Take this one.

From nakedpastor

So often we tend to sacrifice others for our interests. This week may a good time to look around to identify your victims.

Love in times of pain

The news bring us bad tidings : Mohammed Merah, a muslim and a french citizen, went to a Jewish school in the French city of Tolouse, and shot dead three children and a teacher. 

This man that got to the point of killing his fellow citizens, targeted his victims because they were religious Jews. To me, this is but one more example of the result of a young person with a weak brain and poor social skills, who got fascinated by the words of the imams financed by the petrodollars, who keep on and on with an agenda full of hate. Many like me would say that true Islam is not about this, but this is not how Mr Merah thought. We need to learn a lesson about how this came to happen to prevent fanatic ideologies to triumph over in our peaceful and inclusive lands. 

There is grieve in this family. A lot of pain to live with for a long long time. And yet, they not choose to counteract this hate, with more hate. No, they have shown that there can love can exist in this time of pain. The mother of two of the murdered children and wife of the murdered teacher, Mrs Eva Sandler, wrote this letter to answer the people who wanted to know what they could do in her behave. This letter is a ray of hope. 

With great sadness I received the news: Rowan Williams steps down

Rowan Willams, my favourite theologian and bishop, a good man and Christian fellow, a true leader of the Church of England and the Anglican Communion, is going to step down as Archbishop of Canterbury at the end of this year. With great sadness I received this news.

Many on the liberal and on the conservative side have criticised him of lack of leadership, as it seems, because he didn't joint their fight as a campion for one side. It seems to me that this would have led to the destruction of the Anglican Communion. In the web many rejoice about his resignation, however,  my opinion is quite different, close to the statement from Lord Sacks,

Dr Rowan Williams has been the most able Archbishop of Canterbury for centuries and perhaps his true worth will only really be appreciated by the Church once he's gone.

and the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu

The Archbishop has brought a wealth of wisdom and spiritual guidance to the role over the last 10 years in what is a very demanding job. 

In many areas William have excelled. The impact of his words and work should not be measured for how loud has he spoke, on the contrary, his accurate words of wisdom, and deeds, will have a more lasting and profound impact. We will miss him.

Seven Quick Takes: on the sanctity of same sex marriage and other matters

--- 1 ---

What is the underlying theology that informs the discussion on the gay marriage and the sanctity of same sex intimate relationships?  Below you can find three paragraphs that may clarify it.

--- 2 ---

Richard Beck's summary on why same sex marriages may not be reflective of the image of God:

Same sex marriages are not in the image of God because when God created humanity in God's image Genesis 1.27 says "male and female he created them." Thus, the model for marriage is Adam and Eve. The basis of marriage is biological complementarity. This understanding is supported in Romans 1 where Paul describes same sex relations as "unnatural." In light of this, the command God gives to marriage, as a reflection of God's image, is reproduction ("be fruitful and multiply"). Obviously, same sex marriages are not based on biological complementarity and cannot procreate. Thus, same sex marriages cannot reflect the image of God. The theology informing this understanding iscreation theology.

--- 3 ---

Richard Beck's summary on why same sex marriages may be reflective of the image of God:

Same sex marriages are in the image of God because the model for marriage is Yahweh and Israel rather than Adam and Eve. Thus, the basis of marriage is grace and election, God choosing Israel from among the nations. The primacy of election/grace over biology is supported in Romans 11 where God is found "unnaturally" grafting the Gentiles into the covenant with Israel. In light of this, the command God gives to marriage to reflect God's image is covenant faithfulness. Obviously, same sex marriages display the grace of election and can model covenant faithfulness. Thus, same sex marriages can reflect the image of God. The theology informing this understanding is salvation history.

--- 4 ---

Dana Ames and her understanding of the Orthodox framework

The model for marriage is Christ and the church.  The basis of marriage is the union of like and unlike.  The command that reflects the image of God is to "love one another the way I have loved you" - self-giving love in humility unto death (all kinds).  The theology informing this understanding is the Incarnation of the Second Person of the Trinitarian Godhead. (Genderedness does not have to do with being made "in God's image" because God is incorporeal; Jesus was incarnated as a gendered male not because maleness is somehow a part of the Godhead, or better than femaleness, but in order to accomplish what he had to do, and saying and doing what he did as a woman would have just gotten him ignored and banished, not necessarily crucified.  His entrance bodily into history was in "the fullness of time", and that can't be ignored.)

--- 5 ---

Do you have your own summary and understanding? I will be happy to hear from you in the comments!

--- 6 ---

Since we are talking about our underlying understandings that inform theology, specially in on gay issues, I strongly recommend you to read "Voiceless". It has an extremely well written summary of the the state of the current discussion in the form of a debate between 4 different approaches on homosexuality. I will certainly write more about it in a later post.

--- 7 ---

Finally, I need to fill this last take, don't I?. Here you have a very impressive 3minute speech of Zach Wahls talking about family.

I liked the sentence of "not once have I ever been confronted by an individual who realised independently that I was rise by a gay couple". 

Jesus in the wilderness: a 40 images story