August 2019 - OE - lists.wedgeblade.net

Joe Mathews Dissertation on John Wesley
by Wendell Refior 21 Apr '20

21 Apr '20

Colleagues - We now have a digital copy of JWM's Dissertation on Wesley. A Study of John Wesley, turned in and rejected by Niebuhr and never rewritten or approved. Wendell Refior for the ICA Global Archives Chapter 1: The Human Constitution https://wedgeblade.net/files/archives_assets/21219.pdf Chapter 2: The Life of Love https://wedgeblade.net/files/archives_assets/21220.pdf Chapter 3: The Knowledge of Faith https://wedgeblade.net/files/archives_assets/21221.pdf Conclusion: Concluding Remarks https://wedgeblade.net/files/archives_assets/21222.pdf -- Thanks until later. "To believe what is true for you in your private heart is true for <everyone> -- that is genius." - Emerson in "Self-Reliance" Wendell

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Completed life of Judith Tippett
by Lynda C 07 Nov '19

07 Nov '19

Dear Mike, Meg, Brook, Kit and family, Fifty nine years of journeys together as a family is remarkable. We hold you all in our care as you begin a new chapter with Judith’s presence with you in new ways. You, as the keeper of the memorials of our corporate body, now add your very own spouse to the list of the of those who died on the march. A sacred list! With care and sympathy, Lynda and John

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How Writing of Kierkegaard was Translated into English
by Beret Griffith 06 Sep '19

06 Sep '19

- [image: Howard Vincent Hong] Howard Hong and his wife Edna spent much of their lives translating the writings of Kierkegaard into English. He taught at St. Olaf College, my alma mater. I met Howard only a couple of times. His son Erik and his wife Carol are friends of Paul and myself. I'm sending along a part of the story of Howard and Edna because we owe our opportunity to read and reflect on Kierkegaard as a result of their translation work which set the context for the way they walked their talk in the world. I took these bits and pieces from his obituary. Howard entered St. Olaf College in 1930 and graduated in 1934. He studied English and.... found himself reading Ibsen, whose volumes he had seen in his father's library. He learned from a biography that Ibsen had been influenced by Kierkegaard. *The name registered because his father had spoken of a farmer he knew who owned books by Kierkegaard. He then began to read Kierkegaard, what little there was of his work in English at the time.* Howard was a graduate student in English at the University of Minnesota from 1934 to 1938, when the university awarded him the doctorate. While at Minnesota, he took a course with the Kierkegaard scholar David F. Swenson. After graduating, he and his new bride Edna Hatlestad went to Copenhagen, learned Danish, and translated Kierkegaard's *For Self- Examination* into English. Their life- work as Kierkegaard translators had begun. It was to include a six-volume edition of Kierkegaard's Journals and Papers (Indiana University Press) and the twenty-five volumes of Kierkegaard's Writings (Princeton University Press). Howard and Edna Hongs were celebrated and honored for their work as translators. In 1968, they won a National Book Award for their translation of the first volume of the Journals and Papers; in 1998, when the Princeton edition reached its conclusion, the Times Literary Supplement (London) said of it: * "All honour to the Hongs: Kierkegaard's Writings is one of the outstanding achievements in the history of philosophical translation." * Howard Hong taught philosophy at St. Olaf until he retired in 1978. Howard was appointed to the faculty in 1938, but Howard won a scholarship and the Hongs spent that school year in Copenhagen. He taught at St. Olaf from 1939 to 1941 then left college to work with prisoners of war in this country during World War II. Then he and Edna worked with refugees in Germany from 1946 to 1948. In Germany, with his young family, he was both the director of the Lutheran World Federation Service to Refugees and the senior field officer of the Refugee Division of the World Council of Churches. Back in Northfield, he helped resettle over 250 refugees, chiefly from Latvia. In the refugee camps, the Hongs saw squalor and lives torn apart by war, yet they believed with Kierkegaard's *Works of Love* that "love builds up by presupposing that love is present in the ground" or basis of human lives, even under the most desperate circumstances. This book inspired the Hongs in their work with refugees, and it became their first post-war translation project. Howard and Edna also established the Kierkegaard Library, which is housed at the college and bears their name. This library was originally their private collection. The core of the Kierkegaard Library is a substantial reconstruction of Kierkegaard's own library, in the same editions he owned. The Hongs gave their library to St. Olaf in 1976 and it has become an internationally renowned center of Kierkegaard research. During summer Howard and his family lived at Hovland, next to Lake Superior, near the Canadian border. He bought many tracts of land around Hovland, logged over by timber companies and sold for taxes, which he restored largely at his own expense and according to a plan devised by him and an experienced forester. The restoration work was officially recognized and in 2001, he and Edna were given the Minnesota Outstanding Conservationist Award by the Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts. The eminent Kierkegaard scholar, Howard came to enjoy introducing himself as a "forester". *Excerpted from Howard Hong's obituary published in the Northfield News on March 18, 2010* *NOTE: When John and Lynda Cock came to Northfield to teach The Faith Journey Retreat (RS-1 where 30+ people attended) they visited the Kierkegaard Library and discovered a coincidence....they have to tell that story. * *Beret*

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Spirit of the 20's
by John Epps 04 Sep '19

04 Sep '19

*The Spirit of the 20’s **John Epps, August 2019* The categories for determining the spirit of a decade supposedly come from Kierkegaard: An External Situation creates an Internal Crisis which raises an Existential Question from which we try to Escape. I’ve used them in trying to assess the situation since the 60’s. Here we go again: *The Prevailing Spirit:* Our External Situation is best characterized as one of *THREAT*. Economically, health care costs are rising astronomically, the move away from fossil fuels and the trade war with China have put markets in turmoil and talk of recession is in the air. Politically, we have cut off alliances and find Russia, N. Korea, and Iran all upgrading their nuclear capabilities. USA Congress seems unable to act. Culturally, we are besieged with increased numbers of immigrants and mass shootings now appear commonplace. And encompassing all this chaos is the Earth’s environment which appears to be undergoing dangerous changes due to global warming. All this has generated or contributed to an Internal Crisis of *FEAR*. We increasingly fear those who differ from us, whether by race, gender identification, nationality, or ideology. Everything different seems a threat, and we fear the changes already in progress. Compromise seems weak, and we’re increasingly in a black or white situation: agree or fight. The Existential Question in this situation is *HOW CAN WE SURVIVE?* With the environment collapsing and threats at every turn, what can we do? Problems seem too big to tackle, and local action, while effective, remains local while the issues are larger. Institutions we developed to address larger issues appear paralyzed: CONGRESS, UN, NATO, NAFTA, ASEAN, Treaties with Iran and the Paris Accords for Climate all appear ineffective in providing remedies. Attempts to inact gun control legislation, despite agreement from both parties, cannot move through Congress. We Escape through *BLAMESTORMING*; we look for scapegoats for each issue, then cast them as enemies toward which hatred is the only suitable relation. We demonize NRA, GOP, “Moscow Mitch,” Trump, Kim, Putin, Refugees, Democrats, Immigrants, Socialists, and many others. Extreme hostility takes the guise of radical nationalism attempting to band “us” against “them” or in too many cases, mass shootings aimed at eliminating “them.” *Towards an Authentic Response: *This is where we meet the question of God today: wrestling with the question of responding to threats to our existence. Local action may be the most we can do, and since that makes a difference, should be pursued with vigor. Maybe, over time, the mass changes needed can come from local people. The threats are real. The status quo cannot and will not survive. The future is really open and unpredictable. We can, however, have a hand in inventing it. Your comments, additions, corrections, and insights are most welcome.

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Re: [Oe List ...] Spirit of the 20's
by Ellie Stock 03 Sep '19

03 Sep '19

Hi John, Thanks for this thoughtful piece--still pondering... We continue to work with many others at the local level in our communities, and local, regional, national, and global levels through the church and other NGOS, specifically on issues related to the environment, racial justice/white privilege, immigration, root causes of poverty/hunger, indigenous rights--trying connect as many dots/movements as possible--hoping and trusting that all such work from every corner of the globe will eventually create a groundswell of action and change. Sometimes, it is just overwhelming. My mantra is to work toward the vision of what needs to be, rather than focusing on being against whatever/whomever we don't like. Not always easy. It just may take millions of people to take to the streets to change the tide, before it is too late--for us, our grandchildren or to the seventh generation. Looking forward to reading responses from folks. Ellie Stock :)elliestock@aol.com -----Original Message----- From: John Epps via OE <oe(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> To: Order Ecumenical Community <oe(a)wedgeblade.net> Cc: John Epps <jlepps39(a)gmail.com> Sent: Wed, Aug 28, 2019 4:36 pm Subject: [Oe List ...] Spirit of the 20's The Spirit of the 20’s John Epps, August2019The categories for determining the spirit of a decadesupposedly come from Kierkegaard: An External Situation creates an InternalCrisis which raises an Existential Question from which we try to Escape. I’veused them in trying to assess the situation since the 60’s. Here we go again:The Prevailing Spirit: Our External Situation is best characterized as one of THREAT.Economically, health care costs are rising astronomically, the move away fromfossil fuels and the trade war with China have put markets in turmoil and talkof recession is in the air. Politically, we have cut off alliances and findRussia, N. Korea, and Iran all upgrading their nuclear capabilities. USACongress seems unable to act. Culturally, we are besieged with increasednumbers of immigrants and mass shootings now appear commonplace. Andencompassing all this chaos is the Earth’s environment which appears to beundergoing dangerous changes due to global warming.All this has generated or contributed to an Internal Crisisof FEAR. We increasingly fear those who differ from us, whether by race,gender identification, nationality, or ideology. Everything different seems athreat, and we fear the changes already in progress. Compromise seems weak, andwe’re increasingly in a black or white situation: agree or fight. The Existential Question in this situation is HOW CAN WESURVIVE? With the environment collapsing and threats at every turn, whatcan we do? Problems seem too big to tackle, and local action, while effective,remains local while the issues are larger. Institutions we developed to addresslarger issues appear paralyzed: CONGRESS, UN, NATO, NAFTA, ASEAN, Treaties withIran and the Paris Accords for Climate all appear ineffective in providingremedies. Attempts to inact gun control legislation, despite agreement fromboth parties, cannot move through Congress. We Escape through BLAMESTORMING; we look forscapegoats for each issue, then cast them as enemies toward which hatred is theonly suitable relation. We demonize NRA, GOP, “Moscow Mitch,” Trump, Kim, Putin,Refugees, Democrats, Immigrants, Socialists, and many others. Extreme hostilitytakes the guise of radical nationalism attempting to band “us” against “them”or in too many cases, mass shootings aimed at eliminating “them.” Towards an Authentic Response: This is where we meet the question of God today: wrestling with thequestion of responding to threats to our existence. Local action may be the most we can do, and since that makesa difference, should be pursued with vigor. Maybe, over time, the mass changesneeded can come from local people. The threats are real. The status quo cannot and will notsurvive. The future is really open and unpredictable. We can, however, have ahand in inventing it.Your comments, additions, corrections, and insights are most welcome. _______________________________________________ OE mailing list OE(a)lists.wedgeblade.net http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net

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Re: [Oe List ...] [Dialogue] Spirit of the 20's
by Ellie Stock 03 Sep '19

03 Sep '19

>From a Christian perspective, Tillich was a good next step in articulating the reality of "sin". For me another definition from the Christian perspective makes more sense: The reality is that everything is connected and interrelated. "Sin" is thinking, acting, living "as if" we were separated from the primal Energy of Life, humanity, and all creation which leads to destructive patterns of behavior towards all life. Love/compassion is the antidote. The call to demonstrate inclusive, unconditional love through our knowing, doing, and being is based on the interconnectedness/interrelatedness of All and therefore builds up rather than tears down. Ellie elliestock(a)aol.com -----Original Message----- From: Robertson Work via Dialogue <dialogue(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> To: Order Ecumenical Community <oe(a)lists.wedgeblade.net>; dialogue(a)lists.wedgeblade.net <dialogue(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> Cc: Robertson Work <warkers(a)msn.com> Sent: Thu, Aug 29, 2019 06:20 PM Subject: Re: [Dialogue] [Oe List ...] Spirit of the 20's #yiv4270718136 P {margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;}Dear A.M., Now that is a deep question, friend. Thank you. Would love to hear your and other's answers. A few of my thoughts: If a contradiction is that which is blocking a vision, what is the vision? If the vision is of humanity realizing its full potential to love all beings (all people and all nature), then what is blocking that from being realized? From my point of view, the human contradiction is the illusion that the self is a separate, independent, unchanging entity that must be protected and promoted at the expense of any and every other reality. This is based on ignorance of the true nature of the self as interdependent, impermanent, and in a state of suffering. That statement is from a Buddhist perspective. A Christian perspective on the contradiction seems to be very similar. Human beings are in a state of sin, which Paul TIllich clarifies as: "sin is separation from self, others, and the ground of being." This fundamental error of perception of the self is that which pits the self against all others and even its own nature. This is a tragic ontological narcissism and solipsism - the belief that "I" am all that matters or even exists, and therefore I can and must do whatever I need to do to subjugate other beings to my will and my glory. What do you think? In solidarity, Rob................................................................................................ Recent book: A Compassionate Civilization: The Urgency of Sustainable Development and Mindful Activism - Reflections and Recommendations https://www.amazon.com/dp/1546972617 Blog: https://compassionatecivilization.blogspot.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertsonwork/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/compassionatecivilization/ From: OE <oe-bounces(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> on behalf of A.M. Noel via OE <oe(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> Sent: Thursday, August 29, 2019 8:01 AM To: Order Ecumenical Community <oe(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> Cc: A.M. Noel <anthonymarianoel(a)gmail.com> Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] Spirit of the 20's We always knew when we are able to articulate the contradiction. We could come up with what is possible, Are we willing to articulate what is the human contradiction? A.M. Noel On Thu, Aug 29, 2019 at 7:31 AM Jack Gilles via OE <oe(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote: John and Colleagues, You have laid out the classic analysis of the existential crisis the world is facing very well. Indeed, the collective threat to our human and planetary existence is before us. What is obvious is that the pain will increase; for all of us. There will be no escape. We will all weep at the destruction of the planet and the dehumanization forces react to the fear they feel. Let these tears cleanse our hearts and clear the dust from our minds. We will rejoice at the signs of possibilities that so many will demonstrate daily, even though they also face the wind that can blow out the candles of hope. Cruelty will grow, greed will flourish and the beast will roar. Courage will be in big demand. So many years ago, amazingly we saw it coming, although we had no idea of the particulars. You can remember and resonate to the words of wisdom that were spoken then. “Without a NRM there will be no NSV”. “Although we are engaged in the campaigns of Awakenment and Demonstration, the day after tomorrow we will only be doing the Third Campaign, Caring for those who Care.” “Discerning the Contradiction is the key to creative change”. “Never attack directly, indirection is the way”. And wow, all the learnings we amassed! We failed at replication, but now we know why. We failed at expanding Religious Houses, but now we know why. We failed at renewing the historical Christian church, but now we know why. And that wisdom needs to be collected and shared. Thus the mission of the Living Archives. It is now time to share that wisdom, but not just everyone, but with the newly awakened ones, those who discovered the Second Mountain, as David Brooks describes it. With those who have discovered the primacy of the local but have done so in partnership with the living Earth. We can trust the Mystery to raise up stones in amazing ways. New life will fill “dem bones”. New poetry, stories, songs and symbols will left hearts and strengthen spines. Enough of the words. Practically what do we do? Most of us are long-in-the tooth, so we must discern our elder role and develop the strategy to make it happen. Time is short to do so. Maybe the ICA’s is the vehicle, maybe not. We lost something when we shifted from Global language to National language. The nation state is a social vehicle that will not work, it is dead, but sure does look at act alive (I mean it doesn’t represent the way life is anymore). So start with our Grid. Watch the TED talk on the 50 Urban Nodes that have emerged (these are the Areas from our Grid). Listen to the wisdom of Larry Ward and Peggy Rowe (see Larry’s short TED talk). Become fluent in speaking of what we called the NRM. See how it is indeed the absolute requirement to lead in the creation of the NSV. Understand the dynamics of the creative process and how our Socilal Process work reveals the wisdom of how it happens and review the Pressure Points and Whistle Points for their relevance today and have they shifted? Grasp the dynamics and forms of The Wayside Inn and how it can function. And so much more. Perhaps we need a forum to On Aug 28, 2019, at 16:36, John Epps via OE <oe(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote: The Spirit of the 20’s John Epps, August 2019 The categories for determining the spirit of a decade supposedly come from Kierkegaard: An External Situation creates an Internal Crisis which raises an Existential Question from which we try to Escape. I’ve used them in trying to assess the situation since the 60’s. Here we go again: The Prevailing Spirit: Our External Situation is best characterized as one of THREAT. Economically, health care costs are rising astronomically, the move away from fossil fuels and the trade war with China have put markets in turmoil and talk of recession is in the air. Politically, we have cut off alliances and find Russia, N. Korea, and Iran all upgrading their nuclear capabilities. USA Congress seems unable to act. Culturally, we are besieged with increased numbers of immigrants and mass shootings now appear commonplace. And encompassing all this chaos is the Earth’s environment which appears to be undergoing dangerous changes due to global warming. All this has generated or contributed to an Internal Crisis of FEAR. We increasingly fear those who differ from us, whether by race, gender identification, nationality, or ideology. Everything different seems a threat, and we fear the changes already in progress. Compromise seems weak, and we’re increasingly in a black or white situation: agree or fight. The Existential Question in this situation is HOW CAN WE SURVIVE? With the environment collapsing and threats at every turn, what can we do? Problems seem too big to tackle, and local action, while effective, remains local while the issues are larger. Institutions we developed to address larger issues appear paralyzed: CONGRESS, UN, NATO, NAFTA, ASEAN, Treaties with Iran and the Paris Accords for Climate all appear ineffective in providing remedies. Attempts to inact gun control legislation, despite agreement from both parties, cannot move through Congress. We Escape through BLAMESTORMING; we look for scapegoats for each issue, then cast them as enemies toward which hatred is the only suitable relation. We demonize NRA, GOP, “Moscow Mitch,” Trump, Kim, Putin, Refugees, Democrats, Immigrants, Socialists, and many others. Extreme hostility takes the guise of radical nationalism attempting to band “us” against “them” or in too many cases, mass shootings aimed at eliminating “them.” Towards an Authentic Response: This is where we meet the question of God today: wrestling with the question of responding to threats to our existence. Local action may be the most we can do, and since that makes a difference, should be pursued with vigor. Maybe, over time, the mass changes needed can come from local people. The threats are real. The status quo cannot and will not survive. The future is really open and unpredictable. We can, however, have a hand in inventing it. Your comments, additions, corrections, and insights are most welcome. _______________________________________________ OE mailing list OE(a)lists.wedgeblade.net http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net _______________________________________________ OE mailing list OE(a)lists.wedgeblade.net http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net _______________________________________________ Dialogue mailing list Dialogue(a)lists.wedgeblade.net http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/dialogue-wedgeblade.net

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Re: [Oe List ...] OE Digest, Vol 89, Issue 15
by David Flowers 02 Sep '19

02 Sep '19

Jesus loves the little children. For a reason. We are born out of the womb as loving, creative creatures seeking Connection. All these so-called rational systems that have been put in place are so often dismissive of this Primal fact. God created the heavens and the Earth and then created us in Gods image. We are born as loving creators. Jesus ame to remind us of our loving, creative connectedness with ALL of creation in contradiction to any plans that seek to codify or glorify one systemic approach over another. That's the plan. Short of that, any social model deemed good or bad by whatever group will fail. Keep it simple. Love, connect, create. On Fri, Aug 30, 2019, 4:26 PM <oe-request(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote: > Send OE mailing list submissions to > oe(a)lists.wedgeblade.net > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > oe-request(a)lists.wedgeblade.net > > You can reach the person managing the list at > oe-owner(a)lists.wedgeblade.net > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of OE digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Re: [Dialogue] Spirit of the 20's (Jack Gilles) > 2. Re: How Writing of Kierkegaard was Translated into English > (Mary Kurian D'Souza) > 3. Re: How Writing of Kierkegaard was Translated into English > (James Wiegel) > 4. Re: How Writing of Kierkegaard was Translated into English (W. J.) > 5. Re: How Writing of Kierkegaard was Translated into English > (James Wiegel) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Thu, 29 Aug 2019 22:09:11 -0500 > From: Jack Gilles <jackcgilles(a)gmail.com> > To: OE Listserve <oe(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> > Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] [Dialogue] Spirit of the 20's > Message-ID: <A54A1040-2AEC-4498-93C5-074F9A7BBCC0(a)gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > Ellie, > > Yes, the reality of life is the connectedness of all. Love and compassion > is a necessary stance in light of this misunderstanding for sure. As I > understand how we defined contradiction we looked for the structural > sociological window that emerges when you identify the force that is > keeping the current situation from changing. It is the current scientific > paradigm that defines what is real and how thinks happen by cause and > effect. There is a unifying paradigm that discloses how the creative > process happens and provides an integration for both This World and The > Other World. Until that paradigm takes root we will not overcome the tragic > future we are facing. The Other World has always been present, but for > several hundred years the explanation for how things happen have been > defined by western left brain thinking and verbal definition, and > relegating our other two brains to explanations reduced to ?things?. > > Jack > > > On Aug 29, 2019, at 18:53, Ellie Stock via OE <oe(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> > wrote: > > > > From a Christian perspective, Tillich was a good next step in > articulating the reality of "sin". > > > > For me another definition from the Christian perspective makes more > sense: The reality is that everything is connected and interrelated. > "Sin" is thinking, acting, living "as if" we were separated from the primal > Energy of Life, humanity, and all creation which leads to destructive > patterns of behavior towards all life. > > > > Love/compassion is the antidote. The call to demonstrate inclusive, > unconditional love through our knowing, doing, and being is based on the > interconnectedness/interrelatedness of All and therefore builds up rather > than tears down. > > > > Ellie > > elliestock(a)aol.com <mailto:elliestock@aol.com> > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Robertson Work via Dialogue <dialogue(a)lists.wedgeblade.net > <mailto:dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net>> > > To: Order Ecumenical Community <oe(a)lists.wedgeblade.net <mailto: > oe(a)lists.wedgeblade.net>>; dialogue(a)lists.wedgeblade.net <mailto: > dialogue(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> <dialogue(a)lists.wedgeblade.net <mailto: > dialogue(a)lists.wedgeblade.net>> > > Cc: Robertson Work <warkers(a)msn.com <mailto:warkers@msn.com>> > > Sent: Thu, Aug 29, 2019 06:20 PM > > Subject: Re: [Dialogue] [Oe List ...] Spirit of the 20's > > > > > > Dear A.M., > > > > Now that is a deep question, friend. Thank you. Would love to hear your > and other's answers. > > > > A few of my thoughts: If a contradiction is that which is blocking a > vision, what is the vision? If the vision is of humanity realizing its full > potential to love all beings (all people and all nature), then what is > blocking that from being realized? From my point of view, the human > contradiction is the illusion that the self is a separate, independent, > unchanging entity that must be protected and promoted at the expense of any > and every other reality. This is based on ignorance of the true nature of > the self as interdependent, impermanent, and in a state of suffering. That > statement is from a Buddhist perspective. A Christian perspective on the > contradiction seems to be very similar. Human beings are in a state of sin, > which Paul TIllich clarifies as: "sin is separation from self, others, and > the ground of being." This fundamental error of perception of the self is > that which pits the self against all others and even its own nature. This > is a tragic ontological narcissism and soli > psism - the belief that "I" am all that matters or even exists, and > therefore I can and must do whatever I need to do to subjugate other beings > to my will and my glory. > > > > What do you think? > > > > In solidarity, > > > > Rob > > > ................................................................................................ > > Recent book: A Compassionate Civilization: The Urgency of Sustainable > Development and Mindful Activism - Reflections and Recommendations > https://www.amazon.com/dp/1546972617 <https://www.amazon.com/dp/1546972617 > > > > Blog: https://compassionatecivilization.blogspot.com/ < > https://compassionatecivilization.blogspot.com/> < > https://compassionatecivilization.blogspot.com/> < > https://compassionatecivilization.blogspot.com/> > > LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertsonwork/ < > https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertsonwork/> > > Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/compassionatecivilization/ < > https://www.facebook.com/compassionatecivilization/> ? > > > > From: OE <oe-bounces(a)lists.wedgeblade.net <mailto: > oe-bounces(a)lists.wedgeblade.net>> on behalf of A.M. Noel via OE < > oe(a)lists.wedgeblade.net <mailto:oe@lists.wedgeblade.net>> > > Sent: Thursday, August 29, 2019 8:01 AM > > To: Order Ecumenical Community <oe(a)lists.wedgeblade.net <mailto: > oe(a)lists.wedgeblade.net>> > > Cc: A.M. Noel <anthonymarianoel(a)gmail.com <mailto: > anthonymarianoel(a)gmail.com>> > > Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] Spirit of the 20's > > > > We always knew when we are able to articulate the contradiction. We > could come up with what is possible, Are we willing to articulate what is > the human contradiction? > > > > A.M. Noel > > > > > > On Thu, Aug 29, 2019 at 7:31 AM Jack Gilles via OE < > oe(a)lists.wedgeblade.net <mailto:oe@lists.wedgeblade.net>> wrote: > > John and Colleagues, > > > > You have laid out the classic analysis of the existential crisis the > world is facing very well. Indeed, the collective threat to our human and > planetary existence is before us. What is obvious is that the pain will > increase; for all of us. There will be no escape. We will all weep at the > destruction of the planet and the dehumanization forces react to the fear > they feel. Let these tears cleanse our hearts and clear the dust from our > minds. We will rejoice at the signs of possibilities that so many will > demonstrate daily, even though they also face the wind that can blow out > the candles of hope. Cruelty will grow, greed will flourish and the beast > will roar. Courage will be in big demand. > > > > So many years ago, amazingly we saw it coming, although we had no idea > of the particulars. You can remember and resonate to the words of wisdom > that were spoken then. ?Without a NRM there will be no NSV?. ?Although we > are engaged in the campaigns of Awakenment and Demonstration, the day after > tomorrow we will only be doing the Third Campaign, Caring for those who > Care.? ?Discerning the Contradiction is the key to creative change?. ?Never > attack directly, indirection is the way?. And wow, all the learnings we > amassed! We failed at replication, but now we know why. We failed at > expanding Religious Houses, but now we know why. We failed at renewing the > historical Christian church, but now we know why. And that wisdom needs to > be collected and shared. Thus the mission of the Living Archives. It is now > time to share that wisdom, but not just everyone, but with the newly > awakened ones, those who discovered the Second Mountain, as David Brooks > describes it. With those who have discovered > the primacy of the local but have done so in partnership with the living > Earth. We can trust the Mystery to raise up stones in amazing ways. New > life will fill ?dem bones?. New poetry, stories, songs and symbols will > left hearts and strengthen spines. > > > > Enough of the words. Practically what do we do? Most of us are > long-in-the tooth, so we must discern our elder role and develop the > strategy to make it happen. Time is short to do so. Maybe the ICA?s is the > vehicle, maybe not. We lost something when we shifted from Global language > to National language. The nation state is a social vehicle that will not > work, it is dead, but sure does look at act alive (I mean it doesn?t > represent the way life is anymore). So start with our Grid. Watch the TED > talk on the 50 Urban Nodes that have emerged (these are the Areas from our > Grid). Listen to the wisdom of Larry Ward and Peggy Rowe (see Larry?s short > TED talk). Become fluent in speaking of what we called the NRM. See how it > is indeed the absolute requirement to lead in the creation of the NSV. > Understand the dynamics of the creative process and how our Socilal Process > work reveals the wisdom of how it happens and review the Pressure Points > and Whistle Points for their relevance today and hav > e they shifted? Grasp the dynamics and forms of The Wayside Inn and how > it can function. And so much more. Perhaps we need a forum to > > > > > > > >> On Aug 28, 2019, at 16:36, John Epps via OE <oe(a)lists.wedgeblade.net > <mailto:oe@lists.wedgeblade.net>> wrote: > >> > >> The Spirit of the 20?s > >> John Epps, August 2019 > >> > >> The categories for determining the spirit of a decade supposedly come > from Kierkegaard: An External Situation creates an Internal Crisis which > raises an Existential Question from which we try to Escape. I?ve used them > in trying to assess the situation since the 60?s. Here we go again: > >> > >> The Prevailing Spirit: > >> Our External Situation is best characterized as one of THREAT. > Economically, health care costs are rising astronomically, the move away > from fossil fuels and the trade war with China have put markets in turmoil > and talk of recession is in the air. Politically, we have cut off alliances > and find Russia, N. Korea, and Iran all upgrading their nuclear > capabilities. USA Congress seems unable to act. Culturally, we are besieged > with increased numbers of immigrants and mass shootings now appear > commonplace. And encompassing all this chaos is the Earth?s environment > which appears to be undergoing dangerous changes due to global warming. > >> > >> All this has generated or contributed to an Internal Crisis of FEAR. We > increasingly fear those who differ from us, whether by race, gender > identification, nationality, or ideology. Everything different seems a > threat, and we fear the changes already in progress. Compromise seems weak, > and we?re increasingly in a black or white situation: agree or fight. > >> > >> The Existential Question in this situation is HOW CAN WE SURVIVE? With > the environment collapsing and threats at every turn, what can we do? > Problems seem too big to tackle, and local action, while effective, remains > local while the issues are larger. Institutions we developed to address > larger issues appear paralyzed: CONGRESS, UN, NATO, NAFTA, ASEAN, Treaties > with Iran and the Paris Accords for Climate all appear ineffective in > providing remedies. Attempts to inact gun control legislation, despite > agreement from both parties, cannot move through Congress. > >> > >> We Escape through BLAMESTORMING; we look for scapegoats for each issue, > then cast them as enemies toward which hatred is the only suitable > relation. We demonize NRA, GOP, ?Moscow Mitch,? Trump, Kim, Putin, > Refugees, Democrats, Immigrants, Socialists, and many others. Extreme > hostility takes the guise of radical nationalism attempting to band ?us? > against ?them? or in too many cases, mass shootings aimed at eliminating > ?them.? > >> > >> Towards an Authentic Response: > >> This is where we meet the question of God today: wrestling with the > question of responding to threats to our existence. > >> > >> Local action may be the most we can do, and since that makes a > difference, should be pursued with vigor. Maybe, over time, the mass > changes needed can come from local people. > >> > >> The threats are real. The status quo cannot and will not survive. The > future is really open and unpredictable. We can, however, have a hand in > inventing it. > >> > >> Your comments, additions, corrections, and insights are most welcome. > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> OE mailing list > >> OE(a)lists.wedgeblade.net <mailto:OE@lists.wedgeblade.net> > >> http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net < > https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flists.wedg… > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > OE mailing list > > OE(a)lists.wedgeblade.net <mailto:OE@lists.wedgeblade.net> > > http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net < > https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flists.wedg… > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Dialogue mailing list > > Dialogue(a)lists.wedgeblade.net <mailto:Dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net> > > http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/dialogue-wedgeblade.net < > http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/dialogue-wedgeblade.net> > > _______________________________________________ > > OE mailing list > > OE(a)lists.wedgeblade.net <mailto:OE@lists.wedgeblade.net> > > http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net < > http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net> >

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Global Buzz reminder
by ICA International 29 Aug '19

29 Aug '19

Reminder for entries This reminder is for the Global Buzz that will be published September 5th. 2019 (Please send your entries at least a day or more ahead) Please send all your entries by regular e-mail to: inform(a)ica-international.org with your entry as an attatchment. Send details of news items, training programmes, your peer to peer connections with other ICAs, any concerns you may have and of any events that are coming up at your location. Your report can be long or short, but remember that all other ICAs would really like to know about the things that matter where you are, and what you are doing as an ICA. Peter, for ICAI Communications Pour les entrées de rappel Ce rappel est à la Global Buzz qui sera publié le 5 septembre 2019 (Veuillez envoyer vos entrées au moins une journée à l'avance) Veuillez envoyer toutes vos entrées maintenant par courriel ordinaire à : inform(a)ica-international.org avec votre entrée comme un attatchment. Envoyer les détails des articles de nouvelles, des programmes de formation, vos connexions peer to peer avec d'autres CIAS, de toute préoccupation que vous pourriez avoir et de tous les événements qui sont à venir à votre emplacement. Votre rapport peut être longue ou courte, mais rappelez-vous que toutes les autres CIAS aimerait vraiment savoir à propos de choses qui importe où vous êtes et ce que vous faites comme une ICA. Recordatorio de las entradas Este aviso es para el Global Buzz que se publicarán 5 septiembre 2019 (Favor de enviar sus entradas al menos con un día de antelación) Por favor envíe todos sus entradas ahora por correo electrónico a: inform(a)ica-international.org con su entrada como un archivo adjunto. Enviar detalles de noticias, programas de capacitación, el peer to peer las conexiones con otros convenios o acuerdos internacionales, las preocupaciones que usted pueda tener y de los eventos que se aproximan en su ubicación. El informe puede ser a corto o largo, pero hay que recordar que todos los demás convenios quisiera saber realmente sobre lo que realmente importa, y lo que están haciendo una ICA.

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8/29/19, Progressing Spirit: Mark Sandlin: Rugged Individuality and the Hermeneutic of Love; Spong revisited Matthew Fox event
by Ellie Stock 29 Aug '19

29 Aug '19

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!important;line-height:125% !important;} }@media screen and (max-width:480px){ #yiv1508517611 h4{ font-size:16px !important;line-height:150% !important;} }@media screen and (max-width:480px){ #yiv1508517611 .yiv1508517611mcnBoxedTextContentContainer .yiv1508517611mcnTextContent, #yiv1508517611 .yiv1508517611mcnBoxedTextContentContainer .yiv1508517611mcnTextContent p{ font-size:14px !important;line-height:150% !important;} }@media screen and (max-width:480px){ #yiv1508517611 #yiv1508517611templatePreheader{ display:block !important;} }@media screen and (max-width:480px){ #yiv1508517611 #yiv1508517611templatePreheader .yiv1508517611mcnTextContent, #yiv1508517611 #yiv1508517611templatePreheader .yiv1508517611mcnTextContent p{ font-size:12px !important;line-height:150% !important;} }@media screen and (max-width:480px){ #yiv1508517611 #yiv1508517611templateHeader .yiv1508517611mcnTextContent, #yiv1508517611 #yiv1508517611templateHeader .yiv1508517611mcnTextContent p{ font-size:16px !important;line-height:150% !important;} }@media screen and (max-width:480px){ #yiv1508517611 #yiv1508517611templateBody .yiv1508517611mcnTextContent, #yiv1508517611 #yiv1508517611templateBody .yiv1508517611mcnTextContent p{ font-size:14px !important;line-height:150% !important;} }@media screen and (max-width:480px){ #yiv1508517611 #yiv1508517611templateFooter .yiv1508517611mcnTextContent, #yiv1508517611 #yiv1508517611templateFooter .yiv1508517611mcnTextContent p{ font-size:12px !important;line-height:150% !important;} } Healthy spiritualism recognizes the connectedness of us all | | | | View this email in your browser | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Rugged Individuality and the Hermeneutic of Love | | | | | | | | | | Essay by Rev. Mark Sandlin August 29, 2019It seems to me that people who have a well developed and healthy spirituality will resist the concept of tribalism. While it is true that tribalism was once an evolutionary necessity for survival, I have to believe that in modern times we should recognize that it is actually quite ridiculous as it is so rooted rooted in the illusion that some people are more valuable than others. I guess that's more than ridiculous, it is down right dangerous. It's not just dangerous, it is unnecessarily dangerous. You see, the origins of tribalism (and likewise the very closely related nationalism) are very real, and there was certainly a time when it was very necessary; but in the modern world belonging to a tribe is no longer an essential life ingredient for staying alive. As a matter of fact, in modern times, tribalism\nationalism frequently have the opposite impact on life. From gangs to hate crimes and even including politically motivated anti-Muslim movements, tribalism and nationalism are costing the world lives. In my understanding of spirituality, there are few things (if any) more sacred than life itself. Healthy spiritualism recognizes the connectedness of us all and it frequently comes with a set of standards, a set of measurements, by which we can assess if we are treating the world and others in a way that fully recognizes their value and our mutual connectedness in life. The good news is, with the appropriate education, awareness, and tools, we are all more than capable of eliminating negative tribalism\nationalism identities in our lives and moving to what is a healthier modern outlook – a more global identity. One of the things that can help us in trying to nurture a more global identity is a hermeneutic of love. Now, if the concept of a “hermeneutic of love” seems a blurry to you, don't worry, we will get to that. First, however, let's do a bit of sociological reflection on the society we live in. In many ways, the United States was founded on rugged individualism. One of the leading 19th century political scientist and historians, particularly when it comes to democracy in America, was a gentleman by the name of Alexis de Tocqueville. One of his primary observations of America was the primacy of rugged individualism within our culture. He believed this individualism was both the U.S.'s greatest strength, as well as its greatest weakness. It was his belief that this rugged individualism would ultimately be the undoing of our culture and society, as well as our experiment in democratic governance. Reading modern headlines, I can't help but wonder if he might just be exactly correct. Just one example would be Ken Cuccinelli, the Trump administration’s acting head of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, who reworded the Emma Lazarus poem “The New Colossus,” saying: “Give me your tired and your poor who can stand on their own two feet, and who will not become a public charge.” His loveless rewording plants its feet solidly in the concept of rugged individualism, and intentionally distances itself from the original spirit of the poem which pointed to our collective responsibility toward caring for each other, particularly those who struggle. Ultimately, society is made up of multiple communities. Communities aren't unlike tribes. They are a group of people who form a bond around a central idea. There was a time when that idea might have been simply to stay alive. Now that idea might be something as simple as believing a particular area is one of the best to live in. There are, of course, typically multiple ideas within any community which the the collective bond is formed around. The point I'm getting to is that for most of humanity's long history, we have been a people of community. We not only are pulled towards it as a people, but we have a tendency to thrive in healthy communities. That is why I brought up America's malady of rugged individualism. It would seem that as a society, we are becoming increasing adverse to the idea of needing to be a part of a healthy community. When Hillary Clinton released her book, It Takes a Village, she actually became a bit of a target for late night comedians, politicians, and pundits who made fun of the perspective suggested by the book's title. You also may remember that Barack Obama's suggestion that there are no self-made businesses or leaders did not go over very well and he was attacked for not valuing the individualistic nature of American capitalism. Just from those examples you can begin to see that as a society those of us in the U.S. tend not to like hearing that we need the help and support of others in order to be successful. It would seem that we want to believe that we can solve our own problems without the assistance of others. The rugged individualism that the nation was partly founded upon has come head to head with the long-time reality that humans are drawn to and need community. The thing is, for a community to to be healthy, it needs compassion. If you wish for your community to be cohesive and durable, it frequently requires an awareness and placing of the needs and concerns of others ahead of our own. And I'm here to tell you, compassion is hard work, to some degree it requires the sacrifice of an individual’s wants and desires. Few of us revel in giving those up. Of course, the problem then is that the rugged individualism so prevalent in our society runs counter to the compassion needed for a cohesive and durable community. As I just mentioned, it seems like we “tend not to like hearing that we need the help and support of others in order to be successful. It would seem that we want to believe that we can solve our own problems without the assistance of others.” To continue that thought, we also seem to have reversed that way of thinking so far that many of us expect others to also not want help from other people – even when they are struggling. I've even heard those who do ask for help being called “un-American.” Can you believe that? Sadly, so can I. Not only that, but those who do expect for people in difficult places to stop asking for “handouts” tend to do so without regard to the systemic issues that can make it a nearly impossible task to do. That kind of rugged individualism lays a fertile foundation for the growth of narcissism. Such an approach to life and community feeds the growing phenomenon of “us against them,” and increases the sense of isolation that many people experience today. Whether the issue is health care, gun ownership, taxes, religious beliefs, military tactics, or changing cultural values, our growing narcissism and rugged individualism are ripping our society apart. That kind of narcissism feeds an anger and sense of disenfranchisement among many of us, and in turn, it allows compassion to be painted as an act of weakness – the opposite of rugged individualism. The reality is that communities can still be healthy even with the presence of rugged individualism. The problem is that the only way that can happen is with the presence of compassion. Without compassion, without the recognition of other people's basic human rights and dignity, you get folks who will fight to protect what they perceive to be their own personal rights, without any regard to the impact, the cost, that doing so will have on others. That? That is a formula for anarchy. What we need is to develop a hermeneutic of love. In her book entitled Borne Forward Ceaselessly Into Love: A Theory of the Hermeneutics of Love Exemplified by Martin Luther King Jr., Jennifer Selig uses the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to show what a hermeneutic of love looks like in practice and to describe the theory of a hermeneutic of love. This is her loose definition of a hermeneutic of love, “a way of interpreting experiences and people… with love, through love, and for love.” She goes on to talk about how King interprets with, through, and for love utilizing the definition of agape love as used by the Greeks. King actually talked about that form of love in his sermon entitled “Loving Your Enemies.” He said: “The Greek language comes out with another word for love. It is the word agape. And agape is more than eros; agape is more than philia; agape is something of the understanding, creative, redemptive goodwill for all men. It is a love that seeks nothing in return. It is an overflowing love; it’s what theologians would call the love of God working in the lives of men. And when you rise to love on this level, you begin to love men, not because they are likable, but because God loves them. You look at every man, and you love him, because you know God loves him. And he might be the worst person you’ve ever seen.” The reality is God doesn't need to be in the picture to make it work. As one of my friend's bumpersticker says, “People can be good without God.” Agape love can be entirely about a humanistic outlook on life. A valuing of all people, a recognition of the need for basic human dignity and rights. A hermeneutic of love, understanding what you experience in life through the constant filter of agape love, may seem like an overly-simplistic, pie in the sky idea, but I'm here to tell you, there is nothing simple about it. It takes hard work, dedication, and constant vigilance, but I hope that our earlier consideration of the difficulty of having only rugged individualism within communities points to why it is so important that we try. The good news is that practicing a hermeneutic of love necessarily open us up to having a more global identity as we recognize the basic human dignity and rights of people around the world. And if there's one thing the world needs right now – well, in my opinion – it's exactly that. ~ Rev. Mark Sandlin Read online here About the Author Rev. Mark Sandlin is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA) from the South. He currently serves at Presbyterian Church of the Covenant. He is a co-founder of The Christian Left. His blog, has been named as one of the “Top Ten Christian Blogs.” Mark received The Associated Church Press’ Award of Excellence in 2012. His work has been published on “The Huffington Post,” “Sojourners,” “Time,” “Church World Services,” and even the “Richard Dawkins Foundation.” He’s been featured on PBS’s “Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly” and NPR’s “The Story with Dick Gordon.” Follow Mark on Facebook and Twitter @marksandlin. | | | | | | | | Question & Answer Q: By Leyton I was wondering what the Progressive Christian attitude to the spiritual/philosophical text “A Course in Miracles” is? A: By Rev. Dr. Matthew Fox Dear Leyton,Thank you for your question. Just a few weeks ago I was lecturing at the Aspen Chapel in Aspen, Colorado where they are celebrating their 50th anniversary and this exact question arose. I am happy to address it, but I don’t pretend to speak in the name of all “progressive Christians.” I recognize A Course of Miracles (COM) as very much a mystical work. Ted Roszak said that “the Enlightenment held mysticism up for ridicule as the worst offense against science and reason.” So that is the first thing I would say about COM—that for a religious era that is famished for mysticism, because modern consciousness killed it and modern seminaries (both Jewish and Christian) ignored it, the Course of Miracles has provided real nourishment for many. The killing of the mystical has no small part to play in the cosmic loneliness of our culture, the insipidness of contemporary religion, and the destruction of the planet. For without the Via Positiva of the mystics we will not save the planet. SO, the course of Miracles has touched and awakened many people to that missing mystical dimension of our souls and consciousness. That is its plus. HOWEVER, mysticism is meant to lead to justice-making. Otherwise, it is just another idol on our growing piles of idols in our time where race, nation, militarism, patriarchy, consumerism, ecocide, homophobia, extractive and consumer capitalism reign. Authentic mysticism (love) is meant to feed prophetic action (prophecy and justice-making). The prophet is the “mystic in action” and we must ask if the COM leads to prophetic action and justice-making and dethroning of idols. (Just as we must ask that of any spiritual experience.) My observation suggests that the COM does not deal well with anger or moral outrage or the shadow; therefore it cannot deal well with justice making. Being spiritual does not mean ignoring anger. Non-violent movements do not ignore anger but convert it to something healthy. Thomas Aquinas says that “nothing great happens without anger” and that virtue is to be found in our passions not in spite of them. To suppress anger feeds the status quo and sucks the energy out of people rendering them depressed and passive couch potatoes instead of engaged adult citizens. There is a danger in COM of undervaluing the reality of evil—a kind of Cosmic Christ without the wounds, all light. I see that as its weakness. Our third chakra is where we feel kicked in the gut from injustice and where compassion is first awakened (the Greek word for “compassion” in the gospels used often of Jesus means literally, ‘his bowels turned over.’) Jesus tapped into his moral outrage, the turning over of the merchant tables in the Temple is one example, as are many verbal confrontations he delivered against religious pooh-bahs whom he called “hypocrites, whitened sepulchers” and more. I met recently a COM devotee who said Buddhists and Christians are wrong to talk about “redemptive suffering”, and she is living her life as if there is no suffering. Yikes! Really? How fully does one have to withdraw from reality to do that? To me it seems more wise to say with the Buddhists that “all beings suffer”, and with a healthy interpretation of the cross, that Jesus and innocents suffer. What is compassion about if not to recognize suffering and try to relieve it? Or, as Gandhi said, if you are to be a leader “prepare yourself for mountains of suffering.” When push comes to shove, therefore, I prefer Jesus, Gandhi and the Buddha to COM. ~ Rev. Dr. Matthew Fox Read and share online here About the Author You can find Matthew Fox in Daily Meditations With Matthew Fox, where he offers meditations like these for Free and is currently treating the topic of developing our mystical and prophetic consciousness. | | | | | | | | Please continue to send us your feedback… we are listening. We aim to give voice to many different perspectives that are relevant and inspiring along this spiritually progressing path. We are not here to tell you what to believe or how to act. We are here to support your journey, to share and learn together. Thank you for being a part of this community! | | | | | | | | Bishop John Shelby Spong Revisited The Origins of the Bible, Part IV The Story of the Yahwist Document Essay by Bishop John Shelby Spong April 9, 2008Thus far in this series on the origins of the Bible, my efforts have been directed toward how the Torah, which contains the oldest material found in the Bible, came into being. The Torah, also called “The Law” and “The Books of Moses,” is the Jewish name for the first five books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. Their creation in the world of literature did not happen the way many people today seem to think. No one, including Moses, simply sat down and started writing. In fact, the Torah was written over a period of about 500 years by a series of authors. Many of the stories told in this part of the Bible were a combination of myths, folk tales and political propaganda with only the slightest bit, if any, of actual historical memory. The opening biblical stories from Adam and Eve through the flood have absolutely no connection with history, despite the fact that some of the world’s more foolish people still try to locate the Noah’s ark on Mt Ararat. The first shred of history appears in the Abraham story and it is slight indeed. If a person named Abraham lived at all it would have been about 900 years or 45 generations prior to the writing of the Abraham story in the book of Genesis. Moses, the greatest hero in the Jewish story, lived about 300 years or 15 generations before the Moses narratives in were written in Exodus and as many as 700 years before the Moses stories that appear in Deuteronomy. This means that most of these biblical accounts are not history at all, at least not in any technical sense, but are rather interpretive folk lore. That needs to be said again and again. Even after constant repetition it is hard to make this truth heard, since most people have grown up in the power of 2000 years of literalizations that continues to affect our reasoning today. In this column, I want to trace in more detail the beginning of what is called “The Yahwist Document” that scholars today designate as the oldest part of the Torah and thus the oldest part of the biblical story. Writing history, which is what the Torah purported to be, is an activity that normally starts only when a nation has become established and secure enough to begin to look at itself with some objectivity. While the Jews were fleeing Egypt, journeying through the wilderness, or invading and conquering the land of the Canaanites, there was little time or interest in transforming its experienced history into a written narrative. It is also important to note that in the ancient world, one who could write was first of all rare, a skill possessed in the tenth century BCE in the Middle East by less than one tenth of one percent of the entire population. Thus the one who wrote this first part of the Torah can be accurately presumed to have been high in either government or ecclesiastical circles. Writing also required considerable wealth, or at least access to wealth, since both parchment and ink were very expensive. We can assume, therefore, that both education and wealth were the marks of this original author of biblical material. Inevitably, such a person would reflect the attitudes and biases of the ruling classes which he represented. I use the word “he” not to be insensitive, but to recognize the fact that in this period of history the privileges of education and status had simply not yet been conferred upon women. The Yahwist Document got its name from the fact that this narrative referred to God by the name Yahweh (YHWH), the name it claimed had been revealed to Moses at the “burning bush.” Those letters in Hebrew were in some way identified with the verb “to be” and it was translated in the book of Exodus to mean, “I am that I am.” Since the verb “to be” is the foundation verb of any language, it seemed to be a fitting name for the deity who was regarded as the foundation of the tribe’s identity. When this strand of material is lifted out of the Torah and separated from the later strands, its historical setting becomes immediately visible. The Jewish nation has been established. Saul, the first king, a member of the tribe of Benjamin, had been unable to secure his throne. The narrative describes Saul as a melancholy, depressed man, who could not unite the various tribes of Israel. When all of Saul’s sons, save for a crippled child, were killed along with the King in a battle against the Philistines at Mt. Giboa, his throne was claimed by his military captain, a man named David. It is David who is the clear hero of this Yahwist writer. David was portrayed as chosen by God and anointed by the prophet Samuel to be king of the Jews at a very early age, indeed while still a shepherd boy keeping the flocks of his father Jesse. Heroictales had obviously gathered around him in the memory of the people as tends to happen to a popular leader. It was said of the young David that he had killed a lion, a bear and finally that he had killed Goliath, a Philistine. When David moved to claim the throne for himself, the Yahwist writer suggests that he immediately instituted a series of political moves to solidify that claim and to win popular support. He ordered a national time for mourning the deaths of King Saul and his sons, punished anyone who appeared to take pleasure in Saul’s demise and made plans to conquer the city of the Jebusites, called Jerusalem, to make it his new capital. If he was going to unite the disparate tribes of Israel into a single political entity he needed a neutral city as a symbol of that new unity into which he intended to call the people of his nation. These tactics appeared to work. With his power at home firmly established, David began to expand his realm with a series of military victories. In the final test for a monarch, David completed a forty year reign and then was able to pass his throne on to his son Solomon, thus establishing the continuity of his nation in a continuing royal family. Among his last acts according to this narrative was to delegate to his son Solomon the task of building the Temple in Jerusalem, which would make that city not just the political, but also the spiritual capital of the Jewish people. With these three institutions now established, the throne of David, the city of Jerusalem and the Temple of Solomon that was finished in the first decade of King Solomon’s rule, the time was right for someone to set this nation into the stream of history by telling their national story. That was the setting in which a court historian, perhaps a member of the royal family, perhaps a priest associated with the Temple, or perhaps someone who was both, was commissioned, probably by the king, to write the history of this Hebrew nation. This is how the first strand of that material, which would later be called “Sacred Scripture,” came into being. The date was some time around the year 950 BCE. Solomon had been on the throne for about a decade. The Jewish people had become wealthy because tribute money from David’s conquests was now flowing into Jerusalem. This part of the Middle East was at peace. The Temple, thought to be God’s earthly dwelling place, was complete and the life of the nation was widely believed to be resting safely in the arms of its two protectors, God and the King. This was the time to write the story of their origins. So the work of the Yahwist writer was begun. When his story was complete, the image of Israel as God’s chosen people was secure. It was buttressed by the claims made in this narrative. They were basically three: God had chosen the House of David, and thus the tribe of Judah, to rule over the chosen people, the will of God was expressed through the Temple in which God lived as a protective presence, and the high priest specifically and the Temple priesthood in general were alone designated to order the religious life of the nation as the sign of God’s continuous blessing. As soon as this narrative was complete, it began to be read as part of the liturgy of the people gathered in the Temple for worship, as is the destiny of all sacred scripture. In that process this narrative with its power claims achieved the status of being “God’s revealed truth.” This idea was certainly encouraged by the priesthood, who were well served as the aura of sanctity began to grow around these words. It also served the interests of the royal family since what came to be called “God’s Word” affirmed their divine right to rule. The role of Jerusalem in the national life of the Jews as a symbol of the people’s unity was established. In this manner the vested interests of each of Jerusalem’s power centers were solidified. The Jewish people, so recently a loose knit confederation ruled by local judges and worshiping at shrines located in Hebron, Beersheba and Bethel, now found unity in a new federation that was being imposed on them as nothing less than an expression of the will of God. In a world in which there was no division between Church and State (i.e. religion and politics), this first text to become part of the scriptures of the people was in fact a very political document. By tracing the Jewish story from creation to the call of Abraham, this narrative had gone from the universal beginning of human history to the dawn of their own national history. By relating the stories of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph this narrative established, as both legitimate and moral, the Jewish claim to the land that they had in fact conquered. By incorporating the ancient shrines of Hebron, Beersheba and Bethel into their story they identified the religious traditions of the past with a new center in Jerusalem, which was their ultimate and grander successor. By telling the story of the noble history of the Jews prior to falling into slavery in Egypt, this narrative rebuilt their national reputation. It was political propaganda at its best, a powerful and effective attempt to define what it meant to be a Jew, a member of the “Chosen People.” What would happen, however, if and when the Jewish nation was ever to be divided in civil war? Such a rebellion would have to be against the scriptures as well as against the Temple and the King. That was destined to occur sometime after 920 and the death of Solomon. That was when the second strand of material that composes the Torah today came into being. To that story, I will turn when this series continues.~ John Shelby Spong | | | | | | | | Announcements Would you like to tap into the wisdom and power of the great mystics and prophets? … to more easily bridge the distance between you and the sacred within and around you? … and helping you shift your mind, open your heart, and inspire change in the world, while also creating an unshakeable connection to the Divine? Bestselling author, theologian, and spiritual pioneer Matthew Fox will introduce you to four of the most beloved mystics of our time in a free online event, Awaken Modern Mystics & Prophets. Click here for more information/registration open til September 4th. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

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Re: [Oe List ...] [Dialogue] Spirit of the 20's
by Ellie Stock 29 Aug '19

29 Aug '19

Thanks, Rob. So well said. Ellieelliestock(a)aol.com -----Original Message----- From: Robertson Work via OE <oe(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> To: dialogue(a)lists.wedgeblade.net <dialogue(a)lists.wedgeblade.net>; Order Ecumenical Community <oe(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> Cc: Robertson Work <warkers(a)msn.com> Sent: Wed, Aug 28, 2019 08:54 PM Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] [Dialogue] Spirit of the 20's #yiv2236722470 P {margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;}Dear colleagues, Good to see these concerns being shared. This is my brief summary of what humanity is facing, from page 3 of A Compassionate Civilization: "We are living in the most critical time in all of human history, a time to do what is needful or face the direst of consequences. Why do I say that? Never before in the past five thousand years have we faced such colossal dangers and such exhilarating possibilities. The very future of life on Earth is at stake. We face multiple, interlocking crises, any one of which could be decisive—climate chaos, misogyny, systemic poverty, oligarchy, prejudice, and a culture of violence. A whole system transformation is underway, and we are at the brink of either mass extinction or a whole new way of being human on planet Earth. Which it will be depends on what you and I do with our lives." And this is my summary concerning what we need to do at this moment in history: "Let us dare to dream and realize a new civilization of compassion. Let us take the necessary actions for environmental sustainability, gender equality, socioeconomic justice, participatory governance, cultural tolerance, and nonviolence and peace. Let us work together to do all of this as a movement of movements (MOM.) Let us do this as mindful activists using methods of innovative leadership including participatory facilitation, integral frameworks, and social artistry. Let us do this as global-local citizens. And let us do this while cultivating understanding and compassion, realizing happiness, celebrating gratitude, living lifelong commitment, choosing courage, dancing with time, and embracing sadness, sickness, old age, and death." Look forward to further thoughts on this ListServe. Best wishes, Rob Work................................................................................................ Recent book: A Compassionate Civilization: The Urgency of Sustainable Development and Mindful Activism - Reflections and Recommendations https://www.amazon.com/dp/1546972617 Blog: https://compassionatecivilization.blogspot.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertsonwork/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/compassionatecivilization/ From: Dialogue <dialogue-bounces(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> on behalf of Carleton Stock via Dialogue <dialogue(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> Sent: Wednesday, August 28, 2019 9:08 PM To: dialogue(a)lists.wedgeblade.net <dialogue(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> Cc: Carleton Stock <carletonstock(a)aol.com> Subject: Re: [Dialogue] [Oe List ...] Spirit of the 20's Thanks John for your reflection on the times, insightful and disturbing! I'd sum it all up with what we used to say fairly frequently to one another and the world: "Trust the Mystery and Build the Earth!". Trust the overall evolution of life and work like Hell till your dying day!Grace and peace,Carl(eton) StockSt. Louis, MO -----Original Message----- From: John C via Dialogue <dialogue(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> To: Colleague Dialogue <dialogue(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> Cc: John C <jpc2025(a)outlook.com> Sent: Wed, Aug 28, 2019 6:50 pm Subject: Re: [Dialogue] [Oe List ...] Spirit of the 20's Thanks, Ellie. John and Lynda Cock From: Dialogue <dialogue-bounces(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> on behalf of Ellie Stock via Dialogue <dialogue(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> Reply-To: Colleague Dialogue <dialogue(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> Date: Wednesday, August 28, 2019 at 6:09 PM To: "oe(a)lists.wedgeblade.net" <oe(a)lists.wedgeblade.net>, "oe(a)wedgeblade.net" <oe(a)wedgeblade.net>, "dialogue(a)lists.wedgeblade.net" <dialogue(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> Cc: "Elliestock(a)aol.com" <elliestock(a)aol.com> Subject: Re: [Dialogue] [Oe List ...] Spirit of the 20's Hi John, Thanks for this thoughtful piece--still pondering... We continue to work with many others at the local level in our communities, and local, regional, national, and global levels through the church and other NGOS, specifically on issues related to the environment, racial justice/white privilege, immigration, root causes of poverty/hunger, indigenous rights--trying connect as many dots/movements as possible--hoping and trusting that all such work from every corner of the globe will eventually create a groundswell of action and change. Sometimes, it is just overwhelming. My mantra is to work toward the vision of what needs to be, rather than focusing on being against whatever/whomever we don't like. Not always easy. It just may take millions of people to take to the streets to change the tide, before it is too late--for us, our grandchildren or to the seventh generation. Looking forward to reading responses from folks. Ellie Stock :)elliestock@aol.com -----Original Message----- From: John Epps via OE <oe(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> To: Order Ecumenical Community <oe(a)wedgeblade.net> Cc: John Epps <jlepps39(a)gmail.com> Sent: Wed, Aug 28, 2019 4:36 pm Subject: [Oe List ...] Spirit of the 20'sThe Spirit of the 20’s John Epps, August 2019The categories for determining the spirit of a decade supposedly come from Kierkegaard: An External Situation creates an Internal Crisis which raises an Existential Question from which we try to Escape. I’ve used them in trying to assess the situation since the 60’s. Here we go again:The Prevailing Spirit: Our External Situation is best characterized as one of THREAT. Economically, health care costs are rising astronomically, the move away from fossil fuels and the trade war with China have put markets in turmoil and talk of recession is in the air. Politically, we have cut off alliances and find Russia, N. Korea, and Iran all upgrading their nuclear capabilities. USA Congress seems unable to act. Culturally, we are besieged with increased numbers of immigrants and mass shootings now appear commonplace. And encompassing all this chaos is the Earth’s environment which appears to be undergoing dangerous changes due to global warming.All this has generated or contributed to an Internal Crisis ofFEAR. We increasingly fear those who differ from us, whether by race, gender identification, nationality, or ideology. Everything different seems a threat, and we fear the changes already in progress. Compromise seems weak, and we’re increasingly in a black or white situation: agree or fight. The Existential Question in this situation isHOW CAN WE SURVIVE? With the environment collapsing and threats at every turn, what can we do? Problems seem too big to tackle, and local action, while effective, remains local while the issues are larger. Institutions we developed to address larger issues appear paralyzed: CONGRESS, UN, NATO, NAFTA, ASEAN, Treaties with Iran and the Paris Accords for Climate all appear ineffective in providing remedies. Attempts to inact gun control legislation, despite agreement from both parties, cannot move through Congress. We Escape through BLAMESTORMING; we look for scapegoats for each issue, then cast them as enemies toward which hatred is the only suitable relation. We demonize NRA, GOP, “Moscow Mitch,” Trump, Kim, Putin, Refugees, Democrats, Immigrants, Socialists, and many others. Extreme hostility takes the guise of radical nationalism attempting to band “us” against “them” or in too many cases, mass shootings aimed at eliminating “them.”Towards an Authentic Response: This is where we meet the question of God today: wrestling with the question of responding to threats to our existence.Local action may be the most we can do, and since that makes a difference, should be pursued with vigor. Maybe, over time, the mass changes needed can come from local people.The threats are real. The status quo cannot and will not survive. The future is really open and unpredictable. We can, however, have a hand in inventing it.Your comments, additions, corrections, and insights are most welcome. _______________________________________________ OE mailing list OE(a)lists.wedgeblade.net http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net_________________… Dialogue mailing list Dialogue(a)lists.wedgeblade.net http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/dialogue-wedgeblade.net _______________________________________________ OE mailing list OE(a)lists.wedgeblade.net http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net

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