Religion & Media Day 2

Dr. Hess said in class today, "Sadly we are more likely to connect our world to our film database than we are to connect to our faith database," or something like that. I know. Not the best practice of journalism ethics, but I'm disclosing my possible error so that makes it OK, right? 

This statement struck me very personally today. But let me get back to the beginning. We started by viewing this popular TV commercial,

While I can't say everyone understands the film or musical reference in this commercial, most do. Our mental catalogues of music, pop culture, and TV contain long pages full of information. Meanwhile, most of us laypeople have just one page or two of Biblical or faith based knowledge. 

I have to admit, I felt terrible. My bible knowledge proved inadequate. Eventually a text did come, but not without really struggling.

The final step in this exercise was to determine, "What is God calling me to do?"  What action is now required of me after looking theologically into this commercial's content, and into the scripture that my brain had connected to it?

Well it is, of course, complicated, but the gist is that I need to work on some familial relationships.

But how did God speak to me through this entire exercise? Through my feelings of inadequacy? What do I need to do now??

BIBLE STUDY BIBLE STUDY BIBLE STUDY.

Relgion & Media Day 1

Seminary - Round 2.

This go 'round I will be concentrating on the convergence of media and religion. Given my background in journalism and entertainment production, I am extremely excited for the opportunity to join these two areas of my life.

Class started today. The Religion & Media Keynote course, with Dr. Largen of LTSG, and Dr. Mary Hess of Luther Seminary. I have high hopes that because the class is so small, we will have excellent, fruitful discussions.

Our backgrounds vary, but much to my surprise I'm the only one not pursuing ordained parish ministry. [meaning no, I won't be a pastor!] I hope that this doesn't prove to create an atmosphere of exclusivity, as it has for me in the past. Sometimes, though not in an intentionally harmful way, professors have a habit of speaking in terms of parish ministry, or by using the phrase "as ordained leaders..." In the spirit of inclusivity they may say "as future church leaders" instead. While I appreciate this effort, it too implies a role within the church [small c] verses Church [big C]. Or, maybe, its just the unfortunate way that I hear it.

I feel ministry is everywhere. God's Church is everyone. No matter what I do in life, as a grocery store cashier, a stage builder, a lighting tech, or a non-profit communications director, I believe I am working in God's kingdom.

A few months back I started receiving a Christian financial magazine title, "Do Well." I have NO idea how I started receiving it, but I found the first two issues insightful. When I moved back to Gettysburg I didn't think it would follow. So in the mailbox today comes the newest issue. I opened it, and saw this:

Oooo media, religion, and my personal theology, right there on the first page.

To add another layer to the timely-and-accurate cake, the editor references Gettysburg -

"After the battle of Gettysburg in the Civil War, Union general George Mead telegraphed President Abraham Lincoln to inform him that his army had "driven the enemy from our soil." Legend has it that Lincoln responded, 'It's all our soil."

Let me stop now before I go into how to verify references and gain accuracy regarding a "legend."