Redeemer Spoof video

This video makes me laugh. As a note: the girl at the mailboxes is one of my dormmates.



Word of the Day: Virado [latin, means manly woman, and was typically used to describe women who were spiritual warriors]

Quote of the Day: "I want to make cake."

Real men

...Watch Phantom of the Opera

Word of the Day: Sunshine

Quote of the Day: "You know, when you do physical activity, you actually need to move." Amanda

That sunny Saturday

And all I did was study, research, and make myself rice. 

Word of the Day: Epistemological

Quote of the Day: "Some of the most dangerous immorality in texts today has nothing to do with sex or profanity. It lies in the acceptance of materialism, encouragement of egotism, and the glorification of violence." Roger Lundin and Susan Gallagher, Literature Through the Eyes of Faith, 141. 

The Monsters and the Critics

"Fantasy is a natural human activity. It certainly does not destroy or even insult Reason; and it does not either blunt the appetite for, nor obscure the perception of, scientific verity. On the contrary. The keener and the clearer is the reason, the better the fantasy will it make. If men were ever in a state in which they did not want to know or could not perceive truth (facts or evidence), then Fantasy would languish until they were cured. If they were ever to get into that state (it would not seem at all impossible), Fantasy will perish, and become Morbid Delusion.

For creative Fantasy is founded upon the hard recognition that things are so in the world as it appears under the sun; on a recognition of fact, but not a slavery to it. So upon logic was founded the nonsense that displays itself in the tales and rhymes of Lewis Carroll. If men really could not distinguish between frogs and men, fairy stories about frog-kings would not have arisen. 

Fantasy can, of course, be carried to excess. It can be ill done. It can be put to evil uses. It may even delude the minds out of which it came. But of what human thing in this fallen world is that not true? Men have conceived not only of elves (which, it is important to note here, Tolkien references as being the same as part of Faerie. In fact, the words apparently are derivatives of the same Latin base), but they have imagined gods, and worshipped them, even worshipped those most deformed by their authors' own evil. But they have made false gods out of other materials: their notions, their banners, their monies; even their sciences and their social and economic theories have demanded human sacrifice. Abusus non tollit usum. Fantasy remains a human right: we make in out measure and in our derivative mode, because we are made: and not only made, but made in the image and likeness of a Maker."

JRR Tolkien, On Faerie Stories

I'm beginning to realize that determining the "Christian post-modern" (if it could indeed exist) may be worth my academic time. I might finally have found a graduate school thesis. It is, for that matter, something which could be turned into a doctoral work. 

And I've come to realize that I revere J.R.R. Tolkien's work. He, C.S. Lewis, and J.K. Rowling stand quite distinct as writers of the Christian post-modern: reuniting meta-narrative with reality, as it were. Part of me wishes nothing more than to simply have a desk in the corner of a pub where I can write a great story (and drink great beer). I think, deep down, I always knew I would become a hobbit-esque academic storyteller. 

And that is how I feel about that. It's the academic in me finally admitting it needs to come out and stay out. 

Word of the Day: Panoply [1) Complete or impressive collection of things. 2) Splendid display. 3) Complete set of arms or suit of armour. Orig. 16th. C. = complete protection for spiritual warfare.]

Quote of the Day: "The Gospels contain a fairy-story, or a story of a larger kind which embraces the essence of all fairy stories." Tolkien

The Unlikely Disciple - A review

Several weeks ago a friend suggested I read "The Unlikely Disciple." I was uncertain about adding another book to my workload/reading list, but I'm glad I took her advice.

This is the true story of the teenager who did a semester at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. 

Now, for a little bit of background, before I jump into my own thoughts about the text. Kevin Roose was a sophmore at Browns University. That's right, Browns. As you find out in the first chapter, instead of doing a semester abroad like many of his friends, he chose to do a semester at Liberty, for journalistic interest's sake. 

It has taken me a few weeks to process this book. Roose paints a gracious and revealing picture of life at this fundamentalist baptist university, including his accounts of evangelism, creationism, 'The Liberty Way,' and much more. I was struck by the similarities - and the differences - between Liberty and Redeemer. 

I'm two months away from finishing my degree at Redeemer. Redeemer is a Christian liberal arts university located in Ancaster (Hamilton), Ontario, Canada. Redeemer, like Liberty, offers degrees in many academic spheres and teaches from a Christian worldview. Redeemer offers courses in apologetics, hermeneutics, and the academic study of scripture. It has faculty and staff who are devoted to both faith and scholarship. Its students joke about it being a safe haven, a Christian Bubble if you will, shielding its students from the scary outside world. But I'm afraid that is where the similarities end.

See, Redeemer was founded as a Reformed (prominently Calvinist) -based post secondary institution. It has never been affiliated with the mega-church movement, a 'mega-church' pastor, and its students certainly don't look to the president as the most influential man in the country. While Redeemer has a Code of Conduct, it encourages trust, and acknowledges that it cannot police the behaviour of its students. After all, part of being a Christian is being challenged to live differently, not simply doing so because the university you attend will make you pay fines if you break their laws (example, demerit points and a $25.00 fine if you are caught watching or in possession of an R rated film). 

While Redeemer does not have a student population of 25 000 (no, just a mere 900 students), or offer a weekly televised evangelical church service (I can hardly see the Reformed Protestants I know participating in this sort of phenomenon), or insist that all its faculty hold a '6-day creationist' view of how the world came to be, it does exist, and it is also developing some strong, intellectually apt leaders. 

Liberty has always been an enigma to me. Working at Muskoka Bible Centre last summer, a retreat/camping/conference centre born out of the same Christian tradition as Liberty, I have had some experiences with Liberty students - both within my work-sphere, and as guests on the grounds. One thing that I have never forgotten is as follows.

The first week of the summer season is what MBCers have affectionately dubbed "Liberty Week." It is an informal way of saying that the chapel is overrun with Liberty paraphernilia - speakers, worship band, and the booth with the bright red t-shirts. Following one of the chapel services, I decided to meander towards the Liberty booth, just to look at the University brochure and see the sorts of programs they offered, to compare it to Redeemer. 

Within about 30 seconds I had a Liberty student engaging me in conversation about my life story, my faith, my ambitions, and my education. I guess it was pretty obvious I was a college-aged person. Besides the fact that she seemed thoroughly unamused by the fact that I was a student at Redeemer (her expression actually shifted into a depressed sort of wail as she uttered, "oh, you go to Redeeeemer"), she began to inquire about the status of my faith. Explaining to her that I had been baptized as a child - as is the practise of my tradition - and done profession of faith in front of my church at age 18, she seemed agitated. 

"So, you mean you aren't a born again Christian?" she asked me. 

"Well, what do you mean by that?" I asked her.

"You know, born again, have you rededicated your life to Christ? Have you been re-baptized?"

Last time I checked, baptism only needed to happen once, so I said no.

"Oh," she said, looking downcast. "Do you think you're a Christian, then?"

Again, I asked her what she meant.

"Well, you should be born again if you're a true Christian. Do you know Jesus?"

I can't really remember what happened next, but I do remember walking away from that conversation a little confused. Since when does being a true Christian mean being a 'born again Christian'? Since when does the Sacrament of Baptism need to be performed more than once on a believer? Why did I feel a little put-off by this eager young girl (whose major I later-on found out to be religon) who clearly just thought I needed to be evangelized?

All good questions, and after reading Roose's book, I may have had a few of them answered. I also learned a lot about Liberty. It occurred to me while I read that some people must see Redeemer in this same way, and that is a sobering thought. 

Do take the time to read this book. You'll laugh, you'll be angry, but most of all, it will drive you to re-evaluate why you believe what you believe. And who knows, you might even find answers.

Word of the Day: Noise

Quote of the Day: "Maybe our stars are unanimously tired..." Jon Foreman, Switchfoot

Post-modern

From what I can glean of the usage of the term, 'postmodernism' would

seem to designate art forms that are fundamentally self-reflexive --in

other words, art that is self-consciously art (or artifice), literature that is

openly aware of the fact that it is written and read as part of a particular

culture, having as much to do with the literary past as with the social 

present... What postmodernism has done is show how the 'natural' is in fact

the 'constructed', the made, the social.

-Linda Hutcheon, The Canadian Postmodern

"This is not a pipe." Rene Magritte

This is a constructed image of a pipe. 

Word of the Day: listless

Quote of the Day: "Turns out it was Mrs. Peacock in the Library with the Kitchen."

Null.

February has flown by. I feel bad for not posting.

The last few weeks have simply been homework filled, including getting out the February issue of The Crown. Last week, applications went out for Editor-in-Chief. Since I will be leaving at the end of the year, someone needs to take my place. It's hard to give up something that you've poured your heart and soul into for 3 years, but I know that God will bring someone in to continue what The Crown has managed to accomplish in the last several years.

It's bittersweet really.

I've also been reading my brain out. I've nearly finished some Michael Ondaatje, which I began reading yesterday evening (I have about 60 pages left), and I need to get my game on, and finish some LOTR today.

Reading break was needed.

Word of the Day: Lego

Quote of the Day: "Recomputing.." Tim Hawkins on GPS for Marriage

Winter Past

Accepting that we might not see a real winter this season is not something I have done easily. I had such high hopes for the remaining winter months when it snowed like crazy here last weekend. Luckily, my camera was on hand, so I snapped some creative shots.

This week has been pretty busy, and so I have not had a chance to edit them to a point where I felt like justice was done. Now, however, as I reminisce about the ghosts of winter's past, I feel as though they are a healthy reminder of what this city should look like in the middle of February.

Laments.

This is what winter should look like. However, this is not what it looks like out
my window anymore.

I love this shot. I love that you can see the snow falling. 

Word of the Day: meme

Quote of the Day: Me: "We can fellowship about our worldview about the moist, palpable cake!"

Laura: "That is an ugly sentence."

And February feels like Spring

Watching the sun set tonight reminds me of summer.

It's a curious thing, feeling the warmth of a sunset in winter. I've been curled up in my golden armchair all afternoon, making my way through The Fellowship of the Ring, and listening to various soundtracks on my computer.

And now, as the last lights of the day are beginning to sink beyond the horizon, I wonder if winter will ever come. I'm fearful it won't, only because I see the trees budding presumptuously.

Word of the Day: Numenor

Quote of the Day: "University isn't designed so that you can do all the work." Well, isn't that the truth.