September 2003

I’m a big fan of Wellington sport - especially the Lions and Hurricanes rugby teams. Yesterday the Lions gave us a rollercoaster ride in their 38-38 draw in the Ranfurly Shield challenge with Canterbury.
(See Wellington come-from-behind effort not enough to lift shield.)

I’ve often thought the Wellington teams are just like the church - at times completely woeful and at other times reaching sublime heights - and often within the same game. Not enough listening to the coach?

Anyway, thanks to the boys for a great experience - now concentrate for the whole game!

For more information on the Wellington Lions and Hurricanes rugby team click on the lion below.

I was struck the other day by a couple of self-subverting advertisements on TV - both by banks.

The ANZ ad for their banking services that remove the need to use a branch with real people leaves their character “Ira Goldstein” feeling unhappy and missing the human contact. The message - buy this product and have yet another social element of your life removed and replaced by an impersonal system.

And the BNZ’s appropriation of the Verve’s “Bittersweet Symphony” for their ads also seems odd given the opening lyrics from that song:

‘Cause it’s a bittersweet symphony, this life
Try to make ends meet
You’re a slave to money then you die…’

Still as we all know “Men are from Mars, women are from Venus, and marketing people are from some other dimension.”

From some really subversive responses to advertising and consumerism check out:

AdbustersCulture Jammers Headquarters
www.subvertise.org - “Advertising serves not so much to advertise products as to promote consumption as a way of life.”

I’m very much reminded of what Amos had to say about this kind of thing in Amos 8:4-6

Hear this, you who trample the needy
and do away with the poor of the land,

saying,

“When will the New Moon be over that we may sell grain,
and the Sabbath be ended that we may market wheat?” -
skimping the measure,
boosting the price
and cheating with dishonest scales,
buying the poor with silver
and the needy for a pair of sandals,
selling even the sweepings with the wheat.

A cyberpunk short story about programmers who hack their own bodies, don’t need exercise and never get sick by Cory Doctorow. A nice fictional example of the posthuman intent that my research is examining. From Salon.com’s web site: “0wnz0red”

If you need help decoding some of the geekspeak see Glossary for the Jargon File and Leet - Wikipedia

Ted Peters raises some good questions about stem cell research and Christian bioethics in his brief editorial on the CTNS (Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences) web site: CTNS–Embryos from Stem Cells?.

Poses a few questions for those who follow the Augustinian view of linking the transmission of original sin with the sexual reproductive act.

I’m giving a lecture on science, technology and faith in the contemporary world at BCNZ in a few weeks time and I’ve added the bibliography I’m giving to the class to the web site. Like all these things it started off small and grew (and is still very incomplete) - hence the “Quick Start” section at the top to get them up and going.

See Technology and faith

Always a fan of interplantary probes I remember the hype around the launch of the Galileo probe to Jupiter back in 1989. Now 14 years later it’s finally going out in style.

NASA’s Galileo Heads for Its Grand Finale Plunge

Following up on the ecology theme from yesterday I’ve been reading some of Andrew Linzey’s stuff (e.g. Animal Theology) recently as part of looking at how the doctrine of the image of God might relate beyond the normal “domination/stewardship” model normally discussed in that context. An accessible article by Linzey on the gospel and its implications for the redemption of creation and relationship, in particular, with animals can be found at:

All We Like Sheep…

Any references to articles containing on the widening of the imago Dei to non-human species would be appreciated. I have a few relating to artificial intelligence research already in the file.

A couple of links for people thinking about the integration of faith and ecology (including the socio-economic issues that go with that).

Creation Care Study Program: “CCSP readily awaits adventure seeking, Biblically minded students, who want to take on the challenge of learning how to care for God’s earth and all its creatures - both human and non-human.” (Current Asia-Pacific directors are Kiwis and the South Pacific programme includes time in Samoa, Great Barrier Island and the South Island.)

Also the “Certificate in Science and Spirituality” offered by Union I&U and the Oxford Institute includes a travel course on “Wilderness and Imagination” based in the South Island. More details at: Union I&U - Certificate in Science and Spirituality - Course 676. (I have no knowledge about the overall programme - just interested in seeing NZ appear in a course like this).

The journal Pacifica (Volume 13 Number 2 June 2000) also contains papers from the NZATS conference on ecotheology. Abstracts here.

Had a brief discussion yesterday about theology and art and contemporary culture. This virtual exhibition put on by the Virtual Museum of Canada is an excellent introduction into difference ways Jesus Christ has been portrayed in (Western) art during the last 2000 years. A selection of pictures with supporting notes provides a good starting place at examining the various themes linked to Christ within the Christian faith.

Anno Domini

Looking for somewhere to light a candle and post a prayer in the midst of the rush. Check out:

.:::rejesus - spirituality - post a prayer:::.

Not as good as taking some time out from the rush of everything and finding some soul space but still helpful.

During my everyday Internet use there are a few of web logs (blogs) I check up on reasonably often just to see if there’s anything interesting there (and there normally is). A couple of these are from the alternative/postmodern worship scene. I’ve enjoyed Jonny Baker’s writings (blog, books and articles) & music over the past few years and Steve Taylor’s weblog is interesting because it talks about things local (NZ and here in Auckland in particular).

Have a look and see what you think.

Jonny Baker’s blog
Steve Taylor’s blog

An recent article on the blurring of real and virtual actors and stunt people, and the quest to make them more human. And the possible loss of work for the current stunt people.

newsobserver.com - A new risk in world of film stunts: computers

I’m always interested in church history and knowing how we came to do and belief the Christian faith we have today. Check out the useful links below from Christianity Today’s church history section.

Top Ten Reasons to Read Christian History gives a succint list of reasons why it’s a really good idea to understand where your beliefs came from and how issues you’re facing now have been faced in the past.

Top Ten Entry Points to Christian History provides overviews of the different types of materials that can help you get a grip on church history.

Top Ten ‘Starter Books’ gives a list of ten originals (in translation) that expose you to some of the writing within the Christian faith over the last 2000 years.

I was looking for information on stem cells today for some lectures on Christian anthropology (including bioethics) and found that Guardian Unlimited had the following special section on this and other things running today.

Guardian Unlimited Special report: ethics of genetics

Damaris International also has a brief study guide for a house group type discussion using the film Gattaca at Study Guide for Gattaca.

If you’re interested in small group studies on Christian interaction with issues of social justice, fair trade and aid/development work the following links may be useful to you.

Christian Aid has a whole lot of useful material on their web site at http://www.christian-aid.org.uk including:

Christian Aid campaigns
Act Justly booklet

Also check out
Global Rich List
Sojourners: A World At Odds - Conscience in a Time of Terror
Sojourners: Table Talk

I found this today while surfing around. There are some very good points in here for both new and established bloggers. A lot of it is insightful for people who are publishing anything on the net too.

why web journals suck: an essay

Spent a very enjoyable afternoon at the Stardome Observatory in Auckland yesterday. We went to their Family Fun Day and the kids loved the two presentations in the planetarium - a show for 3-6 year olds and one on “Are we alone?”.

Great value and fun for all. They have a cool web site too.