God Doesn't Need a Debate Team

Tonight I watched a movie called Lord Save Us From Your Followers. It's subtitled "Why the Gospel of Love is Dividing America" and tied into several things I've been thinking about.

When I was a teenager I went to a Christian apologetics camp and learned how to "defend" my belief in God, the Bible, etc. As part of the camp we'd talk to people on the street about religion. It was pretty much about convincing people that Christianity was a more valid worldview than whatever they believed in.

I'm all about conversations and intelligent dialogue--that's why I want to go into publishing, because ideas MATTER and impact people's lives. But, as quoted in the Lord Save Us movie, "No one ever converted to Christianity because they lost the argument."

In John 15 Jesus says, "If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love."

When I read that, my mind immediately jumped to moral codes. Don't get drunk, swear, or have sex outside marriage. But he didn't say that. He didn't even say to practice apologetics on people until they convert. He said, "this is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you."

Was Jesus about defending doctrine? Or about love? About rules? Or about love?

Now how exactly I'm supposed to love others like he did I don't know. The embarassing thing is I don't really try. But has anyone come up with anything better to strive for in life?

Lame

You'd think a person interested in publishing would actually devote time to something important, like, keeping up a regular blog. But no.

All this England/Europe stuff is getting a tad overwhelming. I'll be submitting my visa application in the next few days--it'll be a relief when all that is over. I have to go downtown to get my "biometrics" taken--a laser scan of my fingers and face (not smiling!) as part of the UK's anti-terrorism methods.

I'm also trying to figure out where and when to visit in Europe. France, Italy, Switzerland, Ireland, and Scotland are on the must-see list. I'm not so sure about Germany, Spain, and eastern Europe though. My great-grandparents came from Romania, so maybe I'll try to dig up my ancestral hometown.

All this and I'm trying soak in these months at home. Oxford will be great, but I have to admit part of me dreads leaving.

Reading Disorder

My eyes are bigger than my stomach. Especially when it comes to books.

Thanks to the local library system, I indulge myself with armloads of books I couldn't afford. It's only slightly more likely that I'll read them all. For instance, I came home today with

The Children of Hurin -- J.R.R and Christopher Tolkien (as a proud LOTR freak in adolescence, I need to at least attempt this)
The Year of Magical Thinking -- Joan Didion (recommended at the writers' conference as an example of a great memoir)
Taliesin -- Stephen Lawhead (another conference recommendee. Looks a bit D&D, nerdy-homeschooler-type, but I'll give it a shot)
The God Delusion -- Richard Dawkins (cause I figure it's good to read what atheists actually think, instead of reading rebuttals to them)
The Dawkins Delusion -- Alister and Joanna McGrath (for dessert)

I admit, I bought my mom a book for Mother's Day. But at least I'm making brunch too.

Woot for Student Universe

I just bought my ticket from Seattle to London for a STEAL off Student Universe, quite possibly the coolest site on the Internet. My official departure date is September 18.

Maybe when the charge comes through on my credit card it will start to seem real.

Nonversation

From the Urban Dictionary...too good not to share:

Nonversation: A completely worthless conversation, wherein nothing is illuminated, explained or otherwise elaborated upon. Typically occurs at parties, bars or other events where meaningful conversation is nearly impossible.

Smith: What a waste of time it is talking to that guy.

Jones: I know, every time I do, it's like a complete nonversation.

- - -

Is there an equivalent word to describe a blog post?

Spying on Authors: a wannabe editor goes undercover

This weekend I attended a Christian writers’ conference, at which the average attendee had a good 25 years on me. But I stood out for another reason: I don’t write.

Amid the mostly middle-aged women with their manuscripts, I had my eyes on the Simon Cowells of the conference: the editors. These guys send the thousands of rejection letters that dash the publishing dreams of writers everywhere. But win them over, and your book might see the light of Borders.

Throughout the conference, one thing became clear: hundreds of writers face a market that demands not only verbal artistry, but a marketing platform of speaking engagements, a loyal blog following, and “personal branding.”

While I don’t have the fortitude or creativity to be one of them, I left the conference with a new appreciation for authors. Writing comes slowly to me, and marketing my ideas sounds terrifying. But standing behind a great idea and becoming an advocate for that unpublished book —that’s why I want to join those “bad guys” known as editors.

Holding Out for a Hero

After spending 1,168 pages with Atlas Shrugged, I figured I owe Ayn Rand at least a blog post!

I agreed with many of Rand's economic points. Atlas was even a good read, (albeit her philosophical arguments got repetitive). It's a novel of the Übermensch, which makes Rand's statement in the "About the Author" section even more intriguing:

"I trust that no one will tell me that men such as I write about don't exist. That this book has been written--and published--is my proof that they do."

The men she writes about are superheroes who achieve perfection not through self-sacrifice, but self-interest. In Rand's world, justice reigns over mercy and love must be earned. Yet somehow she manages to make this look appealing. Throughout the novel, I found myself asking why.

I think it's because she has so many things right. Take this passage for instance:

"There are two sides to every issue: one side is right and the other is wrong, but the middle is always evil. The man who is wrong still retains some respect for truth, if only by accepting the responsibility of choice. But the man in the middle is the knave who blanks out the truth in order to pretend that no choice or values exist, who is willing to sit out the course of any battle. . . . In any compromise between good and evil, it is only evil that can profit" (1054).

Ayn Rand is no relativist. I think she's wrong in her conclusion that mankind can achieve its heroic potential apart from God. But she's consistent. And the picture she offers of humanity at its fullest--discovering, inventing, exploring, delighting in life and each other--isn't very far off from what God intended all along.