Those Awake

What is a Community?

awakening : Community | posted by Shaun O

It seems that "community" is more than central to political, religious, scholarly, and social life.  From whichever sphere we are focused on at one time, we could probably make a case for the undeniable value of community to the vital health of that sphere.  One question might be, what are these pursuits without community?  (okay, maybe next time)
For now, if we agree to esteem "community," what is it that we are agreeing upon?  I don't look to split hairs here, I guess I'm only hoping for some focus in my road to true community.

It's an interesting topic, with the explosion of "online communities" too!
Quickly, dictionary.com offers up:

1.  a social group of any size whose members reside in a specific locality, share government, and often have a common cultural and historical heritage.

2.  a locality inhabited by such a group.

3.  a social, religious, occupational, or other group sharing common characteristics or interests and perceived or perceiving itself as distinct in some respect from the larger society within which it exists

Already we have some cases of "specific locality" and perhaps another of just "sharing common characteristics."  I'm wondering about the valuable difference and the meaning of each.

To cut to the chase, a quote from Wendell Berry's What are People For?. 
He writes,

Community:  that is, a neighborhood of people who know each other, understand their mutual dependencies, and who place a proper value on good farming.  In it's cultural aspect, the community is an order of memories preserved conciously in instructions, songs, and stories and both consciously and unconscioulsy in ways.  A healthy culture holds preserving knowledge in place for a long time.  That is, the essential wisdom accumulates in the community much as fertility builds in the soil. 

For me, I get the idea of healthy culture = "in place for a long time."  Is it realistic to see communities this way in the future?  I don't know.  Is it necessary?  Should I worry to try?

M.Night & Mystery

awakening : Happening | posted by Shaun O

Reading and watching two separate things today, a connection arose! 
First there's an UTNE article, again on reason & faith relationship. 

Second, there's the thrilling (to be expected) trailer to the new M.Night film - The Happening.

Here's a tiny connection - maybe a bit of a reach, but it intrigued me today. 
The article speaks to the power of science in analysis, but how it can function as well as to become too "reductionist."  There is a place where ignoring the spiritual (or even artistic) is a drab semi-reality:

"viewing the human experience as nothing more than biology and physics allows for only happenings." 

Ah, enter M.Night - new movie "the Happening."  Now let's not pine too much on what this new movie could be about, what mighty twist awaits us all - there's got to be some extensive blog posts already going on that.  But think of his movies thus far, and what spirit they conjure.  Shyamalan writes tales of wonder and whimsy.  They require faith and mysticism and they seem to focus us on all that is quite beyond us!   If biology and physics allow for only "happenings," it's ironic for this film of this title to play with so much beyond our physical experience. 

Re-enter UTNE discussion of faith & reason.  It seems like the spiritual/scientific debate or question is also one of current philosophy and how we should all look at the world.  Peter Sellars, directing an opera called Dr. Atomic about the atomic bomb, says

“Understanding the limits to human knowledge and intervention is going to be the question of the twenty-first century.”

However fanciful M.Night's Happening, he is doing art with the limits of human knowledge.  Though massively entertaining, I think it fits now.  Let's see how far he goes. 

Community

awakening : Community | posted by Nate Wilbert

Try not to stumble.  It just doesn't seem possible to avoid it. Interaction with others eventually results in a loss of balance. A daily occurrence. I certainly see it in my life. Whether it was that part of life growing up in a family, off in college, graduated and at work, or at home with my wife. There are definite pitfalls that come with recognizing and respecting other people and their lives.

However, growth comes out of sharing our existence as well. And it is that growth which I like.  And which makes all the stumbles bearable. I'm looking forward to participating in the community here at Those Awake.

Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed

awakening : Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed | posted by Brian Rhea

A few nights ago, we were able to attend an advanced screening of Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed. The film intends to document the unfair treatment of ID proponents in the scientific community. You can see the trailer here if you're interested: http://www.expelledthemovie.com/playground.php. Unfortunately, in its current state, the movie is disappointing in that it fails to take this conversation anywhere new or productive. One of our friends was also at the screening and he sent the following e-mail to the producers. It describes perfectly the strengths and weaknesses of the documentary and I hope they take Austin's suggestions to heart. Austin McCollum:

After seeing the director's cut tonight of the upcoming movie starring Ben Stein, I have mixed reviews. My primary reservations about this movie are the tactics used. I was open-minded a movie like this would help give Intelligent Design [ID] a fair voice in the academic community. However, I found the documentary started down a slippery slope of dogmatic accusations. If this movie is an act of war, the tactics will win decisive battles. If this movie's goal is to rally the religious masses to action, it will succeed. Does the end justify the means? In the opinion of this proponent of ID, I fear the means will simply tip the scales to the other extreme instead of bringing a healthy balance to scientific thought.

I really enjoyed the first half of the movie. Ben Stein's dead pan humor builds bridges to many walks of life while presenting some compelling investigative journalism whetting my appetite for more. But suddenly the careful examination of legitimate walls and layers of inflexibility in academia turn to dramatic correlations comparing Origin of Species Evolutionists [OSEs] to the Nazi regime. I felt tricked. I felt like I was watching a Michael Moore movie - that although funny at times, reduces itself to sensationalist devices, awkward interview questions, and clever editing to prove a point.

So let me break down specifically the good parts and then where I think the producers / writers started down an unnecessary path. First, let me explain I am no opponent to deception and treachery when used strategically and for noble purposes. John Howard Griffin's elegant deception in his work, "Black Like Me," allowed him to write accurately of the oppressive environment many black people were trapped in. He became a whistleblower to the nation giving great credibility to African American suffrage adding high octane fuel to the civil rights movement. William Wilberforce used great subterfuge, as portrayed in the recent movie, "Amazing Grace," to flank politicians upholding the slave trade in England. He finally succeeded by surreptitiously proposing laws that would first strangle the flow of profit to the slave traders instead of trying to pass an abolishment law head-on. Some of the content of "Expelled" has great potential, possibly helping to open doors to important research and great discoveries by exposing bias in the academic community, but I think it should be presented in a more subtle approach.

For instance, the profiles examining real people's consequences faced by mentioning or writing on ID should be flushed out in more detail. Even better would be to fund an open-minded advocate of OSE to go deep undercover as an ID researcher. Can you imagine the response if one of their own made discoveries of oppression and cataloged the experience with details that could be verified? The two examples of researchers openly using ID paradigms to advance their work were brilliant. If the direct correlation to their work and monetary gain could be more clearly outlined, I believe the war could be won without firing a shot. This is more eloquently explained by Salvador Cordova in his blog post at http://www.uncommondescent.com/intelligent-design/how-idists-can-win-the-war/

An avenue I hoped would be explored further, and even exploited for greater dramatic effect is the ignorance in the mass media about what ID really is. Discussing the boiler plate phrase hit home the fact ID has been pigeon holed by news outlets as a cult of creationism. Real empathy could have been generated by representing a room full of diverse world view scientists collaborating on some ID project or seminar. Lumping agnostics, Jews, Muslims, Xenobiologists, and Christians together in conversation is different than showing real people holding those views getting together and putting aside their religious differences for the advancement of a credible scientific paradigm.

I also liked the interview with the Polish man. Someone describing greater educational freedom in their country versus the U.S. pulls at the heartstrings of nationalistic pride. The other content though, describing the court system's role in contributing to the wall of bias separating the camps of OSE and ID was muddy.

So my problem with this movie and the grassroots campaign behind it is the war it is fueling. Anytime you bring THE holocaust in, it triggers or should trigger an emotional response. What I hear though, as I play the advocate, are my OSE friends giving an example of ID sponsored atrocities to match each Darwinian rooted evil. For every holocaust, they could cite the Crusades or the Inquisition. For every Gulag or Killing Fields they could bring up Jim Jones or Heaven's gate or the latest Intifada. The advancement of scientific thought has always seen setbacks from politics, greed, superstition and human pride. Does a movie spotlighting fear and revulsion for an enemy camp really advance scientific thought? I don't want to invite my OSE friends to a movie like this. I want to reach out to them. This movie is guerilla warfare. Maybe I'm out of touch with how bad it's gotten. I'd just rather see the revolution start within the academic community instead of ruled by an emotional mob that this movie targets. I am excited to see the movie when it's finished. I just hope I can give it a better review.

He received the following response:

Thank-you, Mr. McCollum, for your insightful and heartfelt review. We appreciate greatly your taking the time to provide such an informed commentary and will take it to heart as we continue to solicit feedback.

Perspectives on Origin

awakening  | posted by Brian Rhea

It goes without saying that the origin of species is a topic best left alone in mixed company. I think a lot of my Christian friends would find it mystifying to discover that I believe evolution and observational evidence of the big bang to be more convincing and accurate explanations of the Universe's beginning than the one offered by the writer of Genesis.

 

Frankly, this bums me out and I think it's time for members of both camps (Evolution and Creationism) to not only acknowledge that some common ground exists between them, but to begin to explore that space without fear of the retribution that will certainly come from their own side for crossing the picket line.

 

A bird's eye view of the debate over our origin might look something like this:

The peach area representing Hubble's Law and its implications, evidence of common descent, natural selection and so on. The green area representing evidence for Biblical inerrancy and its implications, evidence of Intelligent Design and so on.

 

The asterisk, of course, representing what both explanations require and which both sides seem to think they have cornered the market on, that being reasonably justifiable faith.

 

Regardless of whether one finds themself resting comfortably in the peach or green area of the diagram, the fact remains that once each account is followed back to the very beginning, an asterisk is required.

 

If we look at our observably expanding Universe and put time in reverse, all matter collapses in to the singularity from which we are told the Big Bang...banged. This is an explanation that produces as many questions as it does answers. Rent or read "The Elegant Universe" if you'd like more answers...and questions.

 

And as for the green area, something like the following is often offered,"Look around. Our planet, the whole Universe is so complex and complicated. What are the odds that something so intricate could've just happened?" I've heard this many times and it only needs one extra step to unravel itself. If the world is so complex that it couldn't have just happened on its own, how does it follow that it must have been created by something? The Creator being exponentially more complicated than the creation.

 

I think there are good reasons for putting one's reasonably justifiable faith in either (or both) of these areas and I wish this was the sort of conversation that could be engaged in without people being so "on guard". Unfortunately, most people who hold stridently to their view of our origin don't see the debate from the bird's eye view, but rather from a more limited perspective that looks something like this:

Each side believing they own the asterisk and that they are not even on the same plane as the other camp.

Here's to bridging the gap.

Taking Action because ...

awakening: Global action & Faith | posted by Shaun O'Reilly

I've been taking in some sessions at the Fusion conference (a christian conference hosted at the church I work at).  The conference is geared toward 20's & 30's, and how to give them ideas, motivation, opportunities to bring their faith to life - i.e., tangible ways to do "things" for the community and the world.
On the whole, I'm cool with young adults thinking about their talents and resources and how that can serve the universal Church and world good.  And I've enjoyed some of the sessions - especially Don Miller. 
One of the main themes is: 
You have faith and it's comfortable - but use your faith and the gifts you have to impact the world! 
And, Fusion seems like they have linked people up so that they can join organizations and begin to "take action."  Kudos!

But, I feel like there is a huge perspective that is being ignored in this push to "change the world."  Particularly, there was a speaker today saying - "when we go out and feed the hungry, make water available, undo injustice, we will tell them it's because of Jesus  - they will get our message from our actions."
Okay - so I'm tracking here - I do think faith requires action.  BUT, while Christianity is striving to get current and affect the world, I think we're forgetting what seems to currently be going on in world issues.  Namely, solving world problems & crises is NOT only a Christian initiative!  There are countless ways that Americans are thinking/acting/eating/caring globally ... and many of them have nothing to do with Christianity. 
So, I think we should tap the breaks on thinking that just because we build wells people will accept Christ in their heart.  And I think that we are doing the people who have been serving and caring for global injustice a disservice when we go out and join (or start our own initiatives that basically do the same thing) but we do it in the name of "faith" - thinking our initiative is better.

Aren't we making the message of Jesus more narrow then?  Isn't Jesus' message a great one (perhaps the greatest), but it flows with MANY global messages for justice, peace, grace - it flows with the dreams of God that can be found around the world?  The message of Jesus is the one I know best - it's the one I follow - but when I gather with buddies and get excited about global action, I'm going to acknowledge that there are a lot of people out there attempting to serve the world, and I'll not expect that just because I join in it will translate into people accepting Jesus as their personal savior. 

(A good example is the ONE campaign)  I think they've got the right idea - this from their website:

ONE is nonpartisan; there's only one side in the fight against global AIDS and extreme poverty. Working on the ground in communities, colleges and churches across the United States, ONE members both educate and ask America's leaders to increase efforts to fight global AIDS and extreme poverty, from the U.S. budget and presidential elections to specific legislation on debt cancellation, increasing effective international assistance, making trade fair, and fighting corruption. Everyone can join the fight. The goal of ending poverty may seem lofty, but it is within our reach if we take action together as one. You can start now by joining the ONE Campaign and pledging your voice to the fight against extreme poverty and global AIDS. 

Here's my question:  We have already said that Christ is the only way to heaven, are we also now saying that he is the only way to stop starvation?  Is there any good outside of the Christian religion?  What will we look like when we acknowledge that?  How much more could it mean for us to join an organization that is out there already, coming and serving the human race alongside THEM?  (become one with them)
In the end, I believe "they will know we are Christians by our love."  But, I think we should go solve world problems because we don't want there to be world problems, because we care about the world and the human race.  I just think that's a good enough reason to act - it is for so many people - religious and non-religious.  And then, faith will continue to come up in our relationships as we become friends.  Before then, we should just go because we care!

Ultimately, I think I'm tired of doing things with a huge agenda in my back pocket.  I know I'll never be able to act completely objectively, and I wouldn't want to - I want to act with who I am, that's what I can truly offer.  But I can distinguish when, where, and why I go and do.  I want to be as pure as possible about that.

make sense?

ASLE: Fred Chappell

awakening: ASLE - Fred Chappell | posted by ThoseAwake

Taking it back to the ASLE trip for a bit, a wonderful highlight was listening to the poetry of Fred Chappell. From the ASLE web site:

Fred Chappell: Poet Laureate of North Carolina from 1997 to 2002, is the author of thirty books, including seventeen collections of poetry, eight novels, two books of short fiction, two of essays, and a multi-genre reader. He was born in the North Carolina mountains around Canton in 1936, and this area serves as the setting and inspiration for much of his poetry and fiction.

You can listen to his talk here: [ Download Fred Chappell.mp3 ]

And an interesting Q&A session with Mr. Chappell and another poet who spoke that night, Di Brandt, here: [ Download Q&A.mp3 ]

But before you do any of that, watch this short clip we shot of Fred Chappell reading his poem, "Patience".

Follow this link for a full screen version with more legible text.

Or here for best version, you just have to wait, then click on image!

My Nature Stories

awakening: Place & Story | posted by Shaun O'Reilly

Even after a full week of Ecocriticism and nature writing, some of it rather lengthy and academically tiring, I still can't get the picturesque stories of the world's whimsy out of my head and heart.  In many ways, I feel very connected to the things I've heard and read; and in other ways I feel very far from it.  I'm not sure one can experience these stories without being drawn to wonder about one's own nature stories.  And the sad reality is that I really don't know that I have all that many to go on right now.  (This isn't all that new to me though - I've known that the vast majority of my own nature stories - the one's I'll be telling my grandkids and writing in my memoir -  are still yet to come.)

One of the strongest memories I have of being tied to nature was on a trip to the holy land in high school.  In a desert in Israel, we ate community dinner with our hands under big colorful tents.  Later, we slept there.  They told us Abraham might have enjoyed a night under stars like the ones we saw, when God spoke to him and pointed out, in the sky, what would come to pass. 
I went for a walk that night, and did feel like the God above me and the ground below me all became one wave.  I was tossed about by it, trying to name it and talk to it, and I can remember now just calling out all sorts of things that made no real sense. 
But I felt known there.  It is one of my true nature experiences.  It's the closest event I possess that even remotely relates to a statement made by the great Wendell Berry,

"What I stand for is what I stand on."

I want and need more stories with that strong truth.

ASLE day 1 Session B - "Adapting to New Places"

awakening: ASLE | posted by Richard

I broke up the trifecta (thanks Reagan) this morning in order to find out what it meant by "Creative" on some of the session abstracts. I'm so glad I did. Each presenter read their work (mostly a form of creative non-fiction style) with great expression and then we all discussed and asked questions. This was a nice change from the academic headiness of some of the other talks we've been attending. I was especially struck by an older gentleman's writing about his recent move to a farm in Michigan. He described how he and his wife would observe nature happening around them. He was fascinated by it while recognizing it's vastness. In response to a question I asked he articulated a recognition of nature's vastness. He realized that it was so much bigger than he, so much so that it's activity and wonder will far out reach his lifetime and his life there on the farm. Oh, and he said he's thinking of turning his writing into a blog about the farm. I'll def keep an eye out for that. Another, younger doctorate student, Paul Bogard, read a piece called, "At Home at Night." In this very personal memoir, he describes his summer trips to "the lake" (not sure which lake he means, maybe he kept it general for a reason) and how he becomes acquainted with true night. He says that in the city our nights have been washed out. We don't experience true night in all of it's eeriness and wonder–the barn owls, the loons, the starry skies. I loved this guys writing and the way he read it. Reagan, I wish you were in the room to hear him. The other presenters were definitely noteworthy, but I will not comment on them now. Maybe later.

ASLE Day One

awakening: ASLE | posted by ThoseAwake

Last night, we listened to Bill McKibben the author of Deep Economy speak about the themes common in his writing: Climate Change, Community, Activism in Art (literature, visual and otherwise). It was a treat to hear his thoughts and words which were at once urgent and hopeful. His talk is going to be made available at the ASLE Connect web site some time this week.

Update : Listen Now

The first session we attended this morning was titled, "Environmental Pragmatism" and the four papers that were presented spoke to the Ecology of the Everyday, the Ecological Pastoral, Pragmatism in Cold Mountain, and Hope in Literature and the Minnesota Landscape. This was only the first of about ten sessions we plan to attend, and Richard just made the comment that we could stop here and talk (and write) for days. The presenter of the Ecological Pastoral paper is staying in the tent village with us just a dozen yards away, so we're definitely going to invite him over tonight to speak in more depth.

We're in a common session at the moment about the work environment in the 21st century. The next breakout session we're going to is called, "Henry David Thoreau: New Perspectives and Connections". We're preparing our minds for some thoughtful seeds to be dispersed.

This afternoon, we're still trying to decide which breakout to attend, but one session titled "Alternative Approaches to Place" will include this presentation, Activating Wendell Berry's Concept of "Connection" Through Communication. Or, as Richard called it, "Blahdee blah, Wendell Berry, blah blah blah." Odds are, that's the session we'll find ourselves in.