One of the many things I enjoy is to watch movies and think of creative ways they can be used in ministry. This could be using clips from them or using the entire movie for a Bible study. I think I enjoy this because it offers that connection point for people in their daily lives. This joy is exactly where the idea for my Religion and Media project came from. I had heard so much buzz about the movie Frozen and the soundtrack that I figured there had to be a way to look at it theologically. After watching the movie twice in theaters I realized there were many different elements that could be used to look at this movie through a theological lens. I created this Movie Mash as what would serve as an opening clip to show before engaging in a deeper Bible study on the movie Frozen. I think it could be viewed prior to watching the movie or after the movie is seen. There are points where I am intentional about creating a tension between the song and images/words, while other times I am trying to create a connected theme.
https://vimeo.com/84706759
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Sunday, January 12, 2014
Taking a Step Back!
As class ended yesterday I have spent the last day or so reflecting even more on the class. I just couldn't quite put words to where I was at last evening as I started to really tie some of the pieces together. Many of the elements started to link up as I started to think deeper about my project.
I went to Frozen last night to watch it through the lens of different theological loci. I was watching with the intent of starting to lay out my project. However, this discipline of watching or viewing a form of media through theological loci has tremendous power. We have this ability as Christians to always use a variety of theological lenses. I think to often we forget to do this and when that happens the media we are using lacks the full capacity it holds. Now, we may not always want to walk into a movie and watch it through a specific theological loci, but what might happen if you did every once in a while?
We may not always use a theological lens and that is ok. In the same way we may not have to always use social media or digital media. Tonight I witnessed how there is something special that can happen when we take that step back and let community develop naturally. At Youth group this evening I did not ask the youth to put their phones away I just helped initiate the beginning conversation. As the night went on the social/digital community they are often so attached to through their phone was placed on hold as they embraced the community around them and in their presence. There is something about us as humans that crave that relationship and true presence. The community that was present through their phone they would go back to but they also took the step back to embrace the real presence of community surrounding them. The further they engaged and embraced those around them the reminder to using caring language disappeared because they started to see Christ in each other. The transition was amazing to sit as an observer while still being a part of this community as it was forming. The media of a board game and the Bible was all that was needed for this group of youth to build on our human desire for relationship in profound ways. Which community is more important, the digital or real presence?
More on the project and Youth night to come. The one last thing as I reflect back on the class. I was nervous about starting this blog and have come to appreciate blogging. It goes back to a connection piece and to engage in conversation in a new way. I am thankful for this class as it has opened my eyes in new ways and I look forward to continuing to blog periodically.
I went to Frozen last night to watch it through the lens of different theological loci. I was watching with the intent of starting to lay out my project. However, this discipline of watching or viewing a form of media through theological loci has tremendous power. We have this ability as Christians to always use a variety of theological lenses. I think to often we forget to do this and when that happens the media we are using lacks the full capacity it holds. Now, we may not always want to walk into a movie and watch it through a specific theological loci, but what might happen if you did every once in a while?
We may not always use a theological lens and that is ok. In the same way we may not have to always use social media or digital media. Tonight I witnessed how there is something special that can happen when we take that step back and let community develop naturally. At Youth group this evening I did not ask the youth to put their phones away I just helped initiate the beginning conversation. As the night went on the social/digital community they are often so attached to through their phone was placed on hold as they embraced the community around them and in their presence. There is something about us as humans that crave that relationship and true presence. The community that was present through their phone they would go back to but they also took the step back to embrace the real presence of community surrounding them. The further they engaged and embraced those around them the reminder to using caring language disappeared because they started to see Christ in each other. The transition was amazing to sit as an observer while still being a part of this community as it was forming. The media of a board game and the Bible was all that was needed for this group of youth to build on our human desire for relationship in profound ways. Which community is more important, the digital or real presence?
More on the project and Youth night to come. The one last thing as I reflect back on the class. I was nervous about starting this blog and have come to appreciate blogging. It goes back to a connection piece and to engage in conversation in a new way. I am thankful for this class as it has opened my eyes in new ways and I look forward to continuing to blog periodically.
Friday, January 10, 2014
Power of Authenticity
We covered a wide breath of
information today, but what struck me was when we started to make the
connections from the entire week that really creates a complex web. We talked
about authenticity numerous times throughout the week. We also emphasized how
important this is especially in social media. This hit me even more today
when we started to talk about Pope Francis and the narrative that is
told. The narrative that is told is the one that continues to be witnessed, but
I think you could argue it also continues to be told because it is authentic.
As humans, relationship is part of our very being, but authenticity is central
in relationships. No one wants to be in a relationship with a fake.
The narrative the is
created about Pope Francis comes from more than one source. We looked at A Big Heart Open to God that was an interview
published in America, we also looked at Evangelii Gaudium, and discussed the numerous
images like this one. 
All of these sources start
to create a narrative that has a common thread that if you look to other places
would more than likely be present as well. Authenticity is present!
Elizabeth Drescher and
Keith Anderson talk about how important authenticity is in social media in
their book Click 2 Save: The Digital Ministry
Bible. This
idea is present in many places throughout the book, but one place I really
enjoy is this quote, "One of the reasons Bolz-Weber is so effective is that she
has a clear and consistent voice - the same voice you hear whether you talk to
her in person, text her, or tweet back and forth." (page 163) There is an
authenticity that it present when there is a consistent voice being heard and
perceived whether it be via media or not.
Just as Drescher and Anderson,
talk about social media has great advantages and I would be one of the first to
agree, but as I have experienced firsthand this week one of the shortcomings in
the digital world. I think, we have to always keep a filter on and ask are we
being authentic? Is it one voice being heard or many? What narrative are we creating?
This week I have been
working on retrieving my lost/delayed luggage. United has utilized digital media just
as many other companies, but as I have experienced this week the media has not
always been a unified voice. I have received mixed messages and that has
resulted in my perception of their authenticity to be greatly compromised. As I
write this still sitting without my luggage at what will be one week when 1am
strikes, I witnessed how digital media can go wrong. I am not saying we toss
digital media out. Please hear that! I have said before and I will say again, I
think digital media is important and has great value. Also, hear me say I think
we need to keep in mind that we want to remain authentic and create a narrative,
which shares a common thread. I think we also create within that narrative a way to handle situations when things go wrong in the digital social media world. What are some of the ways you have handled situations in the social media world when they went array so they did not compromise your authenticity or your narrative?
There is power in social media and there is power
in authenticity!
Thursday, January 9, 2014
If only the question was traditional vs. contemporary...
Today we discussed what is necessary for worship to be authentic
in relation to Luther's
Seven Marks of the church and adiaphora. I am
one for whom worship is really important, but I also believe that there are
many ways in which worship can be authentic. I have had many conversations with
people about traditional vs. contemporary, church building vs. another local,
but this conversation becomes even more complex as we enter into the media
world, especially with digital and social media. We joked today if only the
questions were about traditional and contemporary. If only!
As we talked I had several questions I will
continue to ponder. The one I would love to hear your thoughts on is what is
important for you in worship? What makes worship authentic for you personally?
Now, the Seven Marks of the church are
important and I would say critical, but there are also those things that we
categorize as adiaphora but are still of importance. I think those adiaphora things
are some of what make us feel like worship is authentic or not even when it may
meet all the Seven Marks. However, I think this gets interesting when we start
to think about the community and the space that is created that is allowing for
prayer, public praise, and thanksgiving to God. This is a mark of the church
but I think some of the adiaphora things help it happen at times. For instance,
we would say most of the time the church building and sanctuary are adiaphora,
but how does that maybe influence the community in worship when we look at
these two worship spaces below? Now I am not saying one is right or wrong. I
think both can allow authentic worship to happen but does the set-up make a
difference when we extend out to social media like Skype, FaceTime, LiveStreaming (Ustream), etc.
Parker
Palmer in To
Know As We Are Known: Education As A Spiritual Journey talks about
the physical arrangement of the classroom, is our worship space different. He
talks about how the set-up can invite relations to form with each other and
have an element of hospitality or this can be absent. I think this is true of
our worship spaces virtual or physical. I also think the physical set-up could
be the same in two different places and relay two different messages based on
the community.
For instance, I think you could Skype the same person into two different churches that were physically set up the same and that person could say one was authentic and the other was not. They could report that it was because one they knew the community there even though they were on the screen. They could say both were not because it is important to be physically present in the community. I have to wonder what is "public", what is the role of the community, and does physical presence matter.
If only it was the question of traditional vs. contemporary...
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Whose in and whose out?: Christ as Community
As we talked today about
what it means to be a Christian Community I wondered even more how we determine
some of whose in and whose out. We seem to categorize all the time. We talked
about social media communities and never came to an answer as to whether some social media communities were Christian communities or not. Does the element of a virtual space
that exists on social media in and of itself mean it is “out” from being deemed
a Christian community? Or is there something more to it?
I like to believe there is
something more to Christian community. We talked about Dietrich Bonhoeffer today and his book Life Together and Prayerbook of
the Bible. I have to agree with him when he says, "The Christ
of Life Together is the binding force of
that community in its "togetherness," gracing Christians to go beyond
the superficial, often self-centered, relationships of their everyday
associations toward a more intimate sense of what it means to be Christ to
others, to love others as Christ has loved them." (page 8) As this image shows,
I think of Christ as the center in us the one in whom we are always welcome and
where we learn how to see and love others.
 |
| http://www.thechristiancommunity.org/about/ |
I think when we can form
this commitment in Christian communities to love as Christ first loved, something powerful is truly at work.
Parker Palmer talks about in his book, To Know As We Are Known: Education
As A Spiritual Journey, community takes commitment. I do
not think any community truly functions well without a level of commitment. It
is in this commitment that forms in communities that knowledge arises. I would
even go to say in Christian communities when we are committed to being Christ
to others and to love others as Christ has loved it is then where we start to
gain an even deeper and meaningful understanding of God. I also believe that
when this plays out in effective ways, especially in social media there is a
value for how it proclaims the gospel. The specific notion of this that comes
to mind is Abiding Presence's YouTube channel and
specifically this video.
What ways have you seen
Christian community effectively portrayed in social media? How do you see it
proclaiming the gospel?
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Perception of the Imago Dei
Today as we talked about being created in the image of the Imago Dei this
video that was going around Facebook came to mind. http://clashdaily.com/2014/01/labelled-worlds-ugliest-woman-lizzie-velasquez-knows-god-sees-true-beauty/
Lizzie Velasquez who was labeled the ugliest woman in the world looks to her
disease and her situation not as a disability. She talks about how she comes to
understand that God sees her true beauty. I wonder some, what her response
would be to being created in the Imago Dei. When we talked in class about being
created in the image of God and if we could visualize God having a disability
Lizzie makes me ponder this even more. I wonder how Lizzie helps or hinders
each of our understandings of being created in the Imago Dei and our views of
what is or is not a disability when it comes to God.
Monday, January 6, 2014
The Cross of Love
Today one of the
many topics engaged in class was a Theology of the Cross vs. a Theology of
Glory. We looked at several different Thesis in Luther's Heidelberg Disputation.
One that struck me in a new way today was Thesis 28. The idea that
we learn how to love from God and we love because God first loved us is a
powerful way to look at Thesis 28. It also had me thinking about our sin and
the forgiveness that we are given. Paul Tillich came to mind and a few of the
statements he makes in his book, The New
Being. In this book, he says, “Genuine
forgiveness is participation, reunion overcoming the powers of estrangement.
And only because this is so, does forgiveness make love possible.” (page 10) Then just a
few pages later says, “We can love without being sure of the answering
love of the other one.” (page 12) I think Tillich helps us capture even more the idea
Luther is getting at and what connects to the concept of being a Theologian of
the Cross. The cross is the ultimate example of this love even in the mess and
pain of the world. The cross is that visible sign of love and forgiveness that we can view the world and our lives through.
I truly believe that various platforms of media can aid us in responding with love when we use them effectively. Drescher & Anderson allude to how they can aid in their book, Click 2 Save: The Digital Ministry Bible. They say, "People need to know that you care-and they need to care about you before they will ever care about your institution." (page 37) The reality is social media can aid us in responding in and with love to deepen and enrich relationships. Our love can extend wide and it can enhance what is already present. I believe when we use social media and other media to intensify relationships and to use it as another way to respond it is in those moments we are using media effectively. This is not the only time, but one exemplary example.
I truly believe that various platforms of media can aid us in responding with love when we use them effectively. Drescher & Anderson allude to how they can aid in their book, Click 2 Save: The Digital Ministry Bible. They say, "People need to know that you care-and they need to care about you before they will ever care about your institution." (page 37) The reality is social media can aid us in responding in and with love to deepen and enrich relationships. Our love can extend wide and it can enhance what is already present. I believe when we use social media and other media to intensify relationships and to use it as another way to respond it is in those moments we are using media effectively. This is not the only time, but one exemplary example.
Sunday, January 5, 2014
Welcome to Religion and Media
Let me begin by introducing myself. I am a senior at Gettysburg Seminary pursuing a Master of Divinity degree. Upon graduation I am hoping to be ordained as pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) serving a congregation some place in the country.
I am currently taking a January course titled Religion and Media that has us blogging for the course. Honestly blogging has always been something that has been intimidating. This class has me taking the leap to give blogging a try. The course began this afternoon as we started to dive in head first and begin our exploration how the media culture currently infiltrating our every day lives impacts how we understand ourselves, God, community, and our world. We will spend time reflecting on how religion and theology are intertwined with various forms of media.
One of the opening questions we were asked today to answer when introducing ourselves was "What do you think of when you hear religion and media?" On a whole the class answered this question in various ways from being agnostic to media to embracing a large variety of media platforms present in our culture. I cannot say that I am one who is all about media, but I most certainly do not oppose it either. I believe there is great power in media especially when it comes to religion. I am constantly intrigued as to how others are using media to enrich their daily lives but especially their faith lives.
I recently heard of a church who was using Google Drive with their confirmation program. Each week the leaders would post questions that related to what they had discussed in class and then the youth would respond at some point throughout the week. The Google Doc provided the space for the youth to internalize what was discussed in class but also to develop a relationship with each other as they continued to reflect theologically on the class content.
I would love to hear about the creative ways you or your congregation are using media. I am not always convinced as people of faith we use media in the most productive ways, so I am hoping to find ways to tap into the helpful power media possesses. I hope that as I post ideas, thoughts, and questions that you may help me as I journey to find new ways of engaging media especially when it comes to relationships with each other as people. Thanks for joining me!
I am currently taking a January course titled Religion and Media that has us blogging for the course. Honestly blogging has always been something that has been intimidating. This class has me taking the leap to give blogging a try. The course began this afternoon as we started to dive in head first and begin our exploration how the media culture currently infiltrating our every day lives impacts how we understand ourselves, God, community, and our world. We will spend time reflecting on how religion and theology are intertwined with various forms of media.
One of the opening questions we were asked today to answer when introducing ourselves was "What do you think of when you hear religion and media?" On a whole the class answered this question in various ways from being agnostic to media to embracing a large variety of media platforms present in our culture. I cannot say that I am one who is all about media, but I most certainly do not oppose it either. I believe there is great power in media especially when it comes to religion. I am constantly intrigued as to how others are using media to enrich their daily lives but especially their faith lives.
I recently heard of a church who was using Google Drive with their confirmation program. Each week the leaders would post questions that related to what they had discussed in class and then the youth would respond at some point throughout the week. The Google Doc provided the space for the youth to internalize what was discussed in class but also to develop a relationship with each other as they continued to reflect theologically on the class content.
I would love to hear about the creative ways you or your congregation are using media. I am not always convinced as people of faith we use media in the most productive ways, so I am hoping to find ways to tap into the helpful power media possesses. I hope that as I post ideas, thoughts, and questions that you may help me as I journey to find new ways of engaging media especially when it comes to relationships with each other as people. Thanks for joining me!
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