The evolving and growing complexity of the human brain allowed our ancestors the ability to question, wonder, and consider new possibilities—to be creative. Life altering advances were the result. Is unconditional adherence to dogma (whether religious or secular) at odds with this evolved capability and our full potential as creative beings?
Every year “scientific” expeditions embark to look for Noah’s Ark, raising untold amounts of money from gullible believers who eagerly listen to tales spun by sincere amateurs or rapacious con men; it is not always easy to tell the two apart.
The biggest news from the Council of Anglican Provinces in Africa is the election of a theological moderate, the Most Rev. Ian Ernest, Archbishop of the Province of the Indian Ocean, to succeed the decidedly un-moderate Archbishop Peter Akinola of Nigeria. The Primates also released two statements, one on Africa, which includes the names of provinces represented at the meeting, and one on the crisis in the Anglican Communion, which, curiously, has appeared thus far only on the Web sites of conservative North Americans.
While we were focused on the House of Bishops meeting in New Orleans and its aftermath, sane people everywhere were spending their time in other pursuits, such as listening to the new Bruce Springsteen album, watching last night’s season premier episode of Friday Night Lights, and finding other soul-nourishing fare in the sometimes toxic stew of our popular culture.
The Presiding Bishop said: “We cannot triumph over global poverty . . . unless we also address climate change, as the two phenomena are intimately related. However, a third critical element is missing from the discussion. Unless we take an honest look at industrial animal agriculture and the food choices that support this system, our progress in mitigating world hunger and climate change will be significantly hampered.
Prayer is a mourning, a longing, and a desire of the spirit to God-ward, for that which she lacketh; as a sick man mourneth and sorroweth in his heart, longing for health. Faith ever prayeth.