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October, 2008:
“Portable Electronic Devices”
I have spent the majority of this day flying. It is currently 8:40 pm and I still have a 2:47 minute flight ahead of me. As the last flight was preparing for landing I had a George Carlin moment. The flight attendant came on the speaker and spoke the usual words, telling us that we must turn off all “portable electronic devices.” As opposed to what?
“Sir, please turn off that electronic device.”
“But it is not portable. See, this MRI is bolted to the floor of the aircraft. Besides, as you can plainly see, this woman’s test is not yet complete.”
“Sir, the aircraft is itself moving therefore the MRI is portable since it is being transported from Philly to Chicago.”
“Ah, then why specify ‘portable’ electronic device? Furthermore, why specify ‘electronic’ device? What other sorts of devices can one turn on and off?”
“Sir, pardon me.” Attendant takes nearby fire extinguisher and begins beating me about the head before dismantling the MRI.
In DC
I have been in DC since Sunday night with our class visiting the Center for Strategic and International Studies. We had an amazing day yesterday and I was able to top it off with a cold beverage and chatting with Ed Cook. Good times. Then, after a lovely meal, I headed back to my hotel:
Latterday Latitudinarians Lumbering over the Limen
George F. Will has an excellent and fair summary of where the Episcopal church finds itself. You can find the article in the Washington Post: A Faith’s Dwindling Following. The summary is fairly straightforward:
As the church’s doctrines have become more elastic, the church has contracted. It celebrates an “inclusiveness” that includes fewer and fewer members.
He is, of course, not saying anything new or that we have not observed before. I have often marveled at how the so-called “progressives” in our church (I say “so-called” because such a term, like so many in politics, is used not to define oneself, but the other; the opposite of “progressive” is, of course, “regressive”) are so confounded as to why evangelical churches with a fairly straightforward message of repentance, acceptance of forgiveness, and Bible study have been growing so rapidly while our numbers dwindle. The answer is simple. Very few people want a religious community where “anything goes.”
People fundamentally understand that not everything can be equally right. We go to churches, synagogues, and mosques to hear guidance and direction. We know we aren’t perfect and recognize there must be a better way. The last thing we want to hear is “your OK just the way you are, don’t change a thing” because we know that we are not OK. A newer generation won’t get the reference, but we might say “I’m not OK and you’re not OK and that’s OK.” At the core of all the Bible and the Gospel particularly is the assertion that we and this creation were made for something much, much better than what we are now. We need clarity of message so that we can decide whether or not we agree with it. Say what you will about Willow Creek Bible Church, you know what they believe. You may not agree with them, which is fine, but you know what they believe. What does the Episcopal Church believe? Hmm. That’s a tough one….
In many ways I think that the Episcopal Church would be far, far better off if it simply decided to draw a clear line in the sand regarding the role and authority of Scripture. The church would probably lose members and it might gain them, but at least being decisive would allow those seeking a community of faith to know upon what (or whom) the Episcopal Church based their faith. Be hot or be cold, but no one finds luke wark palatable.
