Neat article in the Monitor

Thought you all might be interested in this one. .This article ran in the commentary in the October 17th issue of the Monitor. It's both a really compelling summary of Kant, but also an interesting approach to thinking through atheism. I read it thinking about Yale and intellectualism the whole time!

http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1017/p09s06-coop.html

As we get ready for our first big(ger) CSO event of the year this Thursday, let's use the blog to share ideas and inspirations to prayerfully support the success of our participation in the Panel!

City upon a Hill

As I prayed about the idea of crime in New Haven, I found myself thinking about the diversity of the city and how so many people would simply chalk the crime up to being an inevitable part of a racially and economically diverse city. But a few minutes later, the words "diversity of gifts" came to mind, which is part of a citation from the Bible:

"Men have different gifts, but it is the same Spirit who gives them.
There are different ways of serving God, but it is the same Lord who is served.
God works though different men in different ways, but it is the same God who achieves his purposes through them all. The Spirit openly makes his gift to each man, so that he may use it for the common good."
- I Corint. 12: 4-7 (J.B. Phillips translation)

What a perfect description of the true city, of Spirit's city! Each individual is a divine idea, with their own particular gift, their own way of expressing God, good. But we're all expressing the same God, we're all serving the same Spirit. These gifts can't be taken from one another, no one gift is better than another-- they are all equally perfect and direct from God. The crime is not only physical acts of violence, but the very idea that one of us is missing something or lacking in "gifts." What I loved most about this wasn't just the ideas, which were comforting to think about, but the fact that its a prayer easily made active. I can do my part to extinguish crime in my own life by not beating up, stealing away, or diminishing another person's value, and instead appreciate the value of their diverse gift. Now that would be a city set upon a hill!

Safety in the City

In our first CSO meeting, we decided as a group to put some effort into praying about safety for the Yale community and New Haven at large. In the first few months of the semester, we have already received 2-3 emails from the local police chief reporting incidents and cautioning everyone to be wise when out at night or when alone. Stay tuned for future blogs/comments on the topic!

Challenges to the Reality of the Material World

At long last, our event is approaching!

Who: The Yale Initiative for Science, Religion and Technology (with the help of the Yale CSO)

What: A panel discussion titled "Challenges to the Reality of the Material World: Buddhist and Christian Perspectives" Panel members will be Christine Driessen, CSB and Lama Padma Karma, a Buddhist lama.

When: October 18, 2007, 7:30 pm

Where: Niebuhr Auditorium, Yale Divinity School, 409 Prospect St, Free parking available.

Why: Because it will rock your socks :)

Stay tuned for an email with the awesome poster attached (full credit to James from the Div School for that one!), invite friends and come play! Also, we'll probably have a table with information about the CSO and my Bible Lessons available-- if anyone is willing to help with answering questions and talking to people who might be interested post or pre panel discussion, that'd be awesome!