The magazine will also include pictures, videos and other types of media besides text. 

 Short introductions and links to articles like "An Open and Relational Theory of Divine Power," by Thomas Oord

Short introductions and links to Podcasts like Tapestry. 

Pictures

 Sunset at The Twelve Apostles - Victoria, Australia

or Videos Like 

Hi Alex,

Good luck on that.

I don't think it is possible to escape cultural baggage.  All that happens when we start saying which baggage is and isn't acceptable is totalitarianism.

All of us have been tied to culture from birth.  I don't percieve that is simply a generational thing.

Grace and peace to you.

John

Very true, perhaps I should say a direction to head towards, or be pulled towards. than it is clearly opinion. I also find it interesting that so many in the UCC misunderstand that to oppose empire is to be empire. That is one of the things that needs to be addressed in Canada. Many in Ottawa will say that I am supporting empire when I speak out against people who come from outside our community and occupy local church property, and not only deny access to Christians who live and work in the community, but also claim that there are no local  Christians because local Christians have slightly different theologies, or are differently abled, young, or LGBT. 

I still do not understand how a low income disabled person like me, that lives, works, and studies in a community can be accused of being and practicing empire and promoting totalitarianism when I claim that wealthy homophobic, abliest people who run our local "community" churches are wrong. My claims are based on the fact that we are excluded (we as in the low income, differently abled, or just different from them in that we are open about our lives while they hide their disabilities, and keep secret much else) They claim that  Christian theology supports excluding the poor, and the different.  I admit some theologians even say that the wealthy and healthy are more loved by God than other people, and that the sick and the disabled are being punished by God because God does not love them and wishes to see them suffer . 

I have no power but that of my speech, and my ability to read and collect information, while those whose ideas I oppose have all kinds of material power and  wealth and control of our local churches. Yet you and many others would claim my speech is totalitarianism?  Just because I say they are wrong and wish to collect in a central place opinions, facts and theologies which examines Christians beliefs that wish to distinguish Christ from empire.

One of the reason i wish to do this is that  I am astounded by my inability to express myself clearly, while I am impressed by many others who are able to express such sentiments clearly, and based on solid Christian theologies

At the very least it would aim to included theologies that undertand that there is  difference between walking with Christ and much of  the cultural baggage that came when large parts of the church became  tied to empire. 

 RevJohn

Perhaps you did not mean what you said.  I believe it more likely upon re-reading your message that you fumbled your words, I can not believe you believe anything goes, I thought you were a Calvinist. I did not know you were such a moral relativist. If you are how do you bring together what I understood to be  diametrically opposed belief systems?  

Hi Alex,

Well, to be fair the problem is that they are conflicting empires and not simply the same empire.  Few recognize that they stand in the midst of their own empire while they criticize another.

And they are, in a particular sense correct.  You are supporting "an" empire.  An empire that thinks differently than theirs.  An empire nonetheless.  Empire cannot be overcome.  One can only choose the empire to which one will belong.

Your confusion most likely stems from limiting "empire" to that which you disagree with.  Most folk do that.  It is easy to fight against that which we disagree with.  To label the other as evil, ignorant or any other term that serves the purpose to separate.

By your example you evidence a black and white perspective that shapes a particular fundamentalism.  The pro poor to the con wealthy.  The good homosexual to the evil homophobe.  The callous abled to the compassionate disabled.

You create ideal good, which you identify with and an evil which you do not and then you claim that one is empire and the other not.  It is conflicting empires.

You have no power but that of your speech?  Is not the language we use the primary tool which shapes reality?  You may be limited in how you get your words out and yet you are familiar with the economy of words and how to up their value.

Call someone homophobic, does that empower or liberate them?  Suggest that they are ableist, does that set them free from the chains that you perceive bind them or are you just adding bars and walls to their bondage?

I haven't seen others make the claim so far.  I do make it though.  Anytime, anyone of us seeks to eliminate that we disapprove of in favour of what we approve of we are on the knife-edge of totalitarianism.

It is precisely because you say that they are wrong and that you want to examine Christian beliefs which distinguish Christ from empire that you are flirting with totalitarianism.   There are many voices that will attempt to make that distinction.  You have already limited the voices that you will listen to.  You have said that person A can distinguish and person B cannot.

You have already established the parameters of your empire.

Again, I do sincerely wish you luck in your endeavour.  I do not believe that the task can be accomplished.  Simply because no one can agree on what is baggage and ultimately any who define baggage seek to make that definition universal.  Which means that while they may claim to represent the kingdom of God the best they can manage is their particular human interpretation of the kingdom of God.

And no matter how noble that interpretation may appear it is still flawed and has still fallen short.  The more we cling to it the more we will believe we are right to force it on others.

Grace and peace to you.

John

Hi Alex,

I meant what I said.

I do not believe that nor have I said that.

I am a Calvinist.  You will note that I do not force anyone else to be a Calvinist.  I might think that Calvinism is a superior theological point of view.  It would be hard to prove that I believed it to be superior if all I did was run other positions down.

I am a Calvinist.  Does that mean Calvinists cannot make mistakes?  Some thought that and as they went about their business in South America they built what they believed was as Godly a nation as has ever existed on earth.  Apartheid was not thought to be that godly by many other Calvinists.

Born into culture as we are we cannot escape the influence of culture.  Often we live in a world that is both/and rather than either/or.  God can freely distinguish between the black and the white.  We humans do not exercise that ability to the same degree.  Often when we think we have clearly identified evil in the world it is the evil inside of ourselves that escapes our notice.

Grace and peace to you.

John

Interesting conversation Alex and RevJohn.

Alex, your second paragraph in your first post indicates you really want a "retied church" -- untied from doctrine and domination by "the establishment", and tied to Christ directly, and it is not really "church' you are pursuing, but discussion and exploration.  The title was catchy, and I compliment you on your choice of words.  I am not sure what your ultimate purpose is, but I wish you well in your project.