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One of the beauties of the Internet (and especially Web 2.0) is that it allows for collaboration and learning apart from physical location. For years, I have been intrigued to initiate (or join an existing) virtual book club. I tried it a few years ago with a friend, but it didn’t catch as much steam as I had hoped for.
In the month of September, I am going to be reading Andy Crouch’s new book, Culture Making. It has garnered great reviews, and Al Hsu (editor at IVP and someone I trust when it comes to book recommendations) has been mentioning it frequently in his posts. In addition to the book, Andy Crouch has also launched a website around this book. |
For the month of September, I would like to invite anyone who is interested to read the book together and talk about what we are learning. If you are interested, let me know via a comment and hop on to Amazon and purchase the book.
Here’s how I’m thinking it will work:
- Part I, Read and comment around September 10
- Part II, Read and comment around September 20
- Part III, Read and comment around September 30
You can follow along in your own blog or we can use my blog as the space to talk about the book. I will be commenting throughout September on what I am learning/gathering from the book.
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A new book from InterVarsity Press asks the question, “Does Religion Cause War?” It seems that the popular answer to that questions is an emphatic “Yes!” I just read in the ‘Letters’ section of Time Magazine a reader respond negatively to Time’s portrayal of Pastor Rick Warren because she claims that it is a well known fact that religions cause war.
In the 20th century there are many things that have caused wars, and some of the more flagrant wars were not caused by religion but rather by irreligious societies. The Soviet Union and China purged millions of their own, and these societies slammed the idea of God. Hitler’s Germany caused much chaos, violence, and war and the underlying philosophy was far from religion.
Both George Bush’s led our country to war for economic and resource issues–not religion (I recognize that the jury is still out on why we are at war in Iraq, but I think we can agree that religion was not the cause of either wars). Of course religion can cause war. I grew up in a country marred by a bloody civil war in the name of “religion.”
So I appreciate Meic Pearse’s exploration of that question in his book The Gods of War. What do you think is the underlying motive for war? (Meic explores that question in chapter 7) Do you think that the motive for why nations go to war has changed over the centuries? Does the motive for war change based on a nation’s government or economic system? In other words, would a Communist China have different motives for war than a Theocracy like Iran and a Democracy/Capitalistic system like the United States?
I will mail out this book (includes free shipping) to the person who best articulates (I’m the judge) the cause for war. You can do something on your own blog or respond to this post regarding this question. (Make sure you link back to this post to notify me of your answer)
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I moved it here.
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With a whopping four (albeit bronze) medals, Armenia is top dog at the Olympics. This celebration is unfortunately short-lived by the unsportsmanlike conduct from one of our own. Oh well… (at least he wasn’t wearing the Red, Blue and Orange)
(HT: Life in the Armenian Diaspora)
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My buddy Tyler published a post with his reflections on capitalism. In his post, he links to a Speaking of Faith interview with Jonathan Greenblatt, co-founder of Ethos Water. (It’s an excellent interview and I recommend you download the podcast) I appreciate Greenblatt’s motivation to eradicate poverty and how to use some of the good of capitalism to do that. One of the creative ideas that Greenblatt mentioned in the interview is the development of an X PRIZE Foundation prize that addresses poverty issues. The idea is that you can focus the spirit of competition toward eradicating a social ill. I’d be interested to see how this prize is put forward.
Bill Gates has also written (and spoken) about using capitalism in a way that would address poverty in the world. He calls it “Creative Capitalism.” The idea is simply that you can fight AIDS and increase your bottom line at the same time. Gates writes, “Creative capitalism is a way to answer a vital question: How can we most effectively spread the benefits of capitalism and the huge improvements in quality of life it can provide to peopel who have been left out?”
Of course, Gates did not think too much of creative capitalism when he was building Microsoft. It is easier to modify a business plan when you have exhausted a previous plan and are ready to look for a new market for your product. My critique is similar to that of developing nations of the developed world when it comes to better environmental standards: “You can afford to ask for stricter emissions after you have already industrialized.” It is easier for Microsoft to modify its business model now that they are a successful company. I doubt Gates would have thought too much about creative capitalism when he was crushing the competition in the 1980s and 90s. Creative capitalism may be a step forward, but as Tyler muses in his post,
How is the Christian to look at the data before us? In Philippians 2.4, Paul writes, “Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.” Friedman likely describes our natural instinct, that is, it does not take training to be selfish. Paul, on the other hand, gives us a vision of the world how God wants it and that vision demands character formation. Are Christianity and capitalism diametrically opposed to each other? I do not think so, but I may not say the same of Christianity and Friedmanism. Capitalism, if rightly focused on God and God’s purposes, can likely be a force of community, or social capital.
The jury is still out on creative capitalism and whether it is the force that is focused on God and God’s purposes.
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I endured the parade of nations on the opening night of the Olympics so I could root for the Lebanese team. But I’m not sure I wanted the kind of publicity we got on Friday Night. Ziad Richa was the proud flagbearer, whose event for the Olympics is Skeet Shooting. His story is extraordinary, but “shooting” and “Lebanon” is not good for the tourism industry.
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Check out the new pictures in my gallery
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| A flower for you |
Tracks |
Palm Trees |
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These particular Olympics have generated some controversy and dialogue on whether we should be boycotting these games due to China’s poor human rights record. I’m of the mindset that these Olympics allow the world community to better engage with China and it’s government on these issues. A boycott in this particular instance would do less than engagement to address the human rights conditions.
So I won’t be boycotting these games (and thanks to a month of free cable with gazillion channels, I’ll be enjoying many of the competitions). I am supportive that President Bush will be attending these games. I’m also glad that he has not shrunk back from his critiques of the Chinese regime and I’m curious to see what his worshiping experience will be like (and the implications of his visit) when he attends Church on Sunday. So on this note, I disagree with both major presidential candidates who said they would not attend the opening ceremonies if they were president.
What I’m looking forward to on Friday is watching Lopez Lomong carry the American flag in the opening ceremonies. It is unfortunate that the Chinese consulate revoked Joey Cheek’s visa (founder of Team Darfur, an organization of Athletes who are engaged in bringing an end to the crisis in Darfur, Sudan). The US Olympic Committee has distanced itself from Cheek and the controversy, but the captains of the American team decided that they would keep the Sudan crisis on the forefront through Lomong. Lomong is a Sudanese refugee who has an incredible and tragic story. Props to the captains for their bold move in spotlighting Lomong.
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