mr_twenty_something's Revelife

Meditation and the Brain

Sat, 22 Aug 2009 17:15:18 GMT

According to an article on Reuters, meditation has an important role on the believer and his brain. “Brain scanners show that intense meditation alters our gray matter, strengthening regions that focus the mind and foster compassion while calming those linked to fear and anger.” The meditator, however, can be anyone with any beliefs because the meditation can teach a growth in compassion and help decline negative feelings.

This is stemming from Neurotheology which is a study of the brain’s role in religious belief. Research showed that short prayers leave little trace on the brain. Meditation leaves a larger trace because it is more intense. Meditation and religious experiences set off neurons in different parts of the brain which in turn stimulate the frontal lobe of the brain. The article states that “even 10 to 15 minutes of meditation appear to have significantly positive effects on cognition, relaxation and psychological health."

After reading the article, it reminded me of this verse.

Joshua 1:8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

Maybe there is more to word “meditate” in the verse then what I originally thought.

What are your thoughts? Have you ever spent longer periods of time in meditation about your faith?

Marry Early?

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 19:15:05 GMT

Save yourself for marriage. We’ve all heard the abstinence arguments before. Through various organizations, churches, pastors, and married couples, the message of abstinence has been force feed and shoved in the faces of young Americans. The message is being presented, but what about other messages that need presentation but are lacking it. Marriage is presented in the church but how much on the subject is present to those not married.

Mark Regnerus has an article in Christianity Today entitled “The Case for Early Marriage” (http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2009/august/16.22.html). Regnerus points out that “over 90 percent of American adults experience sexual intercourse before marrying. The percentage of evangelicals who do so is not much lower. In a nationally representative study of young adults, just under 80 percent of unmarried, church- going, conservative Protestants who are currently dating someone are having sex of some sort.” If his percentages are accurate, it shows that even in the realm of abstinence young church-goers aren’t doing very well. How after so many abstinence messages could the percentages be so high?

Regnerus states “I've come to the conclusion that Christians have made much ado about sex but are becoming slow and lax about marriage—that more significant, enduring witness to Christ's sacrificial love for his bride. Americans are taking flight from marriage. We are marrying later, if at all, and having fewer children.” This may be due to messages of higher divorce rates coming out of younger marrying individuals. Teen marriage may not be the wisest decision. However, according to Regnerus, marriages that take place for couples in their early 20s are not as risk prone.

Making a case for marriage and abstinence, Regnerus article calls for a balance in teaching. Marriage should be taught so that those considering young marriage understand it fully and Biblically. The last thing we want is to have people “marring early simply for the promise of long-awaited, guilt-free sex.”

I’m not sure I agree with everything Regnerus had to say. Do we really want to pressure couples who are struggling to wait for sex into marriages? He did however address that in his article and it seems he has the same concerns.

What are your thoughts should we be content with marrying later or should we push marrying younger? Will sending messages to marry younger really resolve issues on abstinence?

Religion based on celebs

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 20:45:53 GMT

The magazine racks in the store show us that we like celebrities. We like their movies, music, and books. Some of us are content with that. Others search for every detail they can find about their current celeb obsession. They care about their clothing, their diet and exercise, and what religion they are following. We have heard of celebs following old religions and the newer “religions” such as scientology and kabbalah.

How about a religion based on a celebrity? That is what a group of Shia LeBeouf fans did with the creation of Shiantology. The group describes themselves with the following statement: "Characterized by a belief in the power of Shia's spirit to clear itself of past painful experiences (in particular, hand smashing, car crashes, and drunken outbursts in Walgreen's) through self-knowledge, spiritual fulfillment and copious amounts of Arizona Ice Tea. Shiantology places an emphasis upon Shia's immortal spirit, Shiacarnation, an extrascientific method of pshiachotherapy (Shianetics), and, MOST IMPORTANTLY, daily SHIA WALKING POSTS."

Now I don’t know about anyone else, but this idea seems a little off the deep end for me. I know how easy it is to place your favorite celebs on a pedestal, but trying to create your own religion centered on your favorite celeb?

What are your thoughts on this?

When My College Closed

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 22:58:30 GMT

Growing up I would have never imagined that I would actually miss being in some form of school. I remember how badly I longed to be out of high school. My first two years of college I spent living at home going to a community college. It was a relief when I got my associates degree. I was ready for something better, but I had little idea how much that “better” would change my life. I choose my next college for its writing program, its community, and its Christian standing.

The past two years of my life have been some of the most enjoyable times I have ever had. I’ve created some of the best friendships I will ever have. I learned what I desired to know about my career path. Along the way, I was in classes focusing on Christianity. General education studies at my school included classes such as Biblical Literature 1+2, Contemporary Christian Belief, and Historic Christian Belief. At times, I felt like my beliefs were getting empty with having so much classroom time on topics of Christianity.

This past fall changed everything about my college and about how I experienced the love of God through my brothers and sisters in Christ. My college was a sister school. In the fall semester, our campus was called to gather together. As we sat around not knowing what was happening, we were given the news that our campus was closing in May. Disappointment, bitterness, and disbelief fell upon the student body as students had to again search for direction.

As the weeks went on after the announcement, I saw a great change in the student body. While the closing of our campus was affecting us, it also gave us as not only the body of the school but as the body of Christ to impact the community. Our college played a large role in the community by helping out in various ways and by having students do their practicum around the city. We were able to show the community the application of our faith during a challenging time.

By showing the community our consistent love for God and for others, we not only impacted the community but also impacted each other as well. It makes me slightly sad when I go to the store and se the large signs “Back to College” or “Dorm Items.” As a graduate, my college time is over for now, but I will always remember how God moved and used his people.

Have you ever had a unfortunate circumstance which enabled you to grow closer to God?

Your college major choice could affect your religion

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 18:44:32 GMT

A recent study conducted by University of Michigan Institute for Social Research concluded that a college student’s religiosity is affected by his college major choice. The researches who conducted the research believe that postmodernism is a greater antagonist of religiosity then science. Interestingly, majoring in Humanities or Social Sciences had a significant negative effect on religious attendance and importance by those who participated in the study.

The authors of the study believe that religions have had time to develop a resistance to scientific ideas, such as, evolution. Postmodernism is more recent and therefore, religions have not been able to develop a resistance to its ideas yet.

Do you think college major choice affects your views toward religion? Is postmodernism a threat to religion as the authors of the study stated?

Ministry Seasons

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 22:06:57 GMT

It seems like we can readily accept some things that happen to us in life and some of them we can’t. When it comes to relationships and jobs, we like to look forward by saying that the next relationship or job we find will be better then the last. People like to throw phrases around like “well when God closes one door He opens another one,” or they like to quote scriptures like parts of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 “To everything there is a season…” I’ve noticed that in my life it seems that people like to do this for almost everything, but it gets harder when it comes to ministry.

It’s hard for us to accept that sometimes the ministry’s we are called into are only for a season. This is something that I know that I have had trouble dealing with in my spiritual walk. Over the years, I have been in various ministries in my church. In each of them, I have known when my time helping or participating in them was brought to a close. Some of them have brought me great frustration. I’ve struggled with why I would even feel I was lead into a ministry just to be in it for a short time. Knowing God will lead us into something else can only offer so much comfort especially when you don’t understand why the season is coming to an end.

Currently my mother is in a situation where her time running a ministry might be coming to a close. I listened to her tell me about the situation and how frustrating it was getting to her. The thing is I don’t know what to say. I’m not going to throw around the typical “everything has a season” line. I don’t think it’s ever easy when a person’s time in a ministry is coming to end.

Have you ever been in a ministry but your time was called to a close? What advice would you offer to someone going through the situation?

Divine Discontent

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 19:36:30 GMT

It’s almost time for the service to begin. I’ve taken a seat in the usual area that I sit. When the music plays, I feel the words fall out of my understanding. Not that I don’t understand what the words are, but I’m missing the interpretation of them. Later when the pastor comes out on stage to preach, I listen passively to the sermon. I sketch one of the pieces of paper I carry with my Bible. I contempt what’s being said, but my thinking is driven back and forth between subjects. I can’t get it out of my mind. Is this all there is?

Ever since I have moved home I keep thinking that its time for something new. More and more I am convinced that this something new has to come in the form of a change in my relationship with God. When I go to church, I feel that something is out of place. My faith isn’t shaking and I still believe in God so I wonder what is going on. For the past week, one phrase keeps coming up in my head and it’s the best way I can describe the feeling. I am suffering from a divine discontent.

I’ve been thinking about what that means. One of the definitions for discontent is a relentless desire or craving for something one does not have. The more I consider the definition the more it makes sense to me. I was raised in Christian home and I’ve attended church ever since I can remember. Over the years, my beliefs have transitioned as I’ve grown into deeper understanding of what I believe and why I believe. I can only say that this divine discontent is here to challenge me to renew and look for other ways I can approach my relationship with God. Now it is in my hands to figure out what those new things are.

Have you ever felt like you were suffering from a divine discontent?

A sports role model?

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 20:32:51 GMT

I’ll admit that I am not a sports fan. I don’t watch them on television, I barely watched them when my brother played, and I definitely don’t play most of them (mainly because I’m terrible at them). Occasionally there is something that will happen in the sports world that gets my attention.

When Tim Tebow answered the question “Are you a virgin?” during a conference, it seems there has been a very mixed reaction to the question. Some thought the question was inappropriate. Others hailed Mr. Tebow for his grace in handling the question. More then anything is the fact that he answered and that his answer was yes. Considering he is an extremely popular college football athlete, Tebow’s answer carries some importance.

Tim Tebow is a Christian and has used his sports platform to promote his beliefs on occasion. On top of that, he is considered to be a role model. By practicing what he preaches, he is being a true role model. I think we should applaud him for being able to stand for what he believes in. While I’m sure now, there will be more people to watch him hoping he will mess up. I hope that he will stand true to what he believes and continue to be a good role model in the sports world.

What do you think about Tim Tebow’s “confession” and him being a role model?

iPhone and Religion

Fri, 24 Jul 2009 18:37:51 GMT

Recently on revelife, there was a post about a purity ring iPhone application. Well today I came across a short article on a new iPhone application awaiting approval. The application is called ‘A Note to God’ through which users could post prayers to God and send them to other users. I don’t have anything against the creation of iPhone applications, but what about religious applications. I’ve been told that prayer is just talking to God like you would a friend. Do Christians really need an iPhone application in order to prayer?

I have a feeling that Christians are going to be getting a wave of “Christian” products marketed to them in digital format. The iPhone may just be the thing that delivers them to us. I know that all products aren’t bad, but sometimes the line needs to be drawn. Should we really encourage more religious oriented applications?

How do you feel about religious oriented iPhone applications?

"de-baptism": renouncing faith

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 18:39:33 GMT

There have been many people who were brought up attending church with their family. Some of them were baptized when they were children. As they got older, they decided they no longer believed in God. They denounce their faith and walk away from the church. I’ve seen it happen with people that I have grown up with or known over the years. This morning I read an interesting article and I’ve never heard of anyone doing this before. A new trend has spread across a few states where Atheists are having a “de-baptism” ceremony.

In the article “Atheists choose ‘de-baptism’ to renounce childhood faith”, Jeffrey MacDonald describes the event as “a type of mock ceremony that's now been performed in at least four states, a robed "priest" used a hairdryer marked "reason" in an apparent bid to blow away the waters of baptism once and for all. Several dozen participants then fed on a "de-sacrament" (crackers with peanut butter) and received certificates assuring they had "freely renounced a previous mistake, and accepted Reason over Superstition."

The article states that in the past year there have been about 250 participants in de-baptism ceremonies. Some of the participants have even been given certificates.

I know that even among different church denominations there are debates over baptism. I know that a lot of atheists and skeptics come on revelife and read posts. I’m very curious to know what they think about these ceremonies.

If you are an atheist, would you ever participate in a “de-baptism” ceremony?

What are everyone’s thoughts toward this? Can a person’s baptism be renounced?