Religion and Cognitive Science

Posted on July 9, 2007 by mcanaday

David Sloan, in his book, Theological Correctness: Why Religious People Believe What They Shouldn’t, says “Cognitive science provides the best method we have for understanding religious behavior. Religion is the way it is because the mind is the way it is. Theology does not determine people’s thoughts and actions.” This statement and the thesis of Sloan’s book challenges the Christian belief that our theology and life of faith informs all aspects of Christian behavior (pp. 51-54).

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Posted in philosophy, teaching, theology, world view | 4 Comments

All I Ever Wanted to Be

Posted on July 9, 2007 by jbennett

Let’s begin with a confession: All I ever wanted to be was a Sunday School teacher.  Not that my earliest experiences with Sunday School were positive ones.  Actually, I can’t remember a single teacher from those early years when my family’s interactions with churches were – – well, inconsistent.  Continue reading →

Posted in children, Christian Education, discipleship, Sunday school, vocation, world view | 1 Comment

Shameless self-promotion

Posted on July 8, 2007 by Israel Galindo

An article by Israel Galindo appears in the July 2007 (Vol. 25 NO. 7) issue of Baptists Today. The article appears on The Resource Page feature and is titled “A small group is not a class: understanding group math.”

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Baptists Today (July 2007 Vol. 25, No. 7)

The article is available for download at the above link. Be sure to see the other fine entries available on The Resource Page feature.

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Children’s ministry mission statements

Posted on July 7, 2007 by Israel Galindo

I’ve been doing a survey of children’s ministries in preparation for some new courses. I’ve been intrigued by the use of “mission statements” by children’s ministry programs in congregations. I’ve got mixed feelings about mission statements in general. As someone who has been involved in creating them in the corporate business setting and in congregational settings I’m skeptical that they are ever much more than an end product of the few who happened to participate in their creation. Soon the “mission statement” intended to be a guiding or defining force reflective of the entire organization becomes not much more than a pretty framed plaque or poster on the church foyer wall. Continue reading →

Posted in children, Christian Education, leadership | 1 Comment

The gospel according to the Terminator

Posted on July 6, 2007 by Israel Galindo

Parody is a touchy art. Especially when it comes to religious parody—one risks crossing the thin line between humor and the sacrilegious. I thought this was kinda funny. If it offends you please take responsibility for your own sensitivity and keep it to yourself. Continue reading →

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Transformation With Time

Posted on July 5, 2007 by GregR

This past weekend I headed off with Matthew, my 10 year old son, for a father-son weekend at Camp Piankatank. We’ve been for four years and we always look forward to it. We get to play sports, canoe, swim, practice our archery, swing from the ridiculously high V-Swing (I am afraid of heights) and even sleep for a few hours. The best part is being able to walk around, talk about things going on in our lives, and to share some of how we have changed in the past year. As I was driving down to camp, I thought back to all those years in youth ministry and how the most memorable moments took place when I was spending time with students outside of the regularly scheduled programming. Hanging out after worship, talking at the beach, working in a missions setting together, praying in my office, or just being together and sharing our lives. Continue reading →

Posted in children, discipleship, leadership, retreats | 2 Comments

World’s Greatest Christian Educators: JOHN WESLEY

Posted on July 5, 2007 by Israel Galindo

In the history of modern education, John Wesley (1703-1791) holds a special place when it comes to the religious education of children. Continue reading →

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Plus ca change…

Posted on July 4, 2007 by Israel Galindo

In moments of skepticism we often repeat that droll phrase, “Plus ca change, plus ce la meme chose” (the more things change, the more they stay the same). One of the perplexing questions that grow out of Bowen Family Systems Theory (BFST) is, “How can people change?” This is a legitimate question given what we interpret the theory to say about the power of homeostasis, the power of multigenerational transmission, and the tenacity of (learned or acquired) patterned ways of emotional process that leave us with, at the least, an automatic reactive way of dealing with life and relationships. Indeed, the seeming determinism of BFST related to human emotional systems, and their capacity to change, tends to be one of the things that puts off people when first introduced to the theory. Continue reading →

Posted in bowen family systems theory, personal growth | 1 Comment

Church Council or Christian Education Council

Posted on July 3, 2007 by mcanaday

Many years ago, I developed a relationship with an older church member who resided in a local Baptist retirement community. This friend taught me how to make kitchen clocks using skillets. One of the first questions he asked was, “How do we find the center of the skillet?” Well, my mathematical aptitude on that issue was on the level of throwing darts at a target—hoping that I would come close. After I was told how it should be done, he taught me how to drill the skillet, how to protect it from rust, how to find the proper positions of the numbers, how to paint it, how to make many clocks in a production line, etc.

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Posted in administration, assessment, Christian Education, humor, leadership | 1 Comment

I want to be unfriendly and irrelevant

Posted on July 3, 2007 by Israel Galindo

In a previous post (“Communion Rant”) we talked about the penchant of certain preachers for “explaining” communion. Some argue that it is necessary because, they reason, some people in the congregation, and especially visitors and the recently unchurched, do not understand the meaning of the ritual.

Here are two pieces that help address our penchant for cognitive “understanding” and how it is related to matters of faith, and the counterintuitive ways in which faith is acquired and needs to be inculcated. Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Education, discipleship, ecumenical, sermons, teaching, worship | Comments Off on I want to be unfriendly and irrelevant