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A hip hop musical introduction to creation and evolution- it describes the main events of the creation and then sets out the theory of evolution and the notion of the Big Bang.
Well - at least it’s different!
Click here for the link.. ]]>
Secord goes on to argue that setting religion vs science is more a phenomenon of our times. “Generally speaking, people thought that religion and progress went together and that Britain’s progress was something designed and foreseen by God”. At the time of Darwin the Genesis version of creation was understood in a non-literal way by those high up in the Church. Evolution and God’s creation were not necessarily seen as being mutually exclusive. Although Darwin’s theories were considered to be controversial, by the time of his death the Church had come to accept his theories and he was given a State funeral at Westminster Abbey. At this service the Reverend Fred Farrar told those present that “the work of this great man of science has enabled people to read many hitherto undeciphered lines in God’s great epic of the universe”.
For Levensons complete article out lining Darwins personal journey of faith click here
Samantha Stein, leader of the camp in Bruton, Somerset says “we are not trying to bash religion, but it encourages people to believe in a lot of things for which there is no evidence”. As well as the usual activities of canoeing, windsurfing and so on, children will be encouraged to attend workshops on critical thinking. The American equivalent offers sessions including “Socrates Cafe” which debates issues such as definitions of knowledge, art and justice. In the UK young people will be looking sceptically at issues including crop circles and spoon bending along side the existence of God. A competition will be running throughout in which children can win £10 if they can prove that unicorns do not exist.
How popular will these camps prove to be ? I question whether the UK will subscribe to this Dawson’s Creek version of existence where young people spend their summers debating philosophy whilst negotiating their personal relationships and worrying what to wear?
For the complete article click here.
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Talen is anti mono culture or globalisation. Through homilies entitled “The Shopocalypse” and “Consumerism has shut us down”, Talen plans to alert us to our “unwitting submission to corporate agendas through song and dance” He has also been known to conduct exorcisms on tills and giving sermons in shops one of which led to his arrest in 2003 during a previous visit to the UK. He was lecturing against ‘the commodification of childhood wonder’ in the Disney Store.
Interestingly Talen refers to preaching “an American vocal tradition. Its like hip hop, its like auctioneering, its like talking and singing at the same time. Talen believes that by impersonating a tele-evangelist he can make a connection with people’s spirituality and portray a very different message.
Many people consider Rev Billys work to be blasphemous. It appears he has almost hijacked the religious guise to deliver an entirely different message. Some would argue that this is akin to how Hitler behaved in the lead up to the Second World War. Hitler used the elements of mass meetings, chanting, rituals and procession in order to connect with peoples spirituality. He had a very different over all message. Perhaps linking Talen to Hitler is a little extreme; Talen seems to make a fairly localised impact and his message is, on balance, far more positive.
However, there are those who would argue that Talen and the Church are trying to push a similar message. After all Christianity is pro free trade, fairness and good business ethics. Both are trying to get people to live their lives more responsibly. As Spurlock (of Supersize Me fame) says “Billy’s core message and the core message of Christians is the same: ‘Things can be better; we have lost track’,” he says. “It’s a moral belief.”
I think I would question whether that interpretation of the Christian message is entirely correct but if you are at a loose end over half term then the tour dates are - .
The UK shopocalypse tour May 20th -June 2nd
click here for the complete article from the Times
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Candidates should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of what might be represented in the Analogy of the Cave by the
following:
1) the prisoners, the shadows, the cave itself, the
outside world, the sun, the journey out of the
cave and the return to the prisoners.
Basically = (although you will need to be able to discuss critically the validity of the points being made in this analogy).
The Prisoners = The ignorant masses
The Shadows = The illusions we take for reality. The shadows are shadows of models rather than real objects. The prisoners are even further removed from reality. The fire, in this case, represents a kind of provisional good, which allows real world objects to be identified; however, this is not the true good, as it only provides enough light for belief.
The Cave itself = The paradigm within which we live - its all an illusion based on fallacy
The outside world = Truth and reality - knowledge for Plato resides in the world of the forms. The real world in Plato’s Cave Allegory corresponds to the world of the Forms.
The sun = The ultimate Good. It can never be directly observed but allows illumination of other things
The journey out of the cave = The painful realisation that what we have taken for granted is not reality
The return to the prisoners= The unwillingness of the majority to have their views challenged. We would rather believe in things that are un real because it is more comfortable.
]]>click here for a useful ink outlining the major issues and problems arising within this topic.
click here for a briefer discussion of the issue. Very accessible. Mentions the key players in the debate.
click here for a far deeper discussion of the issues. Has useful chapters with links so that you can focus upon certain areas.
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To read Andrew Sullivan’s complete review click here
Andrew Sullivan goes on to argue his own view - that the ultimate truth will always elude us. It is the search for this truth that is the point of our existence. “Humans cannot live without this search, never have and never will. Our counsciousness asks questions to which there is no answer; we are religious because we are human”. Sullivan goes on to say that the real challenge of our time is to remain open to history, science, and revelation within our journey’s of faith.