Theology On Tap in the 'Burg

Forgiveness

We are meeting this coming Sunday, November 8th at 7:00 PM at Appalachian Brewing Company on Cameron Street in Harrisburg. 

This week's topic was suggested by Mandy and I think it is a good one.  She saw and episode of House that made her wonder about forgiveness.  Here's the scenario from House:

One of the doctors goes to confession, feeling guilty about killing an African dictator who was planning to slaughter thousands of people the moment he got better, even though he felt it was, morally, the right thing to do. The priest was pretty rigid on the issue, saying unless he confessed and went to prison for the rest of his life, God would not forgive him.

Here is a reading from Wishful Thinking, a book by Frederick Buechner a pastor and writer:

To forgive somebody is to say one way or another, "You have done something uspeakable, and by all rights I should call it quits between us.  Both my pride and my principles demand no less.  However, although I make no guarantees that will be able to forget what you've done, and though we may both carry scars for life, I refuse to let it stand between us....to accept forgiveness means to admit that you've done something unspeakable that needs to be forgiven, and thus both parties must swallow the same thing:  their pride. 

This seems to explain what Jesus means when he says to God, "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us."  Jesus is not saying that God's forgiveness is conditional upon our forgiving others.  In the first place, forgiveness that's conditional isn't really forgiveness at all, just Fair Warning; and in the second place, our unforgivingness is among those things about us which we need to have God forgive us must.  What Jesus apparently is saying is that the pride which keeps us from forgiving is the same pride which keeps us from accepting forgiveness, and will God please help us to do something about it. 

When someone you've wronged forgives you, you're spared the dull and self-diminishing throb of a guilty conscience. 

When you forgive somebody who has wronged you, you're spared the dismal corrosion of bitterness and wounded pride. 

For both parties, forgiveness means the freedom again to be at peace inside their own skins and to be glad in each other's presence."

Here are some questions to ponder:

1. What do you think of the priest's reaction? 
2. How are consequences and forgiveness related?
3. How does forgiveness change us?  What does it offer? 
4. Does one have to "pay the consequences" in order to be forgiven?
5. How does God's forgiveness relate to our forgiveness of one another?
6. How easy is it for you to forgive?  Both big and little things. 
7. What does it matter that God forgives you?

Home Funerals

We are meeting this coming Sunday, October 11th at 7:00 PM at the Appalachian Brewing Company on 50th North Cameron Street in Harrisburg. 

We'll be discussing the lively topic of funerals and burials.  Please read this article from the Christian Century. 

Here are some questions to ponder:
1.  What are the funerals like that you have attended?
2.  What are some advantages and disadvantages of our "typical" practices around death?
3.  What do our practices around death have to do with our faith?  Does one inform the other?
4.  What do you think are the advantages of a home funeral?  Could you ever perform one for a loved one?
5.  What do you think of in relation to your own death?
6.  How do you want to be buried?  Why?

Ah, You Are Beautiful

We are meeting this coming Sunday, October 4th at 7:00 PM at Lancaster Brewing Company at 469 Eisenhower Blvd.  For directions, go here. 

Our reading this week comes from the Christian Century and Stephanie Paulsell, a professor at Harvard Divinity School.  Please read Old-Fashioned Love Song. 

The verses she refers to from the Song of Songs or Song of Solomon are:

Ah, you are beautiful, my love;

ah, you are beautiful;

your eyes are doves.

Ah, you are beautiful, my

beloved,

truly lovely.

Here are some questions for reflection:

1. How have you experienced this Fall so far?  How has your rhythm changed or not changed since Labor Day?
2. What are some of your spiritual practices? 
3. What do you think of Stephanie Paulsell's idea to look at life through the lens of "ah, you are beautiful?" 
4. How might this change your relationship to your daily life?  To others?  To the world? To God? 

Theology on Tap Fall Dates

Fall is almost upon us (I'm claiming summer as long as I can) and its time to gather with Theology on Tap again! 

 

Here are the dates for the fall:

 

Sept 27th

Oct. 11th

Oct. 25th

Nov. 8th

Nov. 22nd

Dec. 6th

 

As in the past, we'll meet at 7:00 PM.  We need a new site.  Anyone have any ideas?  We need it to be semi-quiet, have decent food, and good beer.  :)

 

Send any ideas my way and please put those dates on your calendars!  I look forward to seeing you all on the 27th!  It will be here before you know it. 

"Sunlight looks slightly different on this wall than it does on that wall..."

Our next Theology on Tap gathering is this coming Sunday, May 10th at 7:00 in the upper room at Ceoltas on 2nd Street. 

We'll be discussing this article from the Christian Century. 

I'm also offering a poem by the great Persian poet, Rumi (1207-1273), which I believe to be of the same theme:

Move beyond any attachment to
names.
Every war and every conflict between
human beings
has happened because of some
disagreement about names.

It’s such an unnecessary foolishness,
because just beyond the arguing
there’s a long table of companionship,
set and waiting for us to sit down.

What is praised is one, so the praise is
one too,
many jugs being poured into a huge
basin.

All religions, all this singing, one song.
The differences are just illusion and
vanity.

Sunlight looks slightly different on this
wall than it does on that wall.
and a lot different on this other one,
but it is still one light.
We have borrowed these clothes,
these time-and-space personalities,
from a light,
and when we praise,
we pour them back in.

Here are some questions to ponder:

1. I was recently discussing childhood behavior (esp. on the playground) with my senior high youth.  They were saying that they were even meaner to each other when they were young.  They thought the name calling was really bad in middle school.  Why is that?  How do our children learn to denigrate and belittle others? What purpose does the name calling serve?
2. What were you taught as a child about Christianities role in relation to other religions as a child?
3. What do you believe now?
4. How much interaction do you have with persons of other faiths or traditions? What have you learned from those interactions? 
5. What do you think of the Rumi poem?  What is he trying to say?  Do you agree with him?
6. How have people of faith hurt others outside their community?
7. What are some of the gifts that people of faith have to offer?

Nooma at Chris and Dave's

We are gathering this coming Sunday, March 29th at 7:00 PM at Chris and Dave's house.  I'll send an e-mail with their address and directions. 

Dave is providing spaghetti and meatballs.  We need to provide appetizers, salad, bread, dessert, and of course, its BYOB. 

After dinner, we'll watch another Nooma video by Rob Bell. 

The Ten Commandments

We are meeting this coming Sunday, March 15th at 7:00 PM in the upper room at Ceoltas. 

I have selected an article on the Ten Commandments from the Christian Century by Thomas Long.  You'll find the article here. 

Some questions for you to ponder:

1. What are your thoughts on whether or not the Ten Commandments should be allowed to remain in public spaces?  How about other religious symbols?  How about religious symbols from other faith traditions?
2. How and when did you learn the Ten Commandments? 
3. Can you name all Ten Commandments? 
4. What kind of influence did they have or have they had over your life?  
5. How does Tom Long's understand the Ten Commandments?
6. How does his understanding affect your view of the Ten Commandments?

For a review of the Ten Commandments see:  Exodus 20:1-17

Science and Faith

We are meeting this coming Sunday, March 1st at 7:00 PM in the upper room at Ceoltas. 

We will be discussing an article from the Christian Century entitled "Brother Scientist."  Take a moment to read the article and then ponder these questions:

1. What mysteries did you explore as a child?  Did you ever find the answers? 
2. What do you think is the relationship between science and faith?
3. Does science threaten questions of faith?
4. What questions do each try to answer? 
5. What are some of the great mysteries you'd like to have explained by science, by God or by both? 

Next Three Gathering Dates

Our next three gatherings are:

March 1st
March 15th
March 29th

Our next Theology on Tap gathering will be March 1st at 7:00 PM in the upper room at Ceoltas. 

The locations of the other two dates have not been set.  Check back for information and the March 1st article. 

Nooma at Steven's House

We are meeting this coming Sunday, Feb. 8th at 7:00 PM at Steven Dailey's house.  I'll send directions over e-mail. 

Dinner will consist of chili, corn bread and salad.  Several of you volunteered to bring parts of the meal.  I hope you remember who you are!  This is BYOB so everyone please bring whatever it is you'd like to drink. 

We will watch and discuss Rhythm, one of the Nooma videos so there is no pre-gathering reading.