CYM Miscellenay
A few links I said I would post.
For Gregorian psalm tones have a look at Chant Blog.
The site with the Orthodox podcast is Our Life in Christ. You can find their archives here, and subscribe to their podcast here. Another podcast worth listening to is A Word from the Holy Fathers.
If I’ve missed anything (or you’d like something else) please contact me.
Emic and Etic Viewpoints
How is it best to understand a group of people? Broadly, there are two ways in which the problem can be tackled: you can look at the way the community describes itself (an emic view); or you can consider the grouping entirely from the outside as a ‘neutral’ observer (the etic view).
It doesn’t take much thought to see that both views have their limitations, and ultimately a balance has to be found.
Anyway, if I were teaching the Faith Communities next year I would probably use this video to show how the activities of a group can often speak louder than their words:
Also, in true emic style I’ve rejoined Facebook. You can all line up to call me a hypocrite on Tuesday!
Anabaptists
The best online source of information on the Anabaptists is the Anabaptist Network. The Martyr’s Mirror, which records many martyrdoms, can be found here. It is worth spending some time browsing it in order to gain an appreciation of the thought of the time. It was compiled in 1660.
The images from the book (some of which I used in the lecture) can be found here.
Religion Book by Andy Mangold
I’m a sucker for design blogs.
Andy Mangold has posted some useful graphics which illustrate the relative global strengths of the main world religions. The information is useful in itself, but the presentation is a good example of displaying what can be a boring list of numbers in a way that is easily understandable. I feel that good design is too often overlooked in presentations and, also, liturgy. There is no excuse, people.
Like I say, I’m a sucker for design blogs.
Ascetic Christianity
From the BBC series: Extreme Pilgrim.
(via Orthodox Fathers)
Celtomania in Eastern Siberia
A great place to spend some time is the back articles section of the Road to Emmaus Journal and there’s one article in particular that I’ve been waiting to get added: Celtomania in Eastern Siberia.
I heard Fr. Nicanor Lupeshev give a talk (and show a video) on this a few years back, and I was struck by the way in which Orthodox Christianity could interact with a very different culture. This is all good cross-cultural mission, but remember that Fr. Nicanor is a monk-priest and so has long hair, a long beard and wears a large cross over his robes.
This, then, is mission which is authentic and which does not try and pretend to be something else. Read it!
Ancient Rome in 3D
The Roman Empire is clearly an important background to not only the New Testament but also Early Christianity. Google Earth have added a new Ancient Rome layer, and it’s good!
Go find out more by looking here and here.
Church Times – Anglican churches embrace Florida ‘revival’
Those of you who have been asking me those endless questions about events in Florida might be interested in this:
Church Times – Anglican churches embrace Florida ‘revival’
Catholicism
Last week I was asked for some resources which would give a short introduction to Catholicism, something on not only the theology but also the culture.
I’m still looking for the ultimate resource, but here are some which might help:
The Catechism of the Catholic Church is the authoritative document on “the Church’s faith and of catholic doctrine, attested to or illumined by Sacred Scripture, the Apostolic Tradition and the Church’s Magisterium”. It is encyclopedic and worth looking at. However, it is also long!
For a shorter introduction, I would recommend An Intelligent Person’s Guide to Catholicism by Fr Alban McCoy.
Pubs, Clubs & Alternative Worship
James mentioned a collection of videos made by students of Calvin College in the US of a visit to London in 2008. They focus on the worship led emergent church movement and you can get to them via their channel on Youtube.