I'm contributing one of my articles from the UPI column to a Best of ReligionandSpirituality.com book and need to pick one (or a series) that would be my contribution. My Ted Haggard piece got the most attention, but it was somewhat time-bound.
Here's the list of my columns. Would you mind letting me know which one you liked best and/or which you think would be appropriate for that kind of book?
Thanks in advance for your help. I have to let my editor know which piece by the 19th, but I'd like to sort it out sooner than that. :)
13 comments:
My top five favorites:
1)Faith's freefall: when Truth loes the capital T
2)Heretics for Jesus H. Christ
3))A word-slinger writes God
4)You can't cheat the dark gods
5)A yen for yin and yang
Susan
my favorites are:
The Great Rip Off and Go forth and be Unbalanced.
Julie, I enjoyed your entire series on black theology, with the most powerful -- I thought -- being "Every Drop of Blood Drawn With the Lash." I would vote for that, or any from that series.
- Matt
I echo what Matt said about your series on Black theology. For me it didn't get better than "Taking it to the black man's God" ... the psalm there is absolutely transcendant. Look forward to reading your column and blog this new year.
Blessings, Bob
The columns of yours that I like best are the ones where you effectively strip away many of the conceits and pretensions of Christianity as we've all commonly practiced it. "The Mission Impossible of Salvation" is a column that I enjoyed reading again. It addresses a central Christian motif ("salvation") but comes to a surprising conclusion, one that is characteristic of your theological expression these days.
"Inconsistent human beings hope in spite of... and that is what salvation is all about."
That's my thought for now, but I'll give this more consideration if you are still looking for feedback on this matter...
I am still looking for feedback. My editor likes my black theology series and that may be the one I choose. Still, I feel a bit like I unpacked someone else's theology in that one and my reaction to it and in some ways, I feel like I might prefer to share my own thoughts, my own theological perspective.
So please feel free to offer more ideas and reasons for them. If you were to pick up a book like that, what would you love to see in it that was from me. That's the idea.
Thanks Dave, Matt, Sandie, Susan and Bob. Anyone else?
Julie
I like this one:
Did God tip-toe out of the white church?
Column: Julie Unplugged
ReligionAndSpirituality.com
Nov 13 2006 05:21PM
Where the white church often fails is that we are not in a position to need or depend on God. We talk about cultivating need, but we are not needy. We preach our wretchedness and then drive home in nice cars.
Well, I actually like them all. But I think this one has such an important point to make that the people who needed Jesus the most and who hung around with him were not sitting around discussion theology or doctrine or cultivate an awareness of the depths of their sin. They did not have that luxury. I think that point is so extremely relevant here and now as well. Christians, and all of us, need to get out of our ivory towers and get messy.
As far as one that reflects your theological perspective, this one is terrific:
What's the matter with God?
Commentary: Julie Unplugged
Julie Bogart
UPI Religion & Spirituality
May 18, 2006
I've often said that I lost faith, but never lost interest. I said it glibly the first time but it's become the most accurate description of my Christian experience to date.
In spite of losing my faith, I couldn't shut-up about Christianity. I was as obsessed with losing my faith as I had been with building it. Christianity looked like a huge Legoland sculpture that was begging to be deconstructed one brick at a time. I took it slowly at first, lest I damage the shape and finished image. But as the pieces came off in bigger and bigger chunks, I eventually found myself swinging an axe like a lumberjack, hacking the perfect model to bits...
I hope I am not just saying choosing this one because it resonates with me personally, but rather because it is an honest and well articulated look at the journey of your deconstruction of beliefs. And I think it is so beautiful, and perhaps unexpected by many, that there was something wonderful left after all that disassembling.
Hi Julie,
I agree that the most powerful column is "Every Drop of Blood Drawn With the Lash." It contains lessons that we need to hear repeatedly. The story of the traders' decision to stack the slaves on the ships because the final yield was greater is horrifying.
I've enjoyed all of the columns and though I don't often comment, I appreciate your excellent writing and refreshing perspective.
Thanks, Mary H.
Thanks everyone. So far black theology is winning out. :) I love the other suggestions though too and will reread a few to see which feels right.
If you haven't weighed in yet and want to, I am still taking suggestions. It honors me that so many of you have read my columns! Thanks Mary for speaking up especially. :)
Julie
I like the one "Showdown with my religion".
I guess the black theology series rings better in the USA - not such an issue in Ireland! However, the "Showdown with my religion" speaks more to a person doing the right thing . . . even to a cost . . . and I guess a rejection by the very people who asked you to speak.
Love the blog.
DSE (Ireland)
DSE, thanks for posting a non-American take on my column. And good insight. I may go back to the drawing board 9aka editor) and throw that consideration out to him. I don't know who the intended audience is for this book.
I appreciate your contribution to the blog and hope you'll speak up more! (Btw, did you know I'm 755 Irish? Maiden name Sweeney and ancestors from Dublin.)
Sláinte
Hi
"Btw, did you know I'm 755 Irish? Maiden name Sweeney and ancestors from Dublin."
Didn't realise you were part Irish. Thats wonderful!!
Happy St. Patricks day!!
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