A person would have to be one of Rip Van Winkle’s progeny to not be aware of the unprecedented number of natural disasters that have afflicted our nation during the past couple of months: wildfires, tornadoes, and flooding. If you think this is going to be about global warming, surprisingly it is not.
In the past, we’ve heard the reflexive proclamations by Pat Robertson, John Piper, Daniel Blair, Mike Heath, and others of similar visibility and theological view that certain natural disasters were warnings from God, as examples of God’s anger being directed at the sinful among us. Of course, in their minds, the ‘sin’ was that some people are homosexual, that some denominations were rising above the anti-homosexual agenda, and that (in their minds) some locales seemed to be havens of promiscuity.
So when New Orleans was devastated by Hurricane Katrina, it was God’s wrath being directed upon that city. When Minneapolis was struck by a tornado in 2009 at the same time that the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America was meeting to discus, among other things, the suggestion to allow ordained gay clergy to serve its member churches, it was described as a “warning” from God “to turn from the approval of sin.” When Haiti was devastated by an earthquake, the declaration is that it was God’s wrath because two centuries ago the Haitian people sold their soul to the devil. Earthquakes in the San Francisco area were also declared to be evidence of God’s hatred of sinful people. When Maine was experiencing bad weather and a resultant potato blight, it was declared to be caused by same-sex marriage.
Of course, when it was pointed out that at the same time of the Minneapolis tornado communities in Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana were struck no interpretation was forthcoming. When it was pointed out that many other communities – along with their churches – were destroyed by Katrina, no interpretation was forthcoming. When it was noted that an earthquake devastated Lisbon in 1755 and an estimated 60,000 people, mostly Christians, were killed by the quake and resulting tsunami, no interpretation was forthcoming. And the great potato famine that pushed many Irish persons to the brink of starvation goes equally ignored.
You get the picture. Natural disasters are equal opportunity destroyers. Churches are destroyed along with bars. Bookstores that sell Bibles are destroyed as well as porn shops. Christians lose their lives at the same time as atheists lose theirs. And (please forgive me for using these wretched, disdain-filled labels) the lives of ‘conservative’ Christians are devastated to the same degree as are the lives of ‘liberal’ Christians.
Americans – and many others in the world – have the most unfettered access to information the world has ever known. Anyone with an awareness of the natural world in which we live knows simply by observation that Jesus’ words ring true: “He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” [Matthew 5:45a]
I always wonder why any media outlets of repute bother giving these ‘angry God’ peddlers the exposure their egos so desperately want. And it shocks me beyond description when I hear Christian people repeat any such proclamations as if they have some measure of validity simply because they were spouted by a high-visibility person that’s hooked in with a network of radio stations.
That’s what I think. What do you think?
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Saturday, May 7, 2011
God and Science
Roughly and somewhat inaccurately put, science is the study of God’s creation. The hope is that we might come to better understand creation and know how best to respect it while, at the same time, we take advantage of it for our survival. The scientific method may be a recent development in human history, but our investigation of creation in order to explain what is seen and experienced is as old as human existence.
One only need look at the first creation story in Genesis chapter 1 to see the brilliance of human observation of God’s created order. Detailed knowledge based on in-depth observation led the author(s) to realize that there are distinct dependencies within the biosphere that practically demand an orderly progression of life forms. It also presents the belief that there must have been a given sequence in the development of the physical world even before life appeared.
Bud unless a person has done a bit of research, the tone and belligerence that many American political and religious figures use might lead them to believe that scientific inquiry and theological reflection are bitter enemies – that scientists are anti-God. And once people are brought to the point that they believe such things, they might easily conclude that it’s up to that vocal group to protect God from scientists.
When a lot of money can be made via scientific discovery (e.g., drilling for and refining oil, pharmaceutical development, telecommunications and computing) the ‘advancements’ gained for humanity are gladly taken advantage of without complaint. But if the study of scientists involves such topics as evolution, human biology, ecology, or climatology – among others – critics find ways to present it as “the work of the devil”. Not always in so many words but certainly in attitude.
There was a time when the church was fully in support of science. Yes, there’s the famous incident when Galileo was imprisoned by church authorities (church and state were not separate in that time and place) for his accurate observation that Earth revolves around the sun and not the other way around, but the church was not rejecting science. It wasn’t until the mid-1800s, when scientists were able to examine in depth the unseeable, that the church turned against science. There was the fear that the secrets of God would be discovered.
The most peculiar part about the anti-science crusade of today is that so much of it is being waged against those scientists whose findings tell us we are in the process of destroying what God created – and loves. Instead of being grateful and heeding such warnings, we hear that God would not allow us to destroy God’s creation, that God would stop us. We hear that God put us in charge of Earth and that having dominion over it means that we can do whatever we please. We have even heard things like, “Who cares about snail darters, anyway?” and “What value are spotted owls?”
The way I see it, all creatures created by God are loved by God. The environment God created to support all living things is also loved by God. God blessed humanity with both the inquisitiveness to want to know more about creation and the cleverness to investigate those questions. When scientists that specialize in archaeology and paleontology explain what they are discovering, they are using the resources they were blessed with by God. If what they uncover doesn’t quite fit the rigid belief system that some demand we all accept, who is being worshiped? The God of creation - or Those who claim to have all the answers? When scientists that specialize in climatology and the biosphere explain what they are discovering and their findings are blasted by that same rigid crowd, who is being worshiped?
I think the God who equipped humanity to engage in scientific inquiry is hardly threatened when we do so. In fact, I believe that God's proud of what He brought forth when we do so. What do you think?
One only need look at the first creation story in Genesis chapter 1 to see the brilliance of human observation of God’s created order. Detailed knowledge based on in-depth observation led the author(s) to realize that there are distinct dependencies within the biosphere that practically demand an orderly progression of life forms. It also presents the belief that there must have been a given sequence in the development of the physical world even before life appeared.
Bud unless a person has done a bit of research, the tone and belligerence that many American political and religious figures use might lead them to believe that scientific inquiry and theological reflection are bitter enemies – that scientists are anti-God. And once people are brought to the point that they believe such things, they might easily conclude that it’s up to that vocal group to protect God from scientists.
When a lot of money can be made via scientific discovery (e.g., drilling for and refining oil, pharmaceutical development, telecommunications and computing) the ‘advancements’ gained for humanity are gladly taken advantage of without complaint. But if the study of scientists involves such topics as evolution, human biology, ecology, or climatology – among others – critics find ways to present it as “the work of the devil”. Not always in so many words but certainly in attitude.
There was a time when the church was fully in support of science. Yes, there’s the famous incident when Galileo was imprisoned by church authorities (church and state were not separate in that time and place) for his accurate observation that Earth revolves around the sun and not the other way around, but the church was not rejecting science. It wasn’t until the mid-1800s, when scientists were able to examine in depth the unseeable, that the church turned against science. There was the fear that the secrets of God would be discovered.
The most peculiar part about the anti-science crusade of today is that so much of it is being waged against those scientists whose findings tell us we are in the process of destroying what God created – and loves. Instead of being grateful and heeding such warnings, we hear that God would not allow us to destroy God’s creation, that God would stop us. We hear that God put us in charge of Earth and that having dominion over it means that we can do whatever we please. We have even heard things like, “Who cares about snail darters, anyway?” and “What value are spotted owls?”
The way I see it, all creatures created by God are loved by God. The environment God created to support all living things is also loved by God. God blessed humanity with both the inquisitiveness to want to know more about creation and the cleverness to investigate those questions. When scientists that specialize in archaeology and paleontology explain what they are discovering, they are using the resources they were blessed with by God. If what they uncover doesn’t quite fit the rigid belief system that some demand we all accept, who is being worshiped? The God of creation - or Those who claim to have all the answers? When scientists that specialize in climatology and the biosphere explain what they are discovering and their findings are blasted by that same rigid crowd, who is being worshiped?
I think the God who equipped humanity to engage in scientific inquiry is hardly threatened when we do so. In fact, I believe that God's proud of what He brought forth when we do so. What do you think?
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
God and Black History Month
It’s about as predictable as rain in April and flowers in May. Every year about this time I hear some people grumbling about Black History Month. For example, “Why should we separate their history from our history? Aren’t we all from the same country?” (Spoken by a non-black person, obviously.) Other comments are quite derogatory. But, generally speaking, the perspective seems to be that recognizing those who have made contributions to our nation should be color blind, even though little else in our nation seems to be.
Of course, there is no acceptable response to such statements – not acceptable to the other person, anyway. They’ve already make their opinion known with their question, and it wasn’t asked in an attempt to acquire knowledge or broaden their horizon.
Recently, I was speaking with an adult child of alcoholics. She related the constant abuse she lived with as far back as she could remember – verbal, physical, and emotional. (The only bright spot is that there was no sexual abuse.) Whenever either ‘parent’ was present the tension of fear was in the air. It didn’t matter if one of them was just coming home from work – and a bar; if she was coming home from school; or if it was the first thing in the morning. That little girl lived in fear.
No matter what was said to her – no matter how crude, undignifying, hurtful, degrading, humiliating, or insulting – she had no recourse but to agree, to apologize, to degrade herself, or all three. Breaking into tears would put an end to the verbal abuse, but only long enough for them to inflict physical abuse as punishment for crying. In private at home or in public in front of all her friends, the setting did not matter.
She had a brother and a sister and they received the same treatment. For years, she thought it was normal for a kid to live in fear of their parents. But as she became more aware of the dynamic in other families, she knew something was wrong. She wavered back and forth between being convinced that she was pretty much worthless and that if she and her siblings weren’t such a disgrace to the family name that her mom and dad wouldn’t have to treat them as they did; and a seething hatred of her situation – and of her parents.
She left home and married an abusive alcoholic. You can guess what that was like for her.
But, at some point, she found God. Or, put more accurately, God made God’s presence known in such a strong way that she couldn’t miss it.
At first she went to a church with an authoritarian Pastor – a person that reminded her of her father. It felt “normal” to her to be dominated and verbally browbeat. Eventually, through the help of a friend, she found a church that nourished her. Over the years, the people in that church helped her to see that she had value simply because she was created in God’s image. She discovered that she did not ‘deserve’ any of the abuse that had been heaped upon her all those years. Sadly, she also learned that the abuse she was heaping upon her own teen-aged children was just as destructive to them as it was – and had been – for her. To make matters worse for her children, they were receiving the same type of abuse from their grandparents.
What chance did they – and their future children – have as they fled home as soon as they were able? Will she have the chance to make a difference in the lives of her grandchildren? Only time will tell.
In a way, this is how it is for so many of our African-American brothers and sisters – neighbors, actually, according to Jesus – the type of people he expects us to love. But simply “aging out” and leaving home did not bring them an escape from the abuse. It has been inflicted upon them by the structure of our society and how that structure formed the attitudes of the abusers as well as the abused. Even though the theory of that structure has changed by law, the attitudes that had been formed before those legal changes have been passed down from generation to generation.
Black History Month is an attempt for all Americans regardless of descent to recognize the inherent value of each person by focusing on the fruits of the labor of a class of folk that has for generations been minimized.
So, what does God have to do with all this?
Well, these statements made by Jesus come to mind: “The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'” And “He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'” (Matthew 25:40, 45).
That’s what I think. What do you think?
Of course, there is no acceptable response to such statements – not acceptable to the other person, anyway. They’ve already make their opinion known with their question, and it wasn’t asked in an attempt to acquire knowledge or broaden their horizon.
Recently, I was speaking with an adult child of alcoholics. She related the constant abuse she lived with as far back as she could remember – verbal, physical, and emotional. (The only bright spot is that there was no sexual abuse.) Whenever either ‘parent’ was present the tension of fear was in the air. It didn’t matter if one of them was just coming home from work – and a bar; if she was coming home from school; or if it was the first thing in the morning. That little girl lived in fear.
No matter what was said to her – no matter how crude, undignifying, hurtful, degrading, humiliating, or insulting – she had no recourse but to agree, to apologize, to degrade herself, or all three. Breaking into tears would put an end to the verbal abuse, but only long enough for them to inflict physical abuse as punishment for crying. In private at home or in public in front of all her friends, the setting did not matter.
She had a brother and a sister and they received the same treatment. For years, she thought it was normal for a kid to live in fear of their parents. But as she became more aware of the dynamic in other families, she knew something was wrong. She wavered back and forth between being convinced that she was pretty much worthless and that if she and her siblings weren’t such a disgrace to the family name that her mom and dad wouldn’t have to treat them as they did; and a seething hatred of her situation – and of her parents.
She left home and married an abusive alcoholic. You can guess what that was like for her.
But, at some point, she found God. Or, put more accurately, God made God’s presence known in such a strong way that she couldn’t miss it.
At first she went to a church with an authoritarian Pastor – a person that reminded her of her father. It felt “normal” to her to be dominated and verbally browbeat. Eventually, through the help of a friend, she found a church that nourished her. Over the years, the people in that church helped her to see that she had value simply because she was created in God’s image. She discovered that she did not ‘deserve’ any of the abuse that had been heaped upon her all those years. Sadly, she also learned that the abuse she was heaping upon her own teen-aged children was just as destructive to them as it was – and had been – for her. To make matters worse for her children, they were receiving the same type of abuse from their grandparents.
What chance did they – and their future children – have as they fled home as soon as they were able? Will she have the chance to make a difference in the lives of her grandchildren? Only time will tell.
In a way, this is how it is for so many of our African-American brothers and sisters – neighbors, actually, according to Jesus – the type of people he expects us to love. But simply “aging out” and leaving home did not bring them an escape from the abuse. It has been inflicted upon them by the structure of our society and how that structure formed the attitudes of the abusers as well as the abused. Even though the theory of that structure has changed by law, the attitudes that had been formed before those legal changes have been passed down from generation to generation.
Black History Month is an attempt for all Americans regardless of descent to recognize the inherent value of each person by focusing on the fruits of the labor of a class of folk that has for generations been minimized.
So, what does God have to do with all this?
Well, these statements made by Jesus come to mind: “The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'” And “He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'” (Matthew 25:40, 45).
That’s what I think. What do you think?
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