Comments on: Review: Hole In Our Gospel by Richard Stearns http://steveblumer.com/review-hole-in-our-gospel-by-richard-stearns/ Sat, 28 Apr 2012 00:48:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Laskar http://steveblumer.com/review-hole-in-our-gospel-by-richard-stearns/comment-page-1/#comment-9924 Laskar Fri, 23 Mar 2012 07:53:42 +0000 http://steveblumer.com/?p=332#comment-9924 I think the shift in the christian cruhch stems from the way they look at necessity and experiences. I think the west determines the value of any given action based on it's end result (moral-utilitarian ends justifying the means type stuff). I think this causes the cruhch to take a more hard-liner counter stance (because a lie told in good faith is still a lie and god commands his subjects not to lie) and makes the value of any given action the experience itself of doing that individual thing, even if no one is harmed or even effected and the end result is good. for example: so while one would say it's ok to lie to your fat spouse when they ask you if they look fat in that dress. the other would encourage you to find an alternative way to compliment your spouses appearance. at times the cruhch tacitly supports ends-means-justify'n and all that good stuff, I think primarily their ethos places the good in individual experiences. the obsession with experience I think would heighten scrutiny on what would be the ultimate human experiences like sex, drugs and rock and roll. all the pleasurables become the focus of the cruhch's energy as opposed to one's devotions to one god over another or others. the focus on the pleasure seaking experiences creates this cruhch vs culture dichotomy we all hear about so much in which the cruhch sort of sees the experiences of the world as one packaged group of a way to live; then it see's itself as THE way to live and lumps in everything it sees in that picture of the world's version of living and runs counter to it. I think this is why there is an alternative christian consumer brand of everything the world has right down to christian toothpaste.maybe I'm just extrapolating too much. but if I'm right then this could explain why they're sometimes more concerned with the fact that madonna kissed brittany at the VMA's rather than the fact that there is a homeless dude they see every day on their way to work. I think the emergent movement is changing these habituations and reclaiming at least a part of a generation of youth who is slowly rejecting even the non-denom's because they simply don't see how their choice of experiences is relevant to their moral code. I think the shift in the christian cruhch stems from the way they look at necessity and experiences. I think the west determines the value of any given action based on it’s end result (moral-utilitarian ends justifying the means type stuff). I think this causes the cruhch to take a more hard-liner counter stance (because a lie told in good faith is still a lie and god commands his subjects not to lie) and makes the value of any given action the experience itself of doing that individual thing, even if no one is harmed or even effected and the end result is good. for example: so while one would say it’s ok to lie to your fat spouse when they ask you if they look fat in that dress. the other would encourage you to find an alternative way to compliment your spouses appearance. at times the cruhch tacitly supports ends-means-justify’n and all that good stuff, I think primarily their ethos places the good in individual experiences. the obsession with experience I think would heighten scrutiny on what would be the ultimate human experiences like sex, drugs and rock and roll. all the pleasurables become the focus of the cruhch’s energy as opposed to one’s devotions to one god over another or others. the focus on the pleasure seaking experiences creates this cruhch vs culture dichotomy we all hear about so much in which the cruhch sort of sees the experiences of the world as one packaged group of a way to live; then it see’s itself as THE way to live and lumps in everything it sees in that picture of the world’s version of living and runs counter to it. I think this is why there is an alternative christian consumer brand of everything the world has right down to christian toothpaste.maybe I’m just extrapolating too much. but if I’m right then this could explain why they’re sometimes more concerned with the fact that madonna kissed brittany at the VMA’s rather than the fact that there is a homeless dude they see every day on their way to work. I think the emergent movement is changing these habituations and reclaiming at least a part of a generation of youth who is slowly rejecting even the non-denom’s because they simply don’t see how their choice of experiences is relevant to their moral code.

]]> By: sblumer http://steveblumer.com/review-hole-in-our-gospel-by-richard-stearns/comment-page-1/#comment-3766 sblumer Wed, 30 Dec 2009 20:29:16 +0000 http://steveblumer.com/?p=332#comment-3766 although that might be curious more than compelling, I think that's the trap that most of us need to keep away from. The trap of not taking a solid look at what we personally can do. The trap of looking at what others do ends up giving us an "out" by telling ourselves, "see they make millions and I don't so he doesn't understand and I can't help." He does mention people like Bill Gates and previous Presidents and the effort they do to bring awareness and solve issues and sure I could say "well if the clean water issue is $10 Billion, then Bill Gates can do that one easily so that's a nice story." The book was not designed to list the wealthiest people in the world and see if they are helping enough. The book was a book to make aware of the condition of the world of poverty and help and to use statistics to show how 'easily' is can be solved with people becoming more aware, more compassionate about it and more giving towards the solution. I think it also makes us more sensitive to noticing those in need right around us as well. although that might be curious more than compelling, I think that's the trap that most of us need to keep away from. The trap of not taking a solid look at what we personally can do. The trap of looking at what others do ends up giving us an "out" by telling ourselves, "see they make millions and I don't so he doesn't understand and I can't help."

He does mention people like Bill Gates and previous Presidents and the effort they do to bring awareness and solve issues and sure I could say "well if the clean water issue is $10 Billion, then Bill Gates can do that one easily so that's a nice story." The book was not designed to list the wealthiest people in the world and see if they are helping enough.

The book was a book to make aware of the condition of the world of poverty and help and to use statistics to show how 'easily' is can be solved with people becoming more aware, more compassionate about it and more giving towards the solution. I think it also makes us more sensitive to noticing those in need right around us as well.

]]> By: curious http://steveblumer.com/review-hole-in-our-gospel-by-richard-stearns/comment-page-1/#comment-3765 curious Wed, 30 Dec 2009 19:45:33 +0000 http://steveblumer.com/?p=332#comment-3765 it might be more compelling to know how much he makes (and gives) off the earnings of his books, seminars, etc. it might be more compelling to know how much he makes (and gives) off the earnings of his books, seminars, etc.

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