Science & Religion — Ten Degrees of Separation March 31, 2009
Posted by Dan R. Dick in Critical Thinking, Religion in the U.S., Science and Theology.Tags: science and religion
4 comments
War is a horrible thing, especially an unnecessary and meaningless war. One such terrible and tragic conflict exists between science and religion. The popular media loves the whole idea — physics vs. metaphysics, secular vs. spiritual, rational vs. emotional, fact vs. fiction — and always portrays the issue in stark “either/or” terms. Forget that “science” is a meaningless term — physics, biology, geology, immunology, botany, chemistry, astronomy, etc. are all “science,” but come to some very different conclusions about things “meta-physical.” Likewise religion. There are different religions, with different worldviews and creation myths, that embrace a broad and diverse theological spectrum. The only way to perpetuate the “war” between science and faith is to create false dichotomies and to misrepresent reality by defining simple “sides” to the complex issues.
I served as the chair of The United Methodist Church’s Task Force on the Relationship of Science and Theology from 2001-2004, and continued to serve as a resource person in the area through 2008. In working with a wide variety of people concerned with the issues involved, I came realize that there is no simple way to define the debate. It definitely is NOT a tug-of-war between two sides. A different model is needed that looks at a wider variety of positions (oh, say… ten).
Tearing Down the Church… Together March 30, 2009
Posted by Dan R. Dick in Church Leadership, Congregational Life.Tags: church, Church Leadership
2 comments
The results are in on my study on destructive forces in the church. Beginning in 2005 and continuing to the present, I have been analyzing the negative, destructive, damaging, unhelpful, hostile, and hurtful practices at work in our communities of “open hearts, open minds, and open doors.” A whopping 86% of United Methodist churches surveyed (998 out of 1,161) say they are engaged in some “regular or ongoing” form of conflict. 62% report that it is “serious” conflict. Yikes! So, the old familiar refrain, “And they’ll know we are Christians by our love,” may be a little on the wishful side. Let’s take an in depth look at what I’ve found…
The Important-Good Distinction March 28, 2009
Posted by Dan R. Dick in Church Leadership, Critical Thinking.Tags: anti-intellectualism, Christian Education
13 comments
I have long made the differentiation between “good” and “important” books. In my experience, all good books are important, but there are many important books that are anything but good. The Shack is an important book, (but in few ways good) as are The Prayer of Jabez, The Secret, The Purpose Driven Life, and The Seat of the Soul. Each of these books became popular best sellers, exerting an enormous amount of influence, but are deeply flawed by horrendous theology and an egregious lack of intellectual integrity.
These are important books because people are reading them — they 
connect with some basic human hunger and offer an appealing source of sustenance. But what they offer is of inferior quality at best. They offer simple answers to complex questions — a smorgasboard of materialistic, simplistic, shallow, cheap, superficial and innocuous solutions to the most challenging of life’s problems. No wonder they are popular.
Best Book: The New Faces of Christianity March 26, 2009
Posted by Dan R. Dick in Uncategorized.2 comments
This week’s Best Book is Philip Jenkins’, The New Faces of Christianity: Believing the Bible in the Global South. Jenkins presents a thoroughly-researched, well thought-out, and highly provocative prediction of the future of global Christianity in the 21st century. This is a book every pastor and laity leader will find insightful and helpful.
Ratiocinational Anthem March 26, 2009
Posted by Dan R. Dick in Christian discipleship, Mission of the Church.Tags: Christian discipleship, church, Mission & Purpose
8 comments
Jesus loves me, this I know
For the Bible tells me so,
But Jesus does not love you,
Because of all the crap you do.
(scribbled on a church bathroom wall)
There is a perverse logic at work in the Christian church. Recent polls of regular church goers indicate that over two-thirds would prefer that “sinners” not attend church. There is a troubling implication in this. Do the people who don’t want sinners in their church consider themselves not to be sinners? Now, of course it depends on the sin. 
Gossip, lying, cheating, gambling, drinking, divorce, sexism, borrowing or lending money at interest, breaking the speed limit, domestic abuse, and/or racism – these don’t count. Basically, only convicted criminals, homosexuals, drug addicts, homeless people, and anyone else we can comfortably label as fundamentally different than we are is who we really mean by “sinner.” And even then, there are conditions. If poor people will bathe and behave properly, they can come in. If homosexuals will ‘choose’ not to be homosexual anymore, then they can come in. With criminals, it depends on the crime — some criminals are less criminal than others. Various research studies indicate that people convicted of fraud, embezzlement, drunk-and-disorderly, domestic abuse, rape, tax evasion, and stealing have little trouble finding a church that will accept them, while those convicted of drug possession, armed robbery, murder, child molestation, and kidnapping are unwanted by just about everyone. Forgiveness, it appears, has limits and layers — some “sins” are more forgivable than others. And in most cases, there is no real offer of redemption – once a person has been labeled a sinner, the best they can hope for is to be a ‘forgiven sinner,’ but still a sinner nonetheless.
A Minority Opinion — Shack Attack March 25, 2009
Posted by Dan R. Dick in Book Recommendations and Reviews, Religion in the U.S., Spiritual Trends.Tags: anti-intellectualism, Book Reviews, Spiritual seekers
20 comments
Within the past week I have received four different emails regarding William Young’s, The Shack. The attention this book receives is interesting to me, and I posted a review in May 2008 that voices a minority opinion — while I observe a widespread, gushing adoration for the book, I found it to be a poor book at best. In response to those asking for the review to be made available again, I am posting it here.
Periodically, I will share some reflections from my reading journal — which I keep in hope that by writing about what I read, I will somehow retain and remember things that would otherwise disappear in a short period of time. Often, books are released that become very popular, very quickly, and I am often asked my opinion (for what it’s worth…) Here are my notes on William P. Young’s, The Shack.
When I was eight years old I liked nothing better than the sugary treat of a Hostess Twinkie. Soft, sweet yellow cake with an even sweeter creamy filling – no thought of nutritional value or long term health consequences, just simple enjoyment of something that tasted so good. Left to my own devices, I would have made a steady diet of Twinkies – which in no way would have been good for me.
The Shack is a spiritual Twinkie – sugary sweet with little or no nutritional value. The fantasy tale is very unevenly told, but framed as a might-have-happened second-person narrative (Mack is the narrator/protagonist; Willie is the narrator/author), the spiritually naïve and immature might find this to be a deeply satisfying treat. Without a sound theological basis or the application of even the most basic critical thinking skills, a reader might mistake this as more than just a fairy tale.
(more…)
The New-nited Methodist Church March 24, 2009
Posted by Dan R. Dick in Religion in the U.S., Spiritual Trends, The United Methodist Church.Tags: Religious Trends, The United Methodist Church
9 comments
A few people responded to my “Oh We, Of Little Faith” post — addressing the the doom-and-gloom predictions of the end of the UMC in the next forty years or so — by asking what kind of future I do envision for the good old UMC? Looking at trends and forecasting the future is tricky, and generally a waste of time, but it’s still fun. Here goes. Keep in mind, this is my opinion based on what I see. I hope you will add comments, sharing your own vision/prediction.
Broken for You… But Definitely Broken March 22, 2009
Posted by Dan R. Dick in Congregational Life, Research, The United Methodist Church.Tags: means of grace, spiritual practices
13 comments
You might think that people who do something repeatedly over a period of years would come to know its practice and meaning intimately. In the case of the celebration of Holy Communion, you would be wrong. Each month (the preferred schedule for the institution of the Lord’s Supper in United Methodism) millions of worshipers in our congregations participate in one of the two seminal sacraments of our faith. But what exactly does this “holy mystery” mean to those who partake? For most, apparently, it remains a mystery.
From December 2005 through July 2006, 1,200 United Methodists (200 clergy, 1,000 laity) were surveyed to better understand the perceptions, attitudes, beliefs, and understanding held by those who celebrate communion. 961 surveys were completed (163 clergy, 798 laity) and a series of phone interviews followed with 95 pastors and 247 lay people from the survey sample. What follows is a brief summary of our findings and a series of questions yet to be explored.
Stupid Christian Education March 22, 2009
Posted by Dan R. Dick in Christian Education, Congregational Life.Tags: Christian Education, The United Methodist Church
4 comments
I keep getting requests for copies of this article and permission to reprint it so I thought I would just re-post it here. I originally posted it last November.
What do you know about God? What have you learned about Jesus Christ in the past few weeks? How readily can you apply what you learn to your daily life? Recent research into the learning patterns of United Methodist adults indicate that these questions are irrelevant. Four-out-of-five UM adults (80.4%) report “little” or “no” interest in Sunday school, Bible study, or small group formation experiences. Two-out-of-five (39.1%) claim that believing that Jesus Christ is God’s true son is enough — since they have a guaranteed spot in heaven, there is nothing else of value to learn. An additional 48% believe that attending weekly worship is adequate, and that there is no need for any other formational experience in their lives.
“Boring” is the number one word or phrase associated with Sunday school (among all adults), and “fellowship with friends” is the number one reason adults attend Sunday school classes. Those adults who attend Bible studies find them “interesting” and “informative,” but only 1-in-6 (17%) report finding practical information that applies to their daily lives. We asked participants in the study to “grade” the United Methodist curriculum they use in Sunday school classes. The most frequent grade is “C-”. (Disciple Bible Study I & II, B+; other Disciple Studies, B.) Satisfaction with a class or study has more to do with liking the instructor or liking each other than it does liking the materials.
An Existential Loop March 20, 2009
Posted by Dan R. Dick in Congregational Life, Mission of the Church, The United Methodist Church.Tags: Mission & Purpose, The United Methodist Church
6 comments
My long time spiritual guide and mentor, Carl Andry, Jr., used to tell us that the purpose of the church could be discerned through the three-fold approach to a single question: Why are we here? For Dr. Andry, a congregation could only justify its existence by:
- Asking the question
- Answering the question
- Acting on the question
He always concluded this conversation with a cackle (I’ve never known a Christian with a more evil, self-satisfied laugh…) and a caution — “heaven help us all if you get number two wrong.”
