Colleagues List, February 9th, 2020

Vol XV. No. 27

Archive - Dec 2009 - Oct 2018                                                                                                  http://colleagueslist.blogspot.ca/ http://colleagueslistii.blogspot.com/

GLOBAL AND ECUMENICAL IN SCOPE
CANADIAN IN PERSPECTIVE

Wayne A. Holst, Editor
My E-Mail Address: waholst@telus.net 

This email is sent only to a voluntary subscriber list.
If you no longer wish to receive these weekly columns,
write to me personally - waholst@telus.net

*****

Dear Friends:

Thanks to colleague Robert Ellsberg, publisher of 
Orbis Books, Maryknoll, NY, I am able to share with
you the latest in the Modern Spiritual Masters Series -
by the American theologian Walter Rauschenbusch.

Those who want more background on how both church
and society have been influenced by the Social Gospel
movement of the early 20th century will like this one.

As usual, there is a lot more in this issue as well.

Wayne

PS A reminder. If a link, below seems to be dead, cut and
paste it into the address bar at the top of your web page
and it should work.

*****

SPECIAL ITEM

Book Notice -

WALTER RAUSCHENBUSCH -
Essential Spiritual Writings
Edited with an Introduction
by Joseph Fahy

Orbis Books, Maryknoll,  NY.
Modern Spiritual Masters Series
104 pages. $29.50 CAD. paper.
Kindle $14.25 CAD
ISBN #978-1-62698-346-5

Publisher's Promo:

Walter Rauschenbusch (1861-1918), a Baptist minister and
theologian in Rochester, New York, was the primary voice
of the Social Gospel movement in the United States in the
early twentieth century. The foundational insight of this
movement was that Jesus’ mission and message essentially
concerned establishing the Kingdom of God here on earth.

As Rauschenbusch noted, the “Our Father" - the only prayer
that Jesus taught us - challenged us to build the Kingdom        
"on earth as it is in heaven”

These writings had a large impact on a range of theologians
and ministers, including Martin Luther King, Jr., and they
prefigured many elements of liberation theology.
This collection will help introduce Rauschenbusch’s              
profound message to a new generation.

--

Rauschenbusch Bio (Wikipedia) 
https://tinyurl.com/wp2um6p

--

Fahey's Introduction:

Rauschenbusch and the Social Gospel are well known in most
Protestant denominations and some preach the Social Gospel
in their churches. But the man and his movement are not
commonly known in Catholic circles. Catholics were more
attuned to papal social gospel encyclicals.

And yet, Rauschenbusch's message continues to bear a
challenging and relevant message for today.

The core of the Social Gospel teaching was that Jesus's 
message and the mission of the Christian churches essentially 
concerned establishing the Kingdom of God here on earth.
Jesus lived and died reflecting this message.

The Social Gospel was a stern critique of capitalism as well
as a hearty defense of the exploited masses. The message
of Jesus was intended to radically transform the economic,
political and social structures of life here on earth.

The mission of the Christian church was to participate in
the creation of the Kingdom of God through the spiritual
transformation of Christians, who would actively participate
in progressive social change.

Although the Social Gospel has had considerable influence
in some aspects of the American church's life, capitalism
continues to foster greed and militarism in the 21st century.

Fortunately, there are enlightened capitalists and corporations
that pragmatically and morally recognize the need for safe
products, satisfied workers and a safe environment.

Nevertheless, there is still much work to be done in our time
to create an economic system that is worker-owned and
democratically controlled, a cause championed by the Social
Gospel a century ago.

The Social Gospel was a spiritual movement founded on 
the prayer of the Holy Spirit that seeks "to renew the face
of the earth." That message remains as fresh and urgently
needed as it was one hundred years ago...

While it would take a book in itself to document all the
scholars and activists that the Social Gospel influenced
during the last century an important Canadian follower of
Rauschenbusch needs to be mentioned. 

Tommy Douglas (1904-1986) was a Baptist minister, who,
as premier of Saskatchewan introduced Canada's single,
universal health care program among many other historic, 
progressive reforms. Douglas' seminary training under
the influence of Rauschenbusch and the Gospel became the
blueprint of his life in government service and he spent his
entire career dedicated to the cause of social justice.

A few other Rauschenbusch students include the names of 
Mohandas Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., Reinhold Niebuhr, 
Ron Sider, Desmond Tutu, W. A. Visser T'Hooft, Jim Wallis
and Cornell West.

Rauschenbusch would be justifiably proud of the progress
that the Social Gospel has made globally since his time.
So today, many American politicians now call themselves
democratic socialists. The term 'socialist' in American
politics was unheard of only a few generations ago.

Some Americans still consider their country the last great
bastion of capitalism, but global realities are catching up
with such thinking.

For those wanting biblical references to the coming of the
Kingdom of God on earth, a reading of the Synoptic Gospels -
Matthew, Mark and Luke - would serve as a good reminder.

- The Introduction interpreted

-

My Thoughts:

It is good to know that important dialogue on the meaning 
of the Social Gospel has been taking place between Catholics
and Protestants, Americans and Canadians, and between
the global constituencies of Europe, North America, Africa,
Asia and Latin America. This book helps to connect the dots.

What was once the discovery of one segment of the church
has become a global phenomenon affecting many societies.

It is important that persons of concern for justice - religious 
and otherwise - be reminded of where the first contemporary
flickers of the Social Gospel began to burn. I like the way
the thought of Rauschenbusch is presented as a spirituality.

I can't help but smile when I hear some of the American 
debate today about "Canadian socialism" as though it were
a bad thing. The richest nation of the world today needs to
pay more attention to one of its own - Walter Rauschenbusch.

Canadians and other "socialist" countries have a debt to
pay to that important American who has not gotten the
attention he deserves in our time. This book helps to
ground the Social Gospel in the life of Jesus and the church.

This book, new in the Orbis Spiritual Masters Series, deserves
attention, and among Christians in particular.
____

Buy the book from Amazon.ca:
https://tinyurl.com/te5hdt3

*****

COLLEAGUE CONTRIBUTIONS

Jim Taylor,
Okanagan. BC

Personal Web Log
February 6th, 2020

"The Rise of the Un-religious"
  https://tinyurl.com/s52q449

--

Ron Rolheiser,
San Antonio, TX

Personal Web Site
February 3rd, 2020

"Magnanimity"
  https://tinyurl.com/r9s2kl3

--

Philip Jenkins
Waco, TX

The Christian Century
February 3rd, 2020

"Daniel Ortega's Slide into
  Authoritarianism"
  https://tinyurl.com/vjkgnq7

--

John Stackhouse Jr.
Moncton, NB

Faith Today,
January 27th. 2020

"Will Christianity Disappear from Canada?"
  https://tinyurl.com/suzoaxx

*****

NET NOTES - February 9th, 2020

IS IT FAITHFUL TO FLEE AN EPIDEMIC?
Advice from Luther Concerning the Plague

Christianity Today,
January 30th, 2020

https://tinyurl.com/v6tfnqc

--

WHY DO THEY HATE US SO MUCH?
A Response to Anti-Semitism

Religion News Service,
February 4th, 2020

https://tinyurl.com/wj7s4b9 

--

RICHARD ROHR RE-ORDERS THE UNIVERSE
Christianity Not the Only "Way" He Says

The New Yorker,
February 2nd, 2020


https://tinyurl.com/wkaucjj


--

FRANKLIN GRAHAM VOWS TO DO UK TOUR
Even Though All Planned Venues Back Out

Religion News Service,
December 7th, 2020

https://tinyurl.com/uobmcvc

--

HALF OF US CHURCHES NOW
ENLIST ARMED SECURITY
It's Becoming Common to Carry Guns

Christianity Today
January 28th, 2020

https://tinyurl.com/vzg3zwo

--

AS EVANGELICALS GAIN, CATHOLICS
IN BRAZIL ON VERGE OF LOSING MAJORITY
Long-Term Trends Tell a Significant Story

National Catholic Reporter,
February 5th, 2020

https://tinyurl.com/quc4avt

--

ROMNEY CITES FAITH AS INSPIRING
HIS VOTE AGAINST TRUMP
Alone Among Republicans

Religion News Service,
January 5th, 2020
https://tinyurl.com/vfjpqh9

"When Religious Conviction Trumps Politics"

Religion News Service,
February 6th, 2020

https://tinyurl.com/u7rjyk6

--

CORONAVIRUS STIGMATIZES
CHINESE CANADIANS ONCE AGAIN
Repeat Racism After the SARS Crisis

Broadview,
February 4th, 2020

https://tinyurl.com/t9pmbb3

--

AFTER DECADES OF DEFEAT, EVANGELICALS
SEE TRUMP AS A WAY OF GETTING WHAT THEY WANT
Compromises are Less Important to Them than Their Gains

The Guardian.
February 1st, 2020

https://tinyurl.com/qnng9kp

*****

WISDOM OF THE WEEK 

Provided by Sojourners and the Bruderhof online:

The gospel is found wherever poor people struggle for justice,
fighting for their right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

- Rev. James H. Cone

--

Revolution is about the need to re-evolve political, economic
and social justice and power back into the hands of the people,
preferably through legislation and policies that make human
sense. That's what revolution is about. Revolution is not
about shootouts.

- Bobby Seale

--

How few things there are which can be proved! Proofs only
convince the mind. Who has ever been able to prove that
tomorrow will come, and that we shall die? And what could
be more generally believed?…In short, we must rely on faith
when the mind has once perceived where truth lies, in order
to quench our thirst and color our minds with a faith that
eludes us at every moment of the day.

- Blaise Pascal

--

Every day of our lives is like a precious diamond. We 

may have wasted countless days already in idle and 

selfish pursuits, so that they are now lost in the depths 

of the past. But let us at least awake now, see the 

value of the days that remain, and use them to acquire 

spiritual wealth. If we use them in selfless service to 

God and if we use them to warn others who are still

frivolously throwing away their days in pursuit of 

fleeting pleasures, then we will gain the boundless 

treasure of heavenly bliss.

- Sadhu Sundar Singh

--

There is no way to peace along the way of safety. For peace
must be dared, it is itself the great venture and can never be
safe. Peace is the opposite of security. To demand guarantees
is to want to protect oneself. Peace means giving oneself
completely to God’s commandment, wanting no security,
but in faith and obedience laying the destiny of the nations
in the hand of Almighty God, not trying to direct it for selfish
purposes. Battles are won, not with weapons, but with God.
They are won where the way leads to the cross.

- Dietrich Bonhoeffer

--

There is no scarcity. There is no shortage. No lack of love,
of compassion, of joy in the world. There is enough. There
is more than enough. Only fear and greed make us think
otherwise. No one need starve. There is enough land and
enough food. No one need die of thirst. There is enough
water. No one need live without mercy. There is no end
to grace. And we are all instruments of grace. The more
we give it, the more we share it, the more we use it, the
more God makes. There is no scarcity of love. There is
plenty. And always more.

- Rosemarie Freeney Harding

--

This terrible individualism must inevitably have an end, 

and all will suddenly understand how unnaturally they 

have separated themselves from one another. It will be 

the spirit of the time,and people will marvel that they 

have sat so long in darkness without seeing the light. 

And then the sign of the Son of Man will be seen in the 

heavens... But until then we must keep the banner flying. 

Sometimes, even if he has to do it alone and his conduct 

seems to be crazy, a man must set an example and so 

draw men’s souls out of their solitude and spur them to 

some act of brotherly love, so that the great idea may 

not die. -

Fyodor Dostoyevsky

*****

CLOSING THOUGHT - Eldridge Cleaver

The price of hating other human beings is loving oneself less.

(end)

*****

For those interested:

ST. DAVID'S ACTS  WINTER MONDAY NIGHT BOOK STUDY

A Ten Week Series January 13th - March 23rd, 2020

(Family Weekend exempted)
Monday Evenings, TM Room 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

"FUTURE FAITH - Ten Challenges Reshaping 

                              Christianity in the 21st Century"

Author: Wesley Granberg-Michaelson

Registration/Hospitality and Book: $60.00.
Book only: $25.00

37 copies of the book were made available for sale.

All are now sold. 

Total on-site registrations: 32

(plus 3 on-line participants). Grand Total: 35 to date.

Book Description - https://tinyurl.com/tybpxvd

Study Notes - https://tinyurl.com/wh5jbwq

***

ST. DAVID'S ACTS THURSDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY

Our theme this winter: 

"Jesus' Parables and Miracles" 

  (a total of 10 examples)

As recorded in Synoptic Gospels of Matthew, Mark and 
Luke and the Gospel of John

Ten Sessions - January 23rd-March 26th, 2020

Gathering at 9:30 AM in the St. David's TM Room

and meeting 10:00 - 11:00 AM.

No charge

Study resource -

"The DK Complete Bible Handbook"
  Edited by John Bowker

http://tinyurl.com/odxlv7q 

*****