eChurch Blog

Nah, I’m only joking:

Daily Mail:

Scientists claim they have found a way to turn off our understanding of right and wrong – by using magnets.

When special kinds of magnets are held up to a person’s head they can disrupt the neural centre responsible for morality, tests showed.

….continue reading

I am taking a painful decision, one I thought I’d never take.

After extensively reviewing the comments received on this blog, I have noted a dramatic increase in anti-Christian sentiment and personal ad hom attacks.

As a result I have decided to moderate comments.

Please ensure that when commenting you address the topic and not the person.

Please stay on topic.

External links will now be censored if inappropriate.

I will always allow for diverse opinions, however, I wish for this blog to be a safe environment for Christians to be able to comment freely and securely.

If I allow current trends to continue, I have no doubt it would be to the ruination of the purpose of this blog.

I will not tolerate bullying.

I will not tolerate undue nastiness towards the church, or Christians in general.

Please remember that this IS a Christian blog and all views are welcomed, but please do show respect.

A very powerful and hard-hitting blog post by Archbishop Cranmer, which I heartily commend to your attention:

Archbishop Cranmer – Nadine Dorries: the churches are ‘pathetic, weak and cowardly’

Bible Gateway have revealed the top 10 most-searched Bible Verses, and unbelievably this didn’t even make the list:

Baana the son of Ahilud, in Taanach and Megiddo, and all Beth-shean which is beside Zarethan, beneath Jezreel, from Beth-shean to Abel-meholah, as far as beyond Jokmeam;

1 Kings 4:12

What’s the matter with folk?

Anyway, here’s the top ten in reverse order – Biretta-Tip: Joe Carter

10.) Matthew 28:19: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

9.) Philippians 4:6: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

8.) Romans 12:2: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

7.) Proverbs 3:6: “In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

6.) Proverbs 3:5: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”

5.) Genesis 1:1: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”

4.) Philippians 4:13: “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

3.) Romans 8:28: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

2.) Jeremiah 29:11: “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”

1.) John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Is your favourite verse in this list, if not, what’s yours?

The ever excellent British Religion in Numbers website has some fascinating stats on funerals.

Here’s a taster:

67% of Co-operative’s funerals still take a traditional form, in accordance with the rites of a particular religion, and generally including a service led by a recognized minister, followed by burial or cremation.

However, 21% are characterized as contemporary, where the emphasis is on celebration of an individual’s life and personalization of the funeral service, albeit an element of religion (such as a hymn or prayer) may still be retained.

12% of funerals arranged by Co-operative Funeralcare are classified by them as ‘humanist’, entirely without a religious component. They may be led by a humanist official, or by family and friends of the deceased.

And this:

Following this trend, only 36% of funerals now have purely religious music, the remaining 64% using contemporary music, classical music or a mixture of styles. So, in this and other respects, even religious ceremonies are being modernized and ‘secularized’.

Make sure you check out all of the juicy info as well as the top funeral songs. I know many folk won’t like this comment, but I always feel gutted when I hear the number one song played at the funeral of a non-Christian.

Here’s one from my own storehouse of wisdom, freshly made up in a stroke of unparalleled genius, for your enlightenment.

Open my Internet, O Lord, and my keyboard shall proclaim your praise.

On a serious note, the Pope has been addressing bloggers and online social networkers. Here’s what he said:

Truth, Proclamation and Authenticity of Life in the Digital Age

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

On the occasion of the 45^th World Day of Social Communications, I would like to share some reflections that are motivated by a phenomenon characteristic of our age: the emergence of the internet as a network for communication. It is an ever more commonly held opinion that, just as the Industrial Revolution in its day brought about a profound transformation in society by the modifications it introduced into the cycles of production and the lives of workers, so today the radical changes taking place in communications are guiding significant cultural and social developments. The new technologies are not only changing the way we communicate, but communication itself, so much so that it could be said that we are living through a period of vast cultural transformation. This means of spreading information and knowledge is giving birth to a new way of learning and thinking, with unprecedented opportunities for establishing relationships and building fellowship.

New horizons are now open that were until recently unimaginable; they stir our wonder at the possibilities offered by these new media and, at the same time, urgently demand a serious reflection on the significance of communication in the digital age. This is particularly evident when we are confronted with the extraordinary potential of the internet and the complexity of its uses. As with every other fruit of human ingenuity, the new communications technologies must be placed at the service of the integral good of the individual and of the whole of humanity. If used wisely, they can contribute to the satisfaction of the desire for meaning, truth and unity which remain the most profound aspirations of each human being.

In the digital world, transmitting information increasingly means making it known within a social network where knowledge is shared in the context of personal exchanges. The clear distinction between the producer and consumer of information is relativized and communication appears not only as an exchange of data, but also as a form of sharing. This dynamic has contributed to a new appreciation of communication itself, which is seen first of all as dialogue, exchange, solidarity and the creation of positive relations. On the other hand, this is contrasted with the limits typical of digital communication: the one-sidedness of the interaction, the tendency to communicate only some parts of one’s interior world, the risk of constructing a false image of oneself, which can become a form of self-indulgence.

Young people in particular are experiencing this change in communication, with all the anxieties, challenges and creativity typical of those open with enthusiasm and curiosity to new experiences in life. Their ever greater involvement in the public digital forum, created by the so-called social networks, helps to establish new forms of interpersonal relations, influences self-awareness and therefore inevitably poses questions not only of how to act properly, but also about the authenticity of one’s own being. Entering cyberspace can be a sign of an authentic search for personal encounters with others, provided that attention is paid to avoiding dangers such as enclosing oneself in a sort of parallel existence, or excessive exposure to the virtual world. In the search for sharing, for “friends”, there is the challenge to be authentic and faithful, and not give in to the illusion of constructing an artificial public profile for oneself.

The new technologies allow people to meet each other beyond the confines of space and of their own culture, creating in this way an entirely new world of potential friendships. This is a great opportunity, but it also requires greater attention to and awareness of possible risks. Who is my “neighbour” in this new world? Does the danger exist that we may be less present to those whom we encounter in our everyday life? Is there is a risk of being more distracted because our attention is fragmented and absorbed in a world “other” than the one in which we live? Do we have time to reflect critically on our choices and to foster human relationships which are truly deep and lasting? It is important always to remember that virtual contact cannot and must not take the place of direct human contact with people at every level of our lives.

In the digital age too, everyone is confronted by the need for authenticity and reflection. Besides, the dynamic inherent in the social networks demonstrates that a person is always involved in what he or she communicates. When people exchange information, they are already sharing themselves, their view of the world, their hopes, their ideals. It follows that there exists a Christian way of being present in the digital world: this takes the form of a communication which is honest and open, responsible and respectful of others. To proclaim the Gospel through the new media means not only to insert expressly religious content into different media platforms, but also to witness consistently, in one’s own digital profile and in the way one communicates choices, preferences and judgements that are fully consistent with the Gospel, even when it is not spoken of specifically. Furthermore, it is also true in the digital world that a message cannot be proclaimed without a consistent witness on the part of the one who proclaims it. In these new circumstances and with these new forms of expression, Christian are once again called to offer a response to anyone who asks for a reason for the hope that is within them (cf. 1 Pet 3:15).

The task of witnessing to the Gospel in the digital era calls for everyone to be particularly attentive to the aspects of that message which can challenge some of the ways of thinking typical of the web. First of all, we must be aware that the truth which we long to share does not derive its worth from its “popularity” or from the amount of attention it receives. We must make it known in its integrity, instead of seeking to make it acceptable or diluting it. It must become daily nourishment and not a fleeting attraction. The truth of the Gospel is not something to be consumed or used superficially; rather it is a gift that calls for a free response. Even when it is proclaimed in the virtual space of the web, the Gospel demands to be incarnated in the real world and linked to the real faces of our brothers and sisters, those with whom we share our daily lives. Direct human relations always remain fundamental for the transmission of the faith!

I would like then to invite Christians, confidently and with an informed and responsible creativity, to join the network of relationships which the digital era has made possible. This is not simply to satisfy the desire to be present, but because this network is an integral part of human life. The web is contributing to the development of new and more complex intellectual and spiritual horizons, new forms of shared awareness. In this field too we are called to proclaim our faith that Christ is God, the Saviour of humanity and of history, the one in whom all things find their fulfilment (cf. Eph 1:10). The proclamation of the Gospel requires a communication which is at once respectful and sensitive, which stimulates the heart and moves the conscience; one which reflects the example of the risen Jesus when he joined the disciples on the way to Emmaus (cf. Lk 24:13-35). By his approach to them, his dialogue with them, his way of gently drawing forth what was in their heart, they were led gradually to an understanding of the mystery.

In the final analysis, the truth of Christ is the full and authentic response to that human desire for relationship, communion and meaning which is reflected in the immense popularity of social networks. Believers who bear witness to their most profound convictions greatly help prevent the web from becoming an instrument which depersonalizes people, attempts to manipulate them emotionally or allows those who are powerful to monopolize the opinions of others. On the contrary, believers encourage everyone to keep alive the eternal human questions which testify to our desire for transcendence and our longing for authentic forms of life, truly worthy of being lived. It is precisely this uniquely human spiritual yearning which inspires our quest for truth and for communion and which impels us to communicate with integrity and honesty.

I invite young people above all to make good use of their presence in the digital world. I repeat my invitation to them for the next World Youth Day in Madrid, where the new technologies are contributing greatly to the preparations. Through the intercession of their patron Saint Francis de Sales, I pray that God may grant communications workers the capacity always to carry out their work conscientiously and professionally. To all, I willingly impart my Apostolic Blessing.

Yay, today we have an ‘expert’ telling us something us men have always known to be the bleeding obvious.

As someone born without a sense of direction, the Ikea shopping experience is akin to torture, especially when I need the toilet.

It’s like following the yellow brick road without the expectation of meeting the wizard at the end.

You can enter Ikea one day, and leave days later, as the shop design is undoubtedly based on the casino principle, whereby, you’re denied any sensory contact with the outside world, so you have no audiovisual time cues.

You go in with the certain plan to spend £50, and by the time you arrive at the checkout – as if by witchcraft – you find yourself with £300 worth of products in the trolley.

And God forbid you should flirt with death and find yourself walking against the flow.

Perhaps we should design church buildings according to this model?

Telegraph:

Alan Penn, director of the Virtual Reality Centre for the Built Environment at University College London, said visitors to the firm’s shops were so baffled by their surroundings that if they see something they like, they pick it up straightaway because it would be too hard to find it later.

He said that made the Swedish firm supremely successful in forcing shoppers into “impulse” buys.

…..continue reading

Biretta Tip: Marc Cortez

I’m not telling you who said this, but I felt it worthy of “quote of the day”:

Well perhaps I’m one of a kind (but I know I’m not) – but I do have a near perfect understanding of soteriology – that is, afterall, why I can be so black and white.

This was my my response:

Made me laugh.