AJ Heschl on Why Religion Declined

Here's a thought-provoking quote from Rabbi A. J. Heschel in "God in Search of Man."

“It is customary to blame secular science and anti-religious philosophy for the eclipse of religion in modern society. It would be more honest to blame religion for its own defeats. Religion declined not because it was refuted, but because it became irrelevant, dull, oppressive, insipid. When faith is completely replaced by creed, worship by discipline, love by habit; when the crisis of today is ignored because of the splendor of the past; when faith becomes an heirloom rather than a living fountain; when religion speaks only in the name of authority rather than with the voice of compassion--its message becomes meaningless.”

Sunday Assembly: Trying to Replace Church for Unbelievers

In an article on Sunday Assembly, which apparently is pretty successful in London and is test marketing the USA, the Washington Post describes a meeting of about 60 people who responded to an ad to start "a godless congregation." You can read a description of the 90-minute meeting in the WP link. The writer says, the Sunday Assembly idea has attracted attention "...mostly because [the founders are] speaking to an increasingly secular society still hungry for two commodities organized religion purports to provide: wonder and community."

This is sad on a number of levels. Two that come most quickly to mind is that 1) people are trying to manufacture what the Lord has already offered and 2) the Church, in many cases, hasn't provided a connection to the wonder and community that is found through Christ (note the word, "purports," in the quote above).

November 10, 2013 update: Yahoo has a story about the founders' visit to Los Angeles here, which attracted far more people than the DC gathering.

Anne Mahlum & Back on My Feet

This story dates back to 2007 when Anne Mahlum founded Back on My Feet in Philadelphia, but I saw it highlighted recently on a network news program. A runner since she was 16, Anne developed a rapport with some of the people at a homeless shelter she ran past every morning. After a while, she thought,

Why am I just running past them and leaving them there? Maybe running could make these guys feel as good as it makes me feel."

She lined up some donations for running shoes and founded Philly's first homeless running club. Since then it has expanded to eight other cities and includes a Next Steps program to help those who maintain 90% attendance running receive education, job training and financial assistance to help them find jobs and permanent housing. More than 600 program participants have found jobs and more than 400 have found housing since 2008.

This is an illustration of how something you enjoy can grow into something that can change lives. In addition, this brief bio of Anne explains that her running began as a reaction to problems at home. The story can also be used to illustrate how problems can have positive outcomes.

Bless Those Who Curse You

There has been much in the news about the less-than-cordial relationship between the United States and Iran. Here's a NY Times article about 13 Iranian fishermen who were held hostage by Somali pirates and freed by the US Navy.

For Iranians Waylaid by Pirates, U.S. to the Rescue

What it's Like on the Other Side

Not the other side of life; the other side of forgiveness. When the Doctor's Wife has Cancer is a short piece from a NYC doctor about how he felt when his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer. In one day he became much more aware of what it's like to be the family member of a patient with a serious illness.

I wonder whether it would do us good to be more aware of what it's like on the other side of forgiveness. It's easy to forget. Any ideas on how we could remember? Or whether we should?

An Unusual Call for Outreach

This morning's paper was the first I ever heard of David Harsanyi and, with such limited exposure to him, I'm not sure whether that's a consequence or benefit of being out of the country. He did have something interesting to say though, for an atheist. His June 24 column advocates more evangelism from Christians and a call to be more active in gaining converts. However, his motive is political - to counter political Islamic fundamentalism - rather than religious. It's a poor reason for outreach and one that I would not push. However, it's interesting that he defends conversion at the end of his piece given that he says he is irreligious.

(The local newspaper here in NY changed the title.)