My good friend & co-conspirator Jeff bares his soul with questions many of us are asking…When will we see peace as a better alternative than war? When will we stop resorting to violence as an answer to violence? When will we find the courage to take the harder course to a better existence?
Perhaps the most important conversation we need to have…
Does faith in the Bible necessarily mean we must reject the findings of science? Is the Bible meant to be an accurate description of the history of earth and humanity? Do we have to abandon our faith to embrace scientific evidence of origins?
Or, is there a place where faith and science intersect, and reveal something much more wonderful than we ever imagined from either perspective?
Join us this coming Sunday, Aug. 3, as we dive into the depths of the faith vs. science debate and explore ways in which it represents one of the false dichotomies that often limits the church’s ability to engage the world.
To get us started, here’s a video from Rob Bell’s “Everything is Spiritual” presentation that may begin to shed some light on the conversation:
What questions will you bring to our conversation this week? Use the comment section below to help get things started, and we’ll pick it up here on Sunday night!
Happy Half-Hour: 6:30pm
Conversation Begins: 7:00pm
With our upcoming Aug. 3 gathering set to focus on the science/faith false dichotomy in the church, I thought you might enjoy some of the conversation that’s happening on the topic elsewhere. I’ve been following Q Ideas ever since reading Gabe Lyons’ & David Kinnaman’s 2007 book, unChristian (I also highly recommend Lyons’ 2010 follow-up book, The Next Christians). Q is an amazing resource for all things where faith and culture intersect, and this week’s collection of essays and videos on the question of faith & science brings some interesting perspective to the conversation.
You can check it out here.
We’ll continue the conversation Sunday, Aug. 3…stay tuned for more!
Do our perceptions of gender trap us in rigid boxes, or do they empower us to be more fully human?
This week (July 20), we’ll discuss biblical concepts of gender, misconceptions, and more empowering ways of viewing our unique contributions to the human project. We’ll look at some of the passages that have been traditionally used to create false dichotomies in gender with an eye to some of the contextual situations from which they arise.
We’ll also take a close look at the story of Jesus and the woman caught in adultery found in John 7:53-8:11. One often-overlooked aspect of this narrative is how Jesus confronts gender discrimination head-on in an unexpected and radical way.
Come and join us for a meal, a beverage, and authentic conversation!
Happy Half-Hour: 6:30pm
Conversation Begins: 7:00pm
One of the ongoing challenges of Christianity is dealing with false dichotomies in which we find ourselves as people who exist simultaneously in the world and the Kingdom. Our next few gatherings will address some of these issues and give us a chance to have some meaningful conversations with the goal of greater understanding.
Here’s the tentative schedule of topics (subject to change):
July 20: Gender roles — Are we enslaved or empowered?
August 3: Science & Faith — Mutually exclusive or inclusively mutual?
August 10: Sacred vs. Secular — Two worlds in tension or one world in grace?
What are your thoughts going into these discussions? What other false dichotomies should we discuss? Use the comment section below to share…
Mark your calendars now for our next gathering on Sunday, July 6, when we welcome Jake Kaufman to New Wineskins.
Jake is a writer, speaker, artist and creative strategist who has appeared at a number of local churches and events over the past several years. His blog, jkstories.com, celebrates the places where human brokenness and God’s grace intersect.
You won’t want to miss this special night of storytelling and conversation.
Happy Half-Hour: 6:30pm
Conversation Begins: 7:00pm
Featured Artist: Anna Webb
Topic: Depression, Anxiety & Recovery
Depression, anxiety, and recovery are critical matters, not just for society, but for the church. How are we called to love and understand people who suffer from these issues? How can we support them and their loved ones? How can we learn to hear them better and listen more deeply?
This Sunday, Anna Webb will share some original poetry she has written from multiple perspectives to give us insight into this important topic. Anna is a 2014 graduate of West Virginia Wesleyan College with a degree in Creative Writing. Among the works she’ll be sharing is her poem, For Andrea, which was part of her senior capstone project and was published earlier this year at TheAwesomenessConspiracy.com.
Happy Half-Hour: 6:30pm
Conversation Begins: 7:00pm
