Emerging Christian - My story of evolving faith - Peter J. Walker

Ebert: On Glenn Beck

2010-03-16T21:05:00.002-07:00

"Jesus was a Nazi. So's your preacher" Have I mentioned how MUCH I enjoy Roger Ebert's blog? The man lost his capacity to speak, and it's ignited writing endeavors more prolific than ever. On Sunday, Ebert wrote a post about Glenn Beck's recent - ridiculous - tirades against social justice: Pretty near everything Glenn Beck says strikes me as absurd, but he scored a perfect 10 when he

Jim Wallis challenges Glenn Beck; Falwell Jr. to the rescue!

2010-03-13T13:58:00.007-08:00

On our friend Glenn Beck: a challenge from Jim Wallis, and support from [surprise!] Jerry Falwell Jr.CNN.com reports:"He's afraid of being challenged on his silly caricatures," Wallis says. "Glenn Beck talks a lot when he doesn't have someone to dialogue with. Is he willing to talk with someone who he doesn't agree with?"Beck did not answer numerous requests for an interview.But a prominent

Tell Glenn Beck: I'm a Social Justice Christian

2010-03-11T18:43:00.003-08:00

Glenn Beck recently told his listeners to leave any church that teaches social justice, and to report its pastor to church authorities. Yeah, the guy's a dick.Since I'm a Christian who believes in the biblical call to social justice, I invite you join me in "reporting" yourself to Glenn Beck, and letting him know that the biblical call to social justice is good news--not fodder for "code word"

"Outstanding Among the Apostles" - What's your choice?!

2010-03-10T21:40:00.005-08:00

Some of us were discussing Romans 16 in class last weekend, as evidence that Paul's teaching on women was inconsistent at best, and probably downright contradictory. Romans 16 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church in Cenchreae. I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of his people and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has

"Don't Stereotype Asian American Men"

2010-03-06T17:00:00.002-08:00

A friend of mine shared this video with me. Thought you might enjoy...

"I AM A WOMAN AND MY BLOOD CRIES OUT"

2010-03-05T13:00:00.002-08:00

I came across this poem in my readings on images of Christ among Asian women. The poem is written by Gabriele Dietrich, a theologian in India. It is devastating, beautiful, and took my breath away by the end of the first stanza.The Blood of a Woman Hiroshima Day Gabriele DietrichI am a womanand my bloodcries out:Who are youto deny lifeto the life givers?Each one of youhas come from the

Bill Cosby Trumps Black Theology (because he's safe for whites)

2010-03-04T12:18:00.010-08:00

In my post on Black Theology from late last night, I received an interesting comment:pastormack said...Who gets to decide what "black questions" are? One black theologian? In practice, African-American academics can have a narrower orthodoxy than the most stringent whities out there. Just ask Bill Cosby.This is one problem with contextual theologies. Who gets to decide what "black" or "hispanic"

God of the Oppressed: White Context

2010-03-03T23:13:00.004-08:00

I skip around a lot. If you wonder how I manage to read so much, then I've fooled you. I skip and skim and flip and co-opt (to my own agendas) every title and text that catches my eye. The only books I actually finish [mostly finish] are those I'm assigned to for classes.This term, I have some self-directed reading for my Biblical Theology class. There are so many TYPES of biblical theology (

"The Son of a Panther..." Should I follow? Can I?

2010-02-27T12:04:00.011-08:00

As I'm flipping through Michael Eric Dyson's Holler If You Hear Me: Searching for Tupac Shakur again, this passage stuck out to me:Contrary to the caustic criticism he later received, Tupac was not drawn to the Panthers because of their stylized violence, their hypermasculinized images, or their alluring social mystique. His attraction to the Black Panthers was a practical attempt to answer

Neutrality Plays Into the Hands of the Powerful

2010-02-23T20:58:00.007-08:00

I have a temper. And a big mouth. I'm 5'11'' now (not TALL, but not short) but I was incredibly short growing up. And my voice didn't change till I was almost 17. I was a real "Napoleon." I used to think that it somehow made me "more of a man" to always push back, always fight, always yell and swear and make a scene. To not back down or give in.I can't BELIEVE how many times I almost got

We're Adding a Second Cat: "Karl!"

2010-02-20T22:13:00.002-08:00

Many of you have expressed appreciation for Dot's calm, civilized demeanor as he observes our EmergingChristian.com video webcasts from the couch behind me. We recently adopted Karloff (Karl) and will be implementing him as a new member of the Emerging Christian team.I hope you enjoy!

Adele & Me: Video Finale - "Keep Deconstructing!"

2010-02-19T21:41:00.004-08:00

Adele and I wrap things up by discussing the importance of CONTINUAL deconstruction - avoiding equilibrium and the illusion of comfort! Make sure to watch the whole thing - I offer a real, powerful, 80s, Evangelical tribute to our friendship - CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN MUSIC-style!!!

Long time since last post...

2010-02-17T21:57:00.003-08:00

Hang in there with me.I hate how my blog traffic drops SEVERELY when I don't post at least every other day. Ah well. That's being a student. I'm completely overwhelmed right now with Church History II and Biblical Theology. GREAT classes - GREAT readings - but oh-so-much.And I am a slow, slow reader.On Saturday, Jen and I visited a small gathering of "anarchist" Christians in Portland,

The Debt: What America Owes to Blacks

2010-02-13T14:01:00.003-08:00

I read Randall Robinson's The Debt: What America Owes to Blacks seven or eight years ago, and have been thumbing through it again lately as I'm reading some of Michael Eric Dyson's work.In the introduction, Robinson writes: "Solutions to our racial problems are possible, but only if our society can be brought to face up to the massive crime of slavery and all that it has wrought." (7)More

Quit Talking About Your Penis & Your Balls!!!

2010-02-10T22:09:00.011-08:00

I listen to liberal talk radio.I know that's problematic. There is too much spin on both ends of the left-right political spectrum, and the only thing that really "sells" on radio is naive, hyped, frothing-at-the-mouth extremism. But what really bugs me more than blind, shameless politicking (of which I am certainly guilty) are the chauvinist "call-outs," slams and rants of both MALE AND FEMALE

"Revelation" Through Online Fellowship: Adele Interviews Me - pt. 8

2010-02-06T19:38:00.001-08:00

Adele asks me what I think about "online fellowship" - is it legitimate? I think so, and it's going to change the world faster than ever before (that could be bad or wonderful!) ...

"I've Met Jesus (And He's Nothing Like You)"

2010-02-03T20:33:00.003-08:00

Rhiannon sent me the link to this great glam rock music vid on YouTube!It's Justin Hawkins of The Darkness...

The Lost Supper...

2010-02-02T20:44:00.001-08:00

I LOVE it!!!

Michael Eric Dyson: On Postmodernism

2010-02-01T12:49:00.002-08:00

I'm exploring The Michael Eric Dyson Reader, a collection of writings and essays by the academic, author and minister. On postmodernity, Dyson writes: Postmodernism has enjoyed a thrilling if problematic run as a leading intellectual and cultural movement among some (mostly liberal or progressive) academics. Postmodernism is composed of a complex, even ambiguous, set of ideas and practices,

Remember that time when God almost killed Moses?

2010-01-31T14:34:00.004-08:00

You don't? Me either. What the hell?!Exodus 4:19-2619 Now the LORD had said to Moses in Midian, "Go back to Egypt, for all the men who wanted to kill you are dead." 20 So Moses took his wife and sons, put them on a donkey and started back to Egypt. And he took the staff of God in his hand. 21 The LORD said to Moses, "When you return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders

Queer & Christian with Adele: Interview 7!

2010-01-29T16:00:00.001-08:00

Here, Adele shares more of her painful experiences with ex-gay ministries, how she attended Pat Robertson's Regent University (TRULY!), and how these experiences nearly led her to suicide...In the next segment, Adele will ask ME a few questions!Stay tuned,Peter

My Response to Elly

2010-01-27T21:38:00.005-08:00

Dear Elly,Sorry it's taken me so long to respond!I know exactly how you feel about not knowing who is "safe" to be a heretic around. I'm lucky to have a wife who's even more heretical than me! And for the most part, my seminary has been a safe place to ask some of the questions I'm asking... Our family and church backgrounds are strikingly similar. I was home schooled until high school,

Elly: Questioning Christianity-of-Origin, Part 2

2010-01-27T13:00:00.000-08:00

In yesterday's post I introduced you to Elly. In this second-half of her post, Elly gets into some specific questions.The last section ended:I feel judgment when I go to church with my family - judgment that I majored in Dance - a pagan interest for sure, judgment that I'm a vegetarian, that I practice yoga, that I'm not married yet, that I left the Midwest, and on and on. It's nothing I want

Elly: "I can't accept Christianity I was raised with..."

2010-01-26T20:40:00.003-08:00

An online reader, Elly, sent me an e-mail several weeks ago that I finally got around to responding to (sorry Elly!). It cuts to the heart of so much that so many of us have struggled with - and perhaps continue to struggle with - in "sorting out" what exactly we believe in an evolving cultural and spiritual context. Thought you might enjoy the conversation!Thanks Elly!* * *Hi Peter,I've been

Adele & Me: "Is there any gray here?"

2010-01-24T20:33:00.002-08:00

In this segment, Adele is INCREDIBLY patient and tolerant with me as I dig into possibilities of gray area in a subject that is so deeply personal to her. Please understand that I would NOT ask these questions in casual conversation with someone who didn't already have some relational foundation with me. It's easy for "outsiders" to try to talk "objectively," and I'm often guilty of that. For