Dreams Have Their Place

The story of Elijah and Elisha and the transfer of authority has little rational meaning to 21st century people. If such a story is considered to be a dream, then a new frame of reference is created for the sacred texts of many world religions. 

In the Hebrew Bible the story is found in the book of II Kings chapter 2. Jews and Christians look to the Bible in various ways. Some see it is the authority for all matters of faith. Some see the Bible as the authority for all knowledge. Some see it as a history book. Some see the Bible as a glimpse into the dream world that taps into the vast store of cultural experience of the human family.

 Transfer of authority is an elementary human experience for all cultures.  Whether the people vote or the present authority figures decide or whether violent struggles prevail the end result is the same. One generation gives over leadership as aging and death remove the weak or the less alert members of the community. 

In dreams human minds play out scenarios that could happen, often very frightening and irrational. In the 21st century the power of media to immerse people in the dream world created to exalt the powerful interests has come to dominate minds. 

Religion has the opportunity to revalue dreams in the cause of filling in some of the blanks in knowledge about our species. Leadership has to be willing to step forward onto the public stage and merit attention in the religious realm.

Delton

Institutional Paralysis Affects Some Christian Churches

The new is apparently a threat to some Christian leaders. At the very time when innovation is most needed the apparent response is to continue the practices of the past. That strikes me as a recipe for institutional paralysis.

 As a secular cultural world view grows in influence the usual practices of the church are simply sidelined. Irrelevant.

Perhaps church leadership is waiting for reporters or writers to come up with some key to create the refreshment of the institution. It simply does not work for religious organizations to take cues from the surrounding culture for finding a direction. Especially if the culture is decidedly alien to the cause being promoted by the religious leadership.

Responsibility needs to be assigned. Having been a leader in a denomination several years ago I have observed what appears to be a gradual diminishing presence of informed, educated, and courageous persons in leadership roles. Talk about being judgmental. Well, I too have opinions.

This is a complaint type of writing. No one may see it so the damage is minimal. Perhaps I can learn how to speak up from the safety of being 89 years of age.