Readability

I got a couple of comments about the color scheme being a bit hard to read. So I have played with a few color changes. One was very readable, but it looked like the colors of an outfit I might pick out without consulting my daughters. So I tried another scheme, and I think it works pretty well. But then again, I picked the first one. So let me know what you think.

Making Killing a Habit: "Kill, Kill, Kill Without Mercy"

Research after World War II provided the U. S. military with troubling information. Although the research methods and data have been questioned, a very high rate of soldiers in WWII and previous wars seem to have been unwilling to fire weapons in a lethal manner at the enemy. In other words, they would either not shoot at all, or would shoot to intentionally miss the other soldiers.

In order to overcome this "weakness," the process of basic training took on a number of features to overcome what seems to be a natural unwillingness to kill others. One strategy is the use of mantras such as "Kill, kill, kill without mercy," as part of basic training.



A series of articles in the Colorado Springs Gazette, written by Dave Phillips, describes the high level of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and its violent consequences that have affected soldiers of the U. S. Army Infantry assigned to Fort Carson. These soldiers have been sent into some of the most violent and deadly warfare in Iraq. They have come back to commit murder in the U. S. at a rate 20 times their similar age cohort, which is already the most violent age group in the U. S. Their rate of committing murder in comparison to the full population of Colorado Springs is 114 times as great. These statistics are only for murder, but these soldiers are also committing other violent crimes, including domestic violence, and are caught up in substance abuse at dramatically high rates.

Much of my study and research includes trying to learn how to form Christians toward virtues of love, non-violence, peacemaking, patience, kindness, hunger for righteousness, justice, mercy, humility, etc. Here we see that such virtues are a hindrance to the military objectives of the state. The state-sponsored machine of violence teaches a different set of virtues: among them "Kill, kill, kill without mercy."

Economic Recovery for All

This is the fourth post in an ongoing series from my blog, "earth as it is in heaven," in which I am publishing the text of a theological statement on the economy issued by professors from eight theological schools in North Carolina. The statement is part of a campaign by Industrial Areas Foundation Affiliates east of the Mississippi River. The slogan is "10% Is Enough," referring to the need for a cap on consumer interest rates, a reinstitution of usury protection for borrowers. This section of the statement introduces basic theological concepts which underly the campaign. For analysis of causes and effects of the crisis, of the failure of the bailout, and further theological reflection, you can look at posts on "earth as it is in heaven" starting on July 23, 2009.

THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION ON THE ECONOMY
A Working Paper for North Carolina United Power
from an Interchange Among Theological Educators
July 2009

III. Faith Perspectives on Responding to the Crisis

A. Introduction

Among the most cherished biblical texts in the Christian scriptures is Jesus' teaching to his disciples concerning prayer in Matthew 6. Verse 12 says, “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” The same Greek word in this passage has historically been translated by both the English words “debts” and “trespasses.” The first translation affirms an economic obligation; the second implies a broader, metaphorical one. While both are theologically significant, the first has been underemphasized.

The background of this economic obligation appears in Deuteronomy 24:10-13. A lender must not take away a borrower’s essential items for survival as a pledge for a loan. A loan must serve the good of the whole community, both borrower and lender. When a family member or neighbor is in dire economic straits, biblical economics deems it wrong for a relative or neighbor to make a profit on their misfortune. If someone needs assistance, the command of the Torah affirmed by Jesus is that our hands ought always to be open to help the poor (Deut. 7 and John 12). The Sabbath Year and Jubilee Year laws insist that there is a limit to what a lender can demand from those who have fallen on hard times. This kind of mutuality is what God blesses and it is to be the material and economic shape of our earthly lives if they are to reflect existence as it is in heaven.

However, far from taking reasonable steps to assure the safety and security of borrowers in need, many banks (and hence, many businessmen and women of faith) currently are forcing people out on the street, refusing to share the impact of the loss of real estate values. In contrast to this scenario, Biblical economic principles demand shared risks and as shared opportunities for lenders and borrowers as well as limitation on lending so as to prevent usury.

TYAYA- Young Adults at Peace Camp 2009

It's the last night of peace camp 2009, and some of the young adults are hanging out and eating pizza. The youth service and open mike tonight were amazing. It's depressing to think that tomorrow we will all be departing to different places and it will be a whole year before we get to see each other again.

There were many wonderful things about peace camp this year (as there are every year). For example, hearing Kate Campbell and D.E. Adams sing together. Amazing. Especially for those of us who have grown up with their music.

I loved Rita Nakashima Brock's bible study on paradise (and Song of Songs, Ezekiel, and Revelation). I sometimes feel as if there is not much in the bible that speaks to me, or that I just don't want to deal with the violence and the mess. Then I come to peace camp and get to hear different interpretations, which aren't oppressive and problematic and at the same time have really solid historical, cultural, linguistic evidence supporting them, arguably more solid support than more traditional interpretations. I also loved Angela Yarber's 'discursive' on a passage from Song of Songs, which made this week's bible study the most sex positive, queer affirming bible study ever!!!

One thing that has been hard for me this week is that my parents were not able to be with us at peace camp; my dad was in a bus accident a few weeks ago while he was traveling with our church youth group to Passport. More about that here. He is still recovering back in Shreveport, and it will be a long slow process. But we have videos of parts of peace camp to bring back, and some cards that the BPFNA family signed, both for my dad and our home church.

btw, TYAYA is an acronym that stands for 'The Youth and Young Adults' (of the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America). It's not a very creative acronym but is really fun to say =)

Name This Blog!

Hello, readers. We have come up with a tentative name for our blog.

We like having "baptist" in the name as a way to find like-minded people from our tradition, which has so often forgotten our origins as a persecuted minority with a sharp-edged critique of the violence of empires. Out there among baptists we know there are many who share our longing for peace and justice and our eagerness to work for it.

We also like the word voices because it reminds us that there the Holy Spirit has called many, gifting each one, and expects us to listen to one another, so that every voice is heard and no voice is silenced. By such means, the Spirit has the greatest opportunity to guide us to do the work of God here and now.

The name we are using now is pretty straightforward, but also not particularly exciting. So give it some thought, and if you are so inclined, post some possible names for this blog site.