Post 18--The Dalai Lama Phenomenon

When the Dalai Lama comes to Vancouver, the city goes wild, for many regard him the personification of positive spirituality, a spiritual hero. If Vancouver has any need, it surely is positive spirituality, what with the dominance of a strongly secular worldview directing the city’s affairs. I interpret the eager popular embrace of this monk as a sign of spiritual thirst in the city due to the barren spirituality of secularism.  Whenever he comes, the city goes all agog. 

This was not his first visit. He was in town in 2004. I wrote a letter at that time to the editor of a local newspaper, Georgia Straight, which they published. Though with some changes and updates, I reproduce part of that letter here:

The main message in The Georgia Straight (GS) is about the Dalai Lama’s teaching of the “warm heart,”  a concept that is described as one of his core convictions.  The concept is part of his central message here in Vancouver.  The Dalia has turned this into a major discussion topic in relationship to education.  Modern education needs to be rebalanced by joining emphasis on the mind to the warm heart.  Students in BC’s highschools, UBC and SFU are now encouraged to participate in an essay-writing contest on the subject.  The idea is so important in his scheme, in fact, that Buckley, the author of the GS article ends his story with the prediction that the concept of the warm heart may well become the monk’s greatest legacy. Something that important is obviously worthwhile discussing.

Victor Chan of UBC’s Institute of Asian Research, one of the main organizers of the Dalai’s visit, explained what can happen when that warm heart is missing.  The most catastrophic example is that of 9/11. It was a case of highly intelligent and highly technical people who did not have the input from the warm heart.  As a result, they used their knowledge “in a very destructive way.”  That insight he apparently learned from his august visitor.

The example reminds me of the Biblical story of the fall, the event where the warm heart was replaced by an egotistic, cold and calculating heart. That distorted heart, though it did not prevent further developments in technology and art, now led to putting further developments to egotistic use, in the service of  human beings who now were now mainly concerned with their own reputation and greatness.  In both stories the heart plays a central role in the development of life and community and it makes all the difference whether that heart is warm, turned towards God, or whether it steers people and cultures into directions that produce monsters like concentration camps, 9/11, and other forms of terrorism.   

Here we have, of course, the reason various religions set up their own educational systems: to ensure a “warm” heart that leads to compassion and all other positive components that go into a humane society. The secular public educational system has eliminated that warm heart.  It is more than interesting that public funds will now apparently be expended to promote the warm heart concept, surely a deeply religious concept. With secularism now seen as wanting and along with it public education, it suddenly appears that the myth of separation of religion and government itself is now beginning to explode. Well, that would be a great gain from this visit.  

It is peculiar that it takes a foreigner to jump start a conversation on this subject, when Christians and other religions all around us have been saying this all along!  Thanks, Dalai, for trying to put our secular society back on track!  Perhaps your presence will help lift some of the fog from our secular minds.  If it takes one from afar like you to make us listen to what locals have been repeating over and over again, well, so be it!  However, the people of Vancouver should ask themselves why they plug their ears to a similar message from their own indigenous institutions.  Could it be a case of undisguised secular prejudice?

Post 17 Religion vs Science/Evolution?

As promised, we’re back to science/evolution and religion today. You see today’s heading. There is, of course, a long history of the relationship between the two, all the way from supportive to hostile. I published a small book some years ago that contains two essays on the subject. One is my 70-page translation of an essay by Abraham Kuyper; the other, an 80-page chapter on this subject by yours truly. These have gone through two printings and now are available as ebooks. I encourage you to access this material.

          Title of the Kuyper chapter:  “You Can Do Greater Things than Christ.”

           Title of my own chapter:  “Science without Faith Is Dead.”

The paper editions being out of print, you can now access these two chapters free of charge from my ebook publisher under the title Faith, Science, Miracles, Islam: Four Kuyperian Essays at the following address:

http://www.lulu.com/shop/abraham-kuyper-and-jan-h-boer/faith-science-miracles-islamfour-kuyperian-essays/ebook/product-20929893.html

To access them, though free of charge, you need to go through the entire purchase protocol. That is to say, push the cart through to the cash register as if you are intending to buy. You even have to establish an account with www.lulu.com as is required of any customer by every online publisher. But don’t worry, at the end your bill will be an exact $00.00. And while you’re perusing those documents, take a look at some other free < jan h boer > publications on the same website. You will find plenty there to keep you reading for a long, long time!   

Some people have difficulty accessing them. If you do, feel free to contact me at
                                   <  boerjf@hotmail.com  >.

These two essays pretty well represent my basic perspective on the question of religion vs science/evolution. Though fundamentalists among scientists and their counterparts in religion sharply oppose and berate each other, you will find alternative positions in these essays that accept both as mutually supportive, though not in their extreme fundamentalist forms. 

Well, didn’t get much farther today, but we’ll keep plugging away on the subject. You are now in a position to access wider discussions on our topic, within which these posts are offered you. These posts can well be regarded as summaries of those essays. So, read them if you have time, for then you will be able to follow these blogs more easily, perhaps predict them even.  

Postscript
 
This postscript has been added to this post on the day I write Post 18. However, this post (17) is written during a time of considerable turmoil in Canada. For one thing, the Dalai Lama is visiting Vancouver and, secondly, there's been some terrible terrorist activities in the country. So, I decided that, since both science and religion will be around for a long time and can always be discussed, when important events like those two occur, I cannot postpone commenting on them. So, next post on the Dalai Lama. Then, the recent terrorist attacks and then back to science and religion--if some other important developments don't intervene.  If nothing else, according to the Dutch proverb, "Verandering van spijs doet eten." That is to say a change in diet keeps things from getting dull and encourages eating.  Not sure that's always true, but in this case, a handy sentiment.

Post 16--Thanksgiving 2014

Post 15 contains the promise that the next few posts will deal with the thorny issue of “evolution vs creation.”  I have every intention of carrying out that promise, except that at the time of writing I had a senior moment and forgot that Thanksgiving was just a few days ahead. So, a disruption, but not a broken promise. I do fully intend to continue with that earlier subject, but Thanksgiving is too important to pass over silently.

American readers, if you check out the date of this post, you will see it is too early for your Thanksgiving celebration, but this is a Canadian blog to which I invite you. Canadian Thanksgiving is held on the second Monday of October. 

I wonder if you, my American friends, notice anything different about this post. If I were an American, I would not even mention the Canadian version; just skip over it; not even be aware of it. That’s because you are so many that you tend not to notice the rest of the world, let alone a northern neighbour with less than one-tenth of your population. We may be slightly bigger geographically, but population wise we hardly count. So you blithely ignore our Thanksgiving version like so many other things. We Canadians, on the other hand, are all too conscious of the elephant south of us and can hardly avoid noticing all she does. So, like any good Canadian, I cannot help but alert you to the different dates for Thanksgiving; I simply cannot avoid it. We tend to think continentally; you,  nationally.  

But here I am, spending precious Thanksgiving time on a major cultural difference between our two nations. Sorry about that, but it had to get out! This leaves me with only a little space left for one thanksgiving thought.

Douglas Todd draws our attention to a number of recent books about thanksgiving and related attitudes like contentment, written by psychologists. These writers emphasize the effects of gratitude on our health and happiness. Todd points out that these studies show that grateful people “on average, have lower stress levels, lower blood pressure, more satisfying relationships, higher grades, smoke less, get in fewer arguments, feel a stronger sense of community and are more likely to donate money or volunteer their time.”

Though religious and spiritual people appear more inclined towards gratitude, even non-religious folk share it, which indicates that “the spirit of Thanksgiving is universal.”  That conclusion should not surprise us, for we are created to praise and thank God. That’s one of the fundamentals of life, inherent to us.  To the extent that this attitude diminishes amongst us or even disappears, to that extent life and culture become more harsh and brutal, not to say barbaric. 

So, it is no surprise that scientists have made this discovery, but a people that have their noggins straight have known this secret all along: Gratitude is one of life’s fundamentals. It should come natural to all of us. Happy thanksgiving—throughout the year.  To God, that is, the Creator and Giver of it all.

(Douglas Todd, Vancouver Sun, Oct. 11/2014, p. A3)

Post 15--Evolution Endangered?

The subject of today’s title has been bandied back and forth for well over a century.  If we expand it by replacing “evolution” with the term “science,” it has been with us for many centuries, at least ever since that famous ancient North African Christian philosopher/theologian St. Augustine (354-430 AD) was making waves and laid the foundation of a Christian world view during the fourth and fifth centuries.
I hope to devote a few posts to this subject—or should that be plural: “subjects?”  A blog is not the place to come to final conclusions about such major topics, but I would like to just talk about and share with you a few thoughts of mine on the subject.

There are at least two reasons for picking up this subject at this particular time. Apart from the fact that I have long-standing interest in the subject, recently two papers I read regularly have featured articles on it, both written by Christians. One by a Reformed writer; the other by a more liberal one, namely, Douglas Todd of Vancouver Sun fame. 
Todd’s article is entitled “Is belief in evolution endangered?” Of course, it is quite possible that it is not Todd’s title of choice, but that it was imposed by his editor. However, my immediate reaction was, “Come on!  Nonsense!  This majority position is firmly established!” Todd refers to it as “the established scientific view.” True, historically established viewpoints and institutions have been overthrown. So, this one could be as well. But though there is considerable opposition to it, I do not foresee that it will lose its privileged position any time soon. Embattled? Opposed? Resisted? Reviled? All of that, yes, but endangered? No way.  

I am not arguing that I don’t want it endangered!  I believe it might be good for it to be endangered, for too many of its adherents are all too dogmatic about it and intolerant. Given a chance, most of them in academic and scientific circles would love nothing better than to exclude opponents of evolution from their spheres, just have them shushed away into think air, vanish.  It is indeed an “established” perspective that brooks no more opposition than did/do religions with establishment status both in the past and in the present.  Like established religions, it has led to persecution and exclusion of others. I have read any number of stories of people who have been forced out of their academic environments for being politically incorrect. An establishment tends towards smugness and complacency; it becomes lazy and comes to regards its position as representing “common sense” that should not require defense. And it should be supported by the larger established institutions, including universities and governments.  

No, the next few articles will represent neither rejection of certain forms of evolution nor advocate creationism. But I do welcome serious challenges to the evolutionary establishment in favour of a more open, tolerant and pluralistic approach that will allow room for other viewpoints, including both creation and creationism.  

If that distinction puzzles you, well, stick with me and you’ll understand.

Post 14--Is this Hollywood's 'Year of the Bible'?

Post 14--Is this Hollywood's 'Year of the Bible'?
 
Hello, I’m back after many months.  Been doing a lot of things during this time, but mainly busy writing, publishing and distributing stuff I have either written or translated. (Also snuck in a month-long RV trip from Vancouver BC—Mountain View CA for family reasons.) I have finally completed the major writing projects of my life and am now more ready to be serious about shorter stuff like blogs and magazine articles. That implies a promise to be more faithful in serving you with my blogs. Might you have heard this promise before?!

As to those writings, I will tell you more about them in future blogs. In the meantime, do yourself a favour by checking them out at < www.lulu.com >, where you can not only see them but actually purchase them—for the grand price of $00.00 each! Just keyboard in my name as <jan h boer> and you’re on your way to a great reading experience.

I will explain that 0 price later, but in the meantime, just take advantage of it. Let me assure you it’s not because they are worthless or of poor quality. They are indeed priceless—with pun fully intended.                            

For today, I am treating you to an article published by Dr. Jim Denison in his newsletter on the < Denision Forum on Truth & Culture > that you can access on  <   comments @denisonforum.org > of January 20, 2014. Here goes with many thanks to Dr. Jim:

The movie Son of God premieres on February 28.  The film is taken from the History Channel's hit 2013 miniseries The Bible.  Noah will hit theaters in March, with Russell Crowe in the lead.  Debuting in April is Heaven is for Real, in which Greg Kinnear plays a father whose son claims that he went to heaven.  In December, Christian Bale will play Moses in Exodus, while Mary will debut that same month.

And there's more to come in 2015.  Will Smith may direct a Cain and Abel movie, while Brad Pitt may play the title role in Pontius Pilate.  Is Hollywood getting religion?

Probably not.  Only two percent of those who work in the movie industry go to church.  Woody Allen, who recently received a Golden Globes lifetime achievement award, once said he would tell a believer, "poor thing, you really are deluded."  Angeline Jolie says, "There doesn't need to be a God for me."  Bill Maher calls religion "insanity by consensus" and claims that "all religious people have a neurological disorder."  Bruce Willis is convinced that "modern religion is the end trail of modern mythology."

Why, then, are we seeing so many biblical movies?

You thought immediately of money, and you're right.  Mark Burnett and Roma Downey's The Bible was the third most-watched cable series or miniseries last year; its DVD was the fastest-selling disc in the last five years.  The Ten Commandments and Ben-Hur together made more money than Avatar, The Dark Knight, and Transformers, combined.  As Hollywood continues looking for blockbusters, it knows it will have a ready-made, ticket-buying fan base if it brings biblical stories to the screen.

But I think there's more to the story.  Consider Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City.  When Tim Keller started the church in 1989, there were only nine thousand evangelical Christians in all of central Manhattan.  In the 25 years since, nearly 100 new churches have been planted and the faith population in one of the most unchurched cities in America has nearly quadrupled.  Keller speaks to 5,400 people every Sunday.

What's their secret?  "Most people believe that Redeemer has grown because of our commitment to intellectual life and our sophistication," Keller says.  "That's not it at all.  Our core message is simply the grace of God in the gospel.  I integrate into every sermon the grace of God in the person of Jesus.  Everything else is ornamental."

This hunger for the God of grace is universal.  How could it not be?  We were designed to need food, and will hunger for it until the day we die.  In the same way, we were designed to need our Designer: "Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord" (Deuteronomy 8:3).  Jesus told his disciples, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work" (John 4:34).

Your soul is hungry for the same food—what will you feed it today?  The next person you meet is just as hungry as you are—what will you offer him?

Post 13--Should Vaccination Be Compulsory?

There’s been a flu epidemic in BC recently that Government health authorities are trying to counter with vaccination, preferably of everyone. My wife and I have taken the shot annually since my return to BC in 2001. 

However, there are those who refuse the offer; some for religious reasons; others, for personal reasons.  Just a few days ago, a hospital worker in Grand Forks, BC, was fired for refusing vaccination. His reasons were personal: he does not believe it is effective; a person should have the right to refuse. He also rejected wearing a mask, for it gives him a feeling of suffocating (Vancouver Sun, 24 Apr/2014). 

There are also some Christian denominations that reject vaccination, seeing it as human unbelieving resistance to God’s protection. It so happens that the fired employee and some of those denominations come from the same stock I do: Dutch emigrants.  Hoekstra, that employee, does not appeal to religion, at least, not in the report I have read, but he does display that Dutch stubbornness and insistence on principles come what may, for which my people are well known. At least one of those refusing denominations are of the Dutch Reformed family of churches, of which I, too, am a member, though one less conservative. So, I should be well wired to understand their rejection of vaccination.  Understand, perhaps, but agree, no!

If you study the lives of the members of such a denomination, you will find that all through their lives they take precautions against all sorts of threats and dangers. They intervene in the course of both nature, God’s nature, and technology at many fronts. They have brakes on their bikes, cars and farm machinery to prevent accidents.  Why then no intervention to prevent sickness?  I suspect they subject themselves to medical surgery. I am sure they intervene in the darkness by the use of electricity. As a fellow Reformed Christian, as wired as I am, I simply do not understand their selective refusal to intervene. 

As to Hoekstra, he perhaps should have the personal right to refuse vaccination, but only under a certain condition. The authorities did right when they fired him and prevented any further contact with hospital patients and staff.  In fact, he and his fellow objectors, along with their live-in families, should be quarantined in their homes so as not to infect and endanger the general public. They should be isolated till the epidemic has past. 

I am no specialist in health issues, but I do know that refusal to accept polio vaccination in certain Muslim regions has led to the recurrence of that disease.  Recurrence only in countries where the people refused to be vaccinated. Would Hoekstra argue that this is a coincidence? Come on. Spare me.  

Modern medicine is a precious gift from God. It will not do for us to despise or reject it, even though it has its problems. Abraham Kuyper, a role model to many Reformed, would regard medical science as part fulfillment of Jesus’ promise to lead us into the truth and, in fact, that we will do greater things than He Himself did (John 14:12). 

Post 12--Ottawa Prayer Warriors

Post 12—Ottawa Prayer Warriors

In the churches with the term “Reformed” in their name, like the Christian Reformed Church and others, there has been a tradition of regularly praying for those in authority.  This is not for just any authority, but specifically for governmental authority, including the government itself. Whether this tradition is still adhered to faithfully every Sunday, I doubt. 

The tradition is based especially on the New Testament passage:

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, ...(I Timothy 2:1-4).

Now the language may not exactly be ours, but the meaning is quite obvious, it seems to me. We are all to pray for those in government, for we all know that the difficulties and temptations they face are many. The media make sure we are aware of them, particularly when they succumb.    

There is the National House of Prayer (NHOP) in Ottawa that encourages Canadians to so pray. In a recent circular, the Director, Rob Parker, a Baptist, wrote about their expanding programme that I am going to share with you by quoting part of this document. He wrote,

Many people are calling this year “The Year of Open Doors” and there is indeed a sense of the Lord adding some new directions to the existing mandate of NHOP. For example:

Legislative Prayer Watch—In anticipation of connecting with each Province, we are creating a map of Canada, which will highlight all of our Provincial and Territorial Capitals and with the click of a button be able to see the top 5 Prayer Points for that province’s Legislative needs. These will be updated monthly with the goal of not only helping to benefit strategic intercession of that province or territory, but to effectively communicate this governmental prayer need to the entire nation. I’m sure we all realize that the Provincial “Door” is one that is certainly being targeted in regards to changing laws in our land. It is our hope that this initiative will be effective in raising awareness of what is legislatively taking place provincially and an effective tool for networking prayer nationally.

International NHOP – God seems to be addressing the need to begin to formulate a template of seeing the model of NHOP become duplicated in various nations. India, Burundi, Rwanda, Holland, Ukraine, Germany, England, China and some others, are all real possibilities of seeing this happen. We are now anticipating international interns to begin coming to NHOP for three months to learn first-hand the strategies that God has shown us here in Ottawa. This is exciting and there is much more I could say about this, but just a note here; last year the International Prayer Co-ordinator of Aglow spent a few days with us and she shared that she has never seen this model anywhere else in the world. Interestingly, Aglow International have recently launched a prayer focus called “Capital Cities” and we have seen the Canadian Aglow, championed by Maureen Smith, bring greater and greater awareness of NHOP’s ministry in support of the Capital Cities initiative. Praise God!

Well, there you have it, a national prayer movement for governments, including provincial, now growing into an international campaign. I know some people disparage Aglow as fundamentalist and they may well be, but Nhop is mainstream with its doors open to all kinds of Christians.

Check them out at < www.nhop.ca  > or contact them at < info@ nhop.ca >.  You will discover that they have a surprisingly wide-ranging programme that includes visiting politicians and having a presence on Canada's Capital Hill. You will be intrigued.The rest is up to you.

Have a prayerful day!