great interest in developing mutual support and further understanding in the process of spiritual transformation. However, as a caveat, while dialogue among New Thought groups is wonderful we must be sure, as with any dialogue, that each distinct group doesn't get watered down into a generalized lowest-common denominator, doesn't loose its specialness and uniqueness. In other words, lets not emphasize unity at the expense of diversity, but rather promote a unity-in-diversity which recognizes common ground and connectedness while also affirming the differences and plurality of our situation. The Agape Center's beliefs, ideas, practices, and governance are not the same as Unity School of Christianity which is, in turn, not identical to the Association of Global New Thought. While their worldviews maintain many commonalities they are nontheless discrete traditions with differences in belief and practice. (In fact, these principles may also apply to the unity-in-diversity among individual people. More on this at a later time.)
For more information about the pre-Parliament New Thought Delegate Conference, visit www.agnt.org/powr.
Find information on the Parliament of the World's Religions at www.parliamentofreligions.org.
Watch this AGNT video for the 2009 Parliament of the World's Religions.
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