By the way Hitchens claims to be an anti-theist, not an atheist.
Not sure where the difference lies! Some of the best atheists make
the best theologians! :-)
Stewart
At 11:28 PM 9/25/2007, you wrote:
Only recently have I begun to appreciate or even watch or pay
attention to religious figures as sources of great insight and
wisdom; particularly these mega preachers. Saw TJ Jakes (may have
his initials wrong) on a few shows, Dr. Phil yesterday, most
recently. Also, recent shows of Joel Osteen (Sundays, on Fox),
which I just stumbled on by accident. And other things, in various
religions, that are simply deeply profound wisdom. Just tonight, I
did the introductory class for a course I've devised on mental
health recovery, and mentioned some of these very inspirational
messages and messengers, and that if we continue to have this
course, I would like and plan to bring in videos or books of some of
these people or even live presenters (though probably not these
folks :)). I can see why people are so drawn to these
meg-preachers, and its not just because they are offering false
hopes or dreams, a la some of the more notorious tv preachers in the
past, like Jim and Tammy, etc. I think people are drawn to people
like Osteen because they sense that is saying something that is
true, even profound, and potentially of profound significance for their lives.
The irony is that I am as much of a nonbeliever as one can be, and
can probably out Hitchens or out Dawkins some of my critical
analysis of religion and how it functions in the world. But I am
only recently coming to see that there is a deeper, purely secular
wisdom that these religions and religious figures (including Jesus,
and I'm a non-believing Jew) say and said, even many millenia ago,
that is still incredibly relevant as can be to our present situation.
Now, since I had a secular epiphany some 8 months ago, I finally
realize that amazing learning, insight and wisdom is to be found all
around us and that anything or anyone can be a great teacher,
starting, first and foremost, with young children, who are the most
creative, most imaginative persons on the planet and the best
questioners. And the questions, imagination and creativity are not
all unrelated, either!
Randall
Rev. Stewart A. Marshall
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Prince of Peace
Ozark, AL SL 82
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