Comments on: An Inconvenient Truth (2006) http://www.chuckp3.com/2006/07/an-inconvenient-truth-2/ thinking out loud about life, art and imitating Jesus Sat, 04 Sep 2010 02:14:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Charlie http://www.chuckp3.com/2006/07/an-inconvenient-truth-2/#comment-267 Charlie Thu, 06 Jul 2006 19:06:00 +0000 http://clyonspardue.wordpress.com/2006/07/04/an-inconvenient-truth-2/#comment-267 Well first off I guess I'd have to say I don't really believe in independent thought. If we think we're thinking independently and not being influenced and shaped by others, then we're just buying into that whole idea from the Enlightenment that we're Autonomus Individuals. I don't always agree with everyone around me, and I think I have a unique perspective if you looked at all of my stances together, but what I really strive for is to be shaped by a community that strives to live the path of the Cross.<br/><br/>I encounter a lot of people who think similarly about discipleship and the Christian life, partly because I seek them out. I go to a church that embodies this as best as it can, because I want to be shaped and influenced by those kinds of people. But that's not to say that I live in an echo chamber by any means! I do live in Kansas City afterall. Most people are conservative Republicans who find nothing wrong with flags in church, etc. I am definitely in the minority.<br/><br/>While I really like the way certian church movements are going (Emergent, Ekklesia Project, etc.) I am not committed to any movement more than I am to Christ and His church. What attracts me to these movements is that is their main objective; to shed other priorities and allegances that are above Christ.<br/><br/>So do my politcal views get shaped by the community of Christians I live among? Absolutely, and I'm a part of that community shaping those around me as well. Do we all agree? Not always, no. But I've got to tell you, when your "personal" politics are shaped by the worhsiping body you participate in it's a lot harder to be greedy and pro-war because people will call you on it. I wouldn't want it any other way. Well first off I guess I’d have to say I don’t really believe in independent thought. If we think we’re thinking independently and not being influenced and shaped by others, then we’re just buying into that whole idea from the Enlightenment that we’re Autonomus Individuals. I don’t always agree with everyone around me, and I think I have a unique perspective if you looked at all of my stances together, but what I really strive for is to be shaped by a community that strives to live the path of the Cross.

I encounter a lot of people who think similarly about discipleship and the Christian life, partly because I seek them out. I go to a church that embodies this as best as it can, because I want to be shaped and influenced by those kinds of people. But that’s not to say that I live in an echo chamber by any means! I do live in Kansas City afterall. Most people are conservative Republicans who find nothing wrong with flags in church, etc. I am definitely in the minority.

While I really like the way certian church movements are going (Emergent, Ekklesia Project, etc.) I am not committed to any movement more than I am to Christ and His church. What attracts me to these movements is that is their main objective; to shed other priorities and allegances that are above Christ.

So do my politcal views get shaped by the community of Christians I live among? Absolutely, and I’m a part of that community shaping those around me as well. Do we all agree? Not always, no. But I’ve got to tell you, when your “personal” politics are shaped by the worhsiping body you participate in it’s a lot harder to be greedy and pro-war because people will call you on it. I wouldn’t want it any other way.

]]> By: The Buss http://www.chuckp3.com/2006/07/an-inconvenient-truth-2/#comment-266 The Buss Thu, 06 Jul 2006 18:25:00 +0000 http://clyonspardue.wordpress.com/2006/07/04/an-inconvenient-truth-2/#comment-266 Maybe I shouldn't have used the phrase "trying your hardest" and "desperately" when trying to reach the point I was going for. I'm not saying that you're trying to align yourself to the left (although maybe I implied it in my comment). <br/>The real thing is that I agree with you. I was raised in the same place more or less where you were. We both grew up ultra-conservative, and it took time and knowledge to undo all of that dis-information. I try to focus so hard on finding my own ideology and not pledging allegience to a political party or mind-set, and I know you do as well. <br/>What I do wonder in reading your posts is this: Are you so personally invested into this new movement of Christians who are distancing themselves from the current fake-Christian administration that it's where you are getting your politicial ideals? Do you go to study groups and meetings where somebody stands up and tells you his thoughts and you say "YEAH!", or are you striving for independent thought? <br/>Again, I hope this didn't come off wrong Charlie, I love what you have to say and think it's very important, and I agree with 90% of it. Maybe I shouldn’t have used the phrase “trying your hardest” and “desperately” when trying to reach the point I was going for. I’m not saying that you’re trying to align yourself to the left (although maybe I implied it in my comment).
The real thing is that I agree with you. I was raised in the same place more or less where you were. We both grew up ultra-conservative, and it took time and knowledge to undo all of that dis-information. I try to focus so hard on finding my own ideology and not pledging allegience to a political party or mind-set, and I know you do as well.
What I do wonder in reading your posts is this: Are you so personally invested into this new movement of Christians who are distancing themselves from the current fake-Christian administration that it’s where you are getting your politicial ideals? Do you go to study groups and meetings where somebody stands up and tells you his thoughts and you say “YEAH!”, or are you striving for independent thought?
Again, I hope this didn’t come off wrong Charlie, I love what you have to say and think it’s very important, and I agree with 90% of it.

]]> By: Charlie http://www.chuckp3.com/2006/07/an-inconvenient-truth-2/#comment-265 Charlie Thu, 06 Jul 2006 16:11:00 +0000 http://clyonspardue.wordpress.com/2006/07/04/an-inconvenient-truth-2/#comment-265 It is true that I spend a lot of time on this blog taking shots at Nationalism, specifically amongst Christians. I do spend a lot more time criticizing the political right than I do the political left, and here's why. The political right pretend to be Christian. That makes their deceit so much more dangerous, because it is spirtitually poisionus.<br/><br/>Al Gore's movie didn't strike me as "leftist" or "liberal," but rather scientific. I don't see Global Warming as a "liberal" issue, it's just that liberals tend to care more about this than conservatives.<br/><br/>As far as being "desperate to prove that I'm no longer 'ultra conservative'," that's just not true. Anyone who knows me has no problem picking that up. I added a bit of my "history" to that post because it was pertinent to the post (ie-I had not approached Global Warming from a Christian point of view before, it was one of those things where my previous views still influenced my opinions of it). I am also not "trying my hardest to agree with anything in opposition [to ultra conservatives]." I am, however, trying to daily align myself with the politics of Jesus. Hillary Clinton and John Kerry are in "opposition" to these so-called Ultra-conservatives and believe me I'm not trying my hardedst to agree with them.<br/><br/>I think you mistake my mostly one-sided criticism of conservative evangelicals and the political "right" as a stand <b>with</b> the political left. That's just not true. I have a growing suspicion of the political co-opting of the language of Christianity on the left as well. Look at what Dems are doing with the help of Jim Wallis, they're "using" Chrisitan language as a tool for re-election.<br/><br/>Anyway, what I found so awesome about Gore's movie was the science and data and that it was a presentation of Global Warming that wasn't "liberal" but just made sense for those who care about creation. I thought it was prophetic to the Church. If Al Gore came out with a movie about drinking Pepsi over Coke because it's the "liberal" choice over and against the "Ultra-Conservative" Coke, you wouldn't find me "trying my hardest" to "desperately" agree with him just because he's on the other side. It is true that I spend a lot of time on this blog taking shots at Nationalism, specifically amongst Christians. I do spend a lot more time criticizing the political right than I do the political left, and here’s why. The political right pretend to be Christian. That makes their deceit so much more dangerous, because it is spirtitually poisionus.

Al Gore’s movie didn’t strike me as “leftist” or “liberal,” but rather scientific. I don’t see Global Warming as a “liberal” issue, it’s just that liberals tend to care more about this than conservatives.

As far as being “desperate to prove that I’m no longer ‘ultra conservative’,” that’s just not true. Anyone who knows me has no problem picking that up. I added a bit of my “history” to that post because it was pertinent to the post (ie-I had not approached Global Warming from a Christian point of view before, it was one of those things where my previous views still influenced my opinions of it). I am also not “trying my hardest to agree with anything in opposition [to ultra conservatives].” I am, however, trying to daily align myself with the politics of Jesus. Hillary Clinton and John Kerry are in “opposition” to these so-called Ultra-conservatives and believe me I’m not trying my hardedst to agree with them.

I think you mistake my mostly one-sided criticism of conservative evangelicals and the political “right” as a stand with the political left. That’s just not true. I have a growing suspicion of the political co-opting of the language of Christianity on the left as well. Look at what Dems are doing with the help of Jim Wallis, they’re “using” Chrisitan language as a tool for re-election.

Anyway, what I found so awesome about Gore’s movie was the science and data and that it was a presentation of Global Warming that wasn’t “liberal” but just made sense for those who care about creation. I thought it was prophetic to the Church. If Al Gore came out with a movie about drinking Pepsi over Coke because it’s the “liberal” choice over and against the “Ultra-Conservative” Coke, you wouldn’t find me “trying my hardest” to “desperately” agree with him just because he’s on the other side.

]]> By: The Buss http://www.chuckp3.com/2006/07/an-inconvenient-truth-2/#comment-264 The Buss Thu, 06 Jul 2006 04:06:00 +0000 http://clyonspardue.wordpress.com/2006/07/04/an-inconvenient-truth-2/#comment-264 I agree with a lot of what you say, but it's interesting in reading your blog that you try so desperately hard to discredit the whole "American nationalism" experience, and anything that comes from anywhere even close to the political right. Yet, when Al Gore comes out with this documentary, you eat the entire thing without even a hint of skepticism. <br/>And it's not that I'm trying to discredit this view, because I do believe that global warming is very real and very scary (for more propaganda on the whole thing, read a great book by Michael Crichton called "State of Fear"). I just wonder if you're so desperate to prove that you are no longer "ultra conservative" that you'll try your hardest to agree with anything in opposition. Just playing devil's advocate here, not attempting to draw you into any kind of argument. I agree with a lot of what you say, but it’s interesting in reading your blog that you try so desperately hard to discredit the whole “American nationalism” experience, and anything that comes from anywhere even close to the political right. Yet, when Al Gore comes out with this documentary, you eat the entire thing without even a hint of skepticism.
And it’s not that I’m trying to discredit this view, because I do believe that global warming is very real and very scary (for more propaganda on the whole thing, read a great book by Michael Crichton called “State of Fear”). I just wonder if you’re so desperate to prove that you are no longer “ultra conservative” that you’ll try your hardest to agree with anything in opposition. Just playing devil’s advocate here, not attempting to draw you into any kind of argument.

]]> By: Charlie http://www.chuckp3.com/2006/07/an-inconvenient-truth-2/#comment-263 Charlie Wed, 05 Jul 2006 15:49:00 +0000 http://clyonspardue.wordpress.com/2006/07/04/an-inconvenient-truth-2/#comment-263 Have you never heard the old parable about a frog that jumps into a pot of boiling water will jump out, but a frog that jumps into a pot of warm water that is then slowly heated up to a boiling won't jump out.<br/><br/>My correlation is that climate change happens gradually enough that even though it is far more dangerous than terrorism, we don't react with as swift a response because it is a gradual rather than explosive change. Have you never heard the old parable about a frog that jumps into a pot of boiling water will jump out, but a frog that jumps into a pot of warm water that is then slowly heated up to a boiling won’t jump out.

My correlation is that climate change happens gradually enough that even though it is far more dangerous than terrorism, we don’t react with as swift a response because it is a gradual rather than explosive change.

]]> By: Eric Lee http://www.chuckp3.com/2006/07/an-inconvenient-truth-2/#comment-262 Eric Lee Wed, 05 Jul 2006 15:33:00 +0000 http://clyonspardue.wordpress.com/2006/07/04/an-inconvenient-truth-2/#comment-262 I don't get the thing about the frog and the pot of boiling water. I don’t get the thing about the frog and the pot of boiling water.

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