Here are some more excerpts from Supercapitalism by Robert Reich (previous excerpts here). This sums up my tension with our current two options better than anything else. It is such a rich excerpt. And if you have even a mild interest in economics, you can probably resonate with this weird tension that Reich describes. This [...]

Instead of just bulk reviewing books like I did in the previous year, I hope to start sharing some weekly excerpts from the books I’m reading in hopes that it might encourage others to pick them up and give them a read. Currently I’m reading Supercapitalism: The Transformation of Business, Democracy, and Everyday Life by [...]

Part A, Part B, Part C, Part D, Part E, Part F
More quotes/reflections from Everything Must Change. This quote immediately follows yesterday’s.

This is why I believe that many of our current eschatologies, intoxicated by our dubious interpretations of John’s Apocalypse, are not only ignorant and wrong, but dangerous and immoral. By way of ignorance, they [...]

Part A, Part B, Part C, Part D, Part E
More quotes/reflections from Everything Must Change.

A friend of mine, referring to how groups form and behave, says, “Architecture always wins,” meaning that people’s behavior is always shaped by the spaces in which they gather. Theologically, I think we could say, “Eschatology always wins.”
Far from being an [...]

Part A, Part B, Part C, Part D
We’re done with the 4 comparisons. Now onto really good thoughts that I’m finding helpful.

I think this would be my greatest critique against consumerism, my life, and hyper-capitalism.
“Socially, in this economy we consume time and produce fatigue, consume art and talent and produce entertainment and amusement, consume work [...]

Part A, Part B, Part C

The fourth question builds off of and answers the first and the second and the third.
Fourth question . . .
Purpose of Jesus: Why Is Jesus Important
Conventional View: Jesus came to solve the problem of “original sin”, meaning that he helps qualified individuals not to be sent to hell for [...]

Part A, Part B

The third question builds off of and answers the first and the second.
Third question . . .
Jesus’ Message: How did Jesus respond to the crisis?
Conventional View: Jesus says, in essence, “If you want to be among those specifically qualified to escape being forever punished for your sins in hell, you must [...]

Part A

The second question builds off of and answers the first.
Second question . . .
Basic Questions: What questions did Jesus come to answer?
Conventional View: Since everyone is doomed to hell, Jesus seeks to answer one or both of these questions: How can individuals be saved from eternal punishment in hell and instead go to [...]

I’ve decided instead of putting up a formal review of Brian McLaren’s new book, Everything Must Change, I would just excerpt bits and pieces of it that I found insightful or helpful. So feel free to interact with these thoughts via the comments and we can go from there. There are probably a dozen of [...]

This is the last paragraph from Dave Egger’s book What is the What (review here) about one of the Lost Boys of Sudan.
Whatever I do, however I find a way to live, I will tell these stories. I have spoken to every person I have encountered these last days, and every person who has entered [...]