Many still argue that consumerism is necessary for a market economy to thrive. Benjamin Barber, in his book "Consumed," challenges that assumption, arguing that consumerism is damaging to our culture, and ultimately to capitalism itself. Here he is on the Colbert Report.
I am looking forward to getting together with the book club again. Now, what to read? There will never be a shortage of books for us to read, so below are a couple of suggestions that might provoke us to thought as well as to action. Please let me know if there is anything you would like for the group to consider for upcoming book clubs, and I'll post it to the site.
In EVERYTHING MUST CHANGE, McLaren provides his critics with even more ammunition, starting with the book's title. If "everything must change," then McLaren is saying that the Christian message must change, right?
Or perhaps it's the way we interpret the gospel and apply the "good news" to global crises that needs to change. For McLaren, that change begins by asking two questions that he describes as the shaping questions of his life: "What are the biggest problems in the world?" and "What does Jesus have to say about these global crises?"
And neither is the author of The Terrorist Watch, by Ron Kessler, who just happens to be married to a member of our group. He discusses his new book with John Stewart on The Daily Show, and it is now available at a book store near you. This promises to be an interesting read, and likely to stir up more debate surrounding the decision to invade Iraq, and the use of torture methods. An interesting factiod -- I first read a Ron Kessler book way back in college -- that book was Inside the CIA.
After reading McKnight's book, I realize how little the church has understood atonement. How easier it is to study and speculate upon (or even worse, ignore intellectual engagement altogether) atonement than to practice. Is this a harsh assessment of the church? Consider our reception of former inmates. PEP seems to get it. Do you think murderers and drug dealers deserve a second chance? See the "Made New" video and give it some thought.
