Monday, September 21, 2015

Reading, Thinking, and Blogging: Monday!

As promised, Monday is set aside for "choice" reading and blogging.  Today's challenge:

  • Write a blog post about your independent reading book 
  • or follow our blog link to the New York Times opinion page and write in response to a choice editorial.  Select a topic from the two column list of religious editorials and read the main story.  Read the discussions and create a post on your own blog site.  Your post should include the title of the article in your title.  


Like your book posts, you will include a short summary of the issue.  Quote a powerful passage (a few key lines) you would like to interpret and respond to.  Include a photo or graphic to illustrate your thoughts.  Proofread before you hit "publish."

You could write something like this below:

                          Natural Disaster or ‘Acts of God’? - New York Times Editorial

No doubt we have all heard comments about the wild fires in California, the recent tsunamis and earthquakes, flooding, and droughts, and people connecting these disasters with Biblical forecasts.  The question posed on the New York Times opinion page asks, “Is it constructive to think of natural disasters as acts of God?”

Professor Reuben Mendoza points out scripture to remind readers that those who want to blame God have a tendency to see God as vengeful. He explains that “To attribute these events to the will of God is to hold on to a tyrannical image of God.”  If God is love, then why would He allow people to suffer, and why would He render harm to humans?  Mendoza suggests that it is time to “lay this image to rest” because we live in an imperfect world and God is not taking vengeance on mankind.  He reminds readers of the good that comes of disasters, of the international community who help countries in need, sending volunteers and resources, raising funds for countries like the Philippines devastated by recent typhoons.  Disasters happen, but people are guided by God’s love.

I liked Mendoza’s editorial response to the question.  He describes a world full of hope, a God who is kind, guiding people to come to each other’s aid.  

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