irresponsible theology

One of my roommates is working a disciple now this weekend with a youth group that she is not a regular presence at. The problem arises in the curriculum she has been asked to teach. It has a name that involves words like passion, morals, purity. And is basically an off-brand of True Love Waits. And while I am all for good real conversations with youth about sex, this falls shy of such. In fact it is simply irresponsible theology that we are handing to our youth. The book lays out a strict interpretation of sexuality, which is fine, and they back it up by scripture, nicely leaving out things they deem cultural such as polygamy. But it is still a list of “do not”s, with little real discussion behind it, just examples of how their lives will fall apart mentally, emotionally, physically if they stray from this list. We all know there is no way to scare teenagers away from sex, why not be honest? Why not say, yes it is a great physical pleasure unlike anything else we have, and God created us to enjoy it? Why not talk about how not everyone is going to feel a sense of guilt immediately upon engaging in sex? Maybe if we are honest with their natural curiosity we can be more honest with our answers. I see no reason to go on giving them this irresponsible theology, especially since there have been several books recently that deal with this from a biblical standpoint (Sex God by Rob Bell, Real Sex by Lauren Winner) 

One example of where this curriculum falls short is an object lesson which has four guys with fairly hairy legs at the front of the classroom. The teacher takes a strip of duct tape and attaches it to guy #1’s leg, and then rips it off. Moves on to guy#2 does the same thing with the same piece of tape. This continues down the line. Then turns to the crowd and ask what happens. The common consensus is that by guy#4 the tape had lost its ability to bond. Then the teacher is suppose to transition into a discussion

Obamania? I really have tried to understand

“This race is between a New York senator who was born in Illinois and an Illinois senator who was apparently born in a manager.” – Sen. Mitch McConnell, (R) current Senate Minority Leader

As many of you know, I have been hesitant to support either of the front runners for the Democratic nomination for President. Obviously it is hard after your first choice drops, but I feel like most other Edwards voters have moved on. Not me. In some vacuum universe where neither option had any political baggage, Sen. Clinton would be the better candidate every time. I think with the exception of the last two debates she has mopped the floor with Sen. Obama concerning policy issues at their debates. And even in the last two, I think she is still the stronger candidate with the issues on the table. With that said, he has opened a can of whoop-ass on her concerning stage presence and general personality in the last two(which is hard to do when both of them sit up there looking like smug Cheshire cats). However, we don’t live in a political vacuum and I don’t think Sen. Clinton has a shot in hell at winning the general election and unifying the nation, anyone that tells you different is simply living in a dream world.       

One of the most talked about exchanges from the debate in Austin last week started with Sen. Obama attacking Sen. Clinton’s recent use of the phrase, “Let’s get real.” He asked her if the implication was that his supporters were “delusional?” He stated that “the thinking is that [his supporters] had been duped.” Because it was in a debate and the statements were made in a rhetorical/joking manner, there was no way for Sen. Clinton to respond. But I wish she could have said, “Yes I think some of your supporters have been duped. Not the whole 20 million, but some of them.” Because let’s be honest,

testing the water

Well, I’ve decided to jump on the blog train. There are multiple reasons, but they mainly boil down to the ones listed below:

1) I read other people’s, so in the spirit of open discussion (and to save those blogs from having me comment every bloody thought that enters my mind) it makes sense to have a page serving as the centerpiece to my thoughts.

2) I often feel the need to share new articles, websites, etc. and I figure that this will give those on my email list a break.

So I am going to throw my hat into the blog ring, I recognize that there is a serious possibility I will give this up in a few weeks, so we’ll see what happens.