[amc] A note from the pastor
- From: "Garland Robertson" <lauralarue@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "Austin Mennonite Church" <amc@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 21 Jul 2004 22:46:45 -0500
Members and Friends of Austin Mennonite Church
I pray you are encouraged as you journey in God?s grace and mercy.
This Sunday we will be reflecting on the experience of prayer. Both our
concept of God and our recognition of our finitude interplay whenever we engage
the divine mystery in prayer. How does my perception of God?s character
influence my practice of prayer? In what ways does my attitude toward myself
affect my comfort whenever I dialogue with God? In what ways does my attitude
toward others and the created order affect my comfort whenever I consciously
acknowledge God?s presence? What can I learn from other seekers about prayer?
What can I learn from Jesus? These questions will help compose the sermon,
?Prayer: Finding God outside the Box.?
After worship this Sunday, at 11:00, you will have opportunity to view the
film, "Beyond Good and Evil," described below. Perhaps this could be a family
experience and the issues presented might be discussed at home. Following the
film, we will briefly identify the key elements and continue the discussion
next Sunday morning at 11:00.
May it go well with you. Sincerely,
Garland Robertson
...always hold firmly to the thought that each one of us can do something to
bring some portion of misery to an end
the
Film: "Beyond Good and Evil"
Summary:
The belief that ?good triumphs over evil? resonates deeply in our psyche
through religious, cultural, and political discourses. It is also a common
theme in the entertainment media where the struggle between good and evil is
frequently resolved through violence. The potential negative impact of media
violence on children has long been a public concern. It is even more troubling
when U.S. military violence, both in the news and in the entertainment, is
often glorified as heroic and patriotic.
Children's worlds of fantasy and reality collided when our political leaders,
in response to the September 11th tragedy, simplified the complex international
relationships into a fight between good and evil. The Bush administration used
the narrative strategically?and the news media perpetuated it with
enthusiasm?pumping up patriotism and generating public support for the
invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq.
This video examines how the "good and evil" rhetoric, in both the entertainment
and the news media, has helped children to dehumanize the enemies, justify
their killing and treat the suffering of innocent civilians as necessary
sacrifice. The interviews include media scholars (Robert Jenson, Robin
Andersen), child psychologists (Diane Levin, Nancy Carlsson-Paige), teachers
(Merrie Najimy, Brian Wright), educators (Eli Newberger and Betty Burkes), and
the children themselves.
Preview:
See preview at
http://www.mediaed.org/videos/CommercialismPoliticsAndMedia/BeyondGoodAndEvil
--- Garland Robertson
--- lauralarue@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
--- EarthLink: The #1 provider of the Real Internet.
Other related posts:
