Peer Review - Is it a religions option?

In the academic world in general and in scientific studies in particular, the Peer Review process is used to validate and winnow out the research and possible articles that lead in useful directions. When rigorously applied, Peer Review does provide a control over random information sharing.

In the field of religion it appears that Peer Review is a difficult prospect at best. The breadth of religious practice and scholarship with no central management or coordination means that no group or constituted authority really is in charge of the process of religion.

The task here is to discover situations where Peer Review is actually used in religious situations. It is a given that there is no overarching or global religious authority in religion. The next best thing is to find local or regional arenas where Peer Review is put into practice.

The question that brings on this study comes from a person in the research science realm asking how free wheeling and irresponsible religious personalities can be controlled since they do considerable damage to the social order. He asks if Peer Review is practiced anywhere in the world of religion. If and when answers appear they will be announced here.

Pastor Joe Tells It Like It Is...

Good writing coupled with sensible thought merits attention. In a news letter entitled "The Spirit and Flame", Pastor Joe from out at the Atwater, Hawick and Rosendale United Methodist Parish in central western Minnesota says some strong words regarding Christians in America - or any other nation.

He begins with Jesus and folks who wanted to make Jesus their king and take over the land. Jesus refused to get in that game. Later on the Christian Church was not so perceptive and came to enjoy and take advantage of the privileges of being well treated by government and business. Then Joe talks about present day Christian who wish to make America a "Christian Nation" while forgetting Jesus who specifically said His kingdom is not of "this world".

Here are some specific words by the Pastor: "Christ remained outside the earthly power structure so he could champion the cause of the oppressed and downtrodden. Similarly the Church of Christ should not be part of the power structures of our day....We are called by Christ to be a righteous influence upon the world. We are not called to make Christ's Church a part of the world by trying to form an earthly kingdom in Christ's name...The dispossessed, poor, oppressed, and downtrodden deserve our concern and suppor, just as they received Jesus' support and concern."

This thought provoking language is what people at the Atwater, Hawick and Rosendale churches have to deal with week by week. Lucky them. 

Ttansfiguration Sunday March 6, 2011

In the Christian church year there is a day called Transfiguration Sunday. This day commemorates the time when Jesus and his disciples Peter, James and John were up on a high mountain. What happened there was a terrifying experience that scared the disciples. The event is thought of in Christian circles as a time when the historic connection of Jesus to ancient holy people was made evident and the authenticity of Jesus made evident. (see Matthew 17:1-9)
This event is usually interpreted as a grand display of otherworldly spiritual excitement. I think there is another side to the story. This was in fact a very familiar scene to folks who climb up mountains. The sudden changes in weather that happen in mountain climbing can disorient and challenge the best climbers. A thunder storm when one is exposed on an open mountain face is quite memorable. The scene was about as earthly as it gets.
I am considering the connection of Transfiguration with present day video projects that present sound and visuals that give people a mountain top thrill in the comfort of their own living room.  I think of the attempts of pastors and other worship leaders to give folks a taste of the Transfiguration event in the comfort of their own church sanctuary. Good luck on that one! Even with full surround sound and huge screens in mega churches the attempt is doomed if the purpose is a spiritual transformation for the attendees. There may well be an emotional thrill that will be familiar to video devotees but the familiarity of it all will soon fade into the wallpaper of life.
So is Transfiguration Sunday of any use in the 21st century? I intend to find out on March 6.