Difference Between Jesus & Religion

Just over one week ago Jefferson Bethke posted a 4 minute video to YouTube in which he seeks to chart-out his understanding of the difference between Jesus and what he calls "false religion."  The video quickly went viral with over 14 million views in just a few days and began eliciting passionate reactions that vary from enthusiastic support to outright condemnation.  Through spoken word poetry Bethke argues that "religion is man centered" whereas "Jesus is God-centered."  Many of the critiques of Bethke's message though seem to center around the series of dualities that he sets up (here's one example of a critical response).  What do you think?



Check out this link to a Huffington Post article, which explores a bit of the controversy surrounding "Why I Hate Religion But Love Jesus."

Sunflowers heal Fukushima

The March 11th earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear accident in northeastern Japan was one of the worst disasters in recorded history, but one Zen Buddhist monk is counting on the power of flowers to aid in the healing process.

Koyu Abe, head monk at the Joenji temple, some 50km from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, has begun a program called "Hana ni Negaiwo"("Make a wish upon flowers") with the goal of planting 10 flowers for every one person living in Fukushima prefecture.  With roughly 2 million people still living in the radiation fall-out zone, Abe hopes to plant 20 million flowers by the end of the year.  The thinking is that flowers such as sunflowers and field mustard have the capacity to absorb some of the invisible radiation that continues to fall like silent snow.  As excessive radiation levels have been found in local beef, milk, water, and tea leaves any efforts to mitigate the destructive impact of radiation is quite welcome - enter Abe and 100+ volunteers who have grown 200,000 sunflowers at the temple while distributing millions of more seeds.

Check out this Reuters article by Antoni Slodkowski and Yuriko Nakao titled "Sunflowers melt Fukushima's nuclear snow," before watching the short video titled "Invisible Snow." You may never look at a humble sunflower the same way again.

Invisible Snow from Reuters  Tokyo Pictures on Vimeo.
    

HPU Registration Ideas for Fall 2011

Its that time of year again when High Point University students begin registering for their Fall 2011 classes.  If you, or a friend of yours, are interested in fulfilling your Religion General Education requirement, or if you're just interested in learning more about the religions and philosophies of East Asia, you might consider enrolling in one of the following courses:

• REL 2036-01 Religions of East Asia  MWF 9:15 - 10:20am
• REL 2036-02 Religions of East Asia  MWF 10:30 - 11:35am
• REL 3031-01 Religions of Japan        MWF 2:40 - 3:45pm

Through these courses we'll explore the principles and practices associated with feng-shui, Tai-chi, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), wu-wei, divination, meditation techniques, ancestor veneration, merit-making, shrine visitations, pilgrimages, inner alchemy, filial piety, etc.  (You can even get a sneak peak at one these courses by examining the syllabi linked to this webpage.)

Hope to see you in the fall!  Sign up early as seats are going fast! 

Another book review appears in CHOICE

Last November my first book review appeared in the journal CHOICE: Current Reviews for Academic Journals 48, no. 3 (Nov 2010).  Well, in the February edition of CHOICE (Vol. 48, no. 6) you'll find my recent review of the book The Dialogue Comes of Age: Christian Encounters with Other Traditions, by John B. Cobb, Jr. and Ward M. McAfee (Fortress Press, 2010).  

The book is a contribution to the theological discipline known as "theology of religions," which attempts to account for the value of non-Christian religions and to offer guidance to Christians living in a religious pluralistic world. The authors argue for mutual appreciation and openness, the pursuit of opportunities for inter-religious dialogue, and inter-religious efforts to build community and address common concerns. This might be a useful resource for anyone writing a research paper on Christian engagement with other world religions. The full review can be accessed by High Point University students thru Academic OneFile at Smith Library or thru this link.  

Struggling with meditation? You're not alone

Scholars in this semester's HPU course titled "Contemporary Buddhist Developments" have been reflecting on their growing understanding of the central themes and dynamics at work in the contemporary American Buddhist Sangha by, in addition to other assignments, keeping a regular journal.  The journal is meant to be a semester-long "conversation" that explores the student's questions, moments of illumination, and general thoughts with regard to course readings, class discussions and participation in several "course experiments."

The experiments are designed as experiential opportunities for students to deepen their understanding of Buddhist practice, belief and identity.  Some examples of possible course experiments include interviewing a Buddhist practitioner, mindfully engaging in a technological or transportation "fast," adopting a vegetarian or vegan diet, and/or learning about and regularly practicing a form of contemplative or verbal meditation.  Several students have reported trying this last suggestion (meditation), but have also recounted their struggles to "calm their minds."  In class, we have briefly explored the use of mantras in meditation, such as the well-known Om or Aum - that sacred intonation found in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism, which seems to emanate from the heart of existence itself. Monks and lay-people alike have often spoken of the Om as being the source of all peace, bliss and harmony... unless you're the young 3-year old meditator below! Take heart meditation practitioners... you are not alone!



(A family friend, and father of the intrepid 3-year old meditator, recently posted this on his Facebook page. Too adorable!)

Need to make a confession? There's an App for that!

Time for the 4th installment in the series - Religion & Pop Culture Alert!  It behooves us to pause and reflect whenever an especially compelling convergence of religion and popular culture transpires.


In the past we've explored the phenomenon of an American Fundamentalist Muslim warning the creators of "South Park" to not use images or depictions of the Prophet Muhammad.  We witnessed the National Jewish Outreach Program (NJOP) parody Kanye West's hit "Gold Digger," in an effort to encourages young Jews to mark Rosh Hashana.  Most recently we sang along with the Jewish a capella group, The Maccabeats, as they spoofed Taio Cruz's smash "Dynamite."   


Well, another of those moments is upon us.  Just over one year ago (on Jan 28th, 2010) the Pope of the Catholic Church officially joined the blogosphere.  That day, the Roman Catholic Day of Communication, Pope Benedict XVI encouraged priests to use the latest technological advances to proclaim the Gospel.  Following the Pope's lead it appears that for the first time ever, Catholic church authorities have developed and sanctioned a Mobile App.  Please welcome "Confession: A Roman Catholic App."


According to the app's iPhone/iPad online description "this app invites Catholics to prayerfully prepare for and participate in the Rite of Penance" thru its customizable and personal "examination of conscience for each user, password protected profiles, and a step-by-step guide to the sacrament."  While it is not meant to replace confession before a "validly ordained Roman Catholic priest in a Confessional" the developers hope is that the app will bring young, tech-savy, lax or fallen-away Catholics back to the faith.  If the early church could see the faithful today....


If anyone has used this, please comment and let us know what you think.  Here's a link to recent report on the matter - "Confession App Sanctioned By Catholic Church."


Disclaimer:  The developer of www.marktoolehpu.com has no stake, financial or otherwise, in Confession: A Roman Catholic App.