colby elfords take on mad cow disease

i've been away for awhile. both my brain and body are the enemies keeping me from taking the time to write. i have too much homework, and at soccer the other day when i was making spectacular saves that would make nic olson proud, i wrecked my neck. i was mostly bed ridden until today, so here i am sharing my pointless thoughts with you once more.

check that. i'm going to share someone else's thoughts with you and ask you what you think. i'm reading a brilliant book right now by Douglas John Hall called "The Cross In Our Context". i highly recommend that everyone read it. anyway, i don't have time to explain everything about the book, but i just wanted to share some quotes with you that made me stop and re-evaluate some things. check it to wreck it...

"Triumphalism refers to the tendency in all strongly held worldviews, whether religious or secular, to present themselves as full and complete accounts of reality, leaving little if any room for debate or differences of opinion and expecting of their adherents unflinching belief and loyalty. Such a tendency is triumphalistic in the sence that it triumphs-at least in its own self-estimate-over all ignorance, uncertainty, doubt, and incompleteness, as well, of course, as over every other point of view...The only antidote to religious triumphalism is the readiness of communities of faith to permit doubt and self-criticism to play a vital role in the life of faith. Unforunately, it is unusual when a religious faith leaves room for profound questioning of itself on the part of its adherents. Even more rarely does religion actually invite and encourage such questioning. "

maybe it's more obvious that i thought, but do you agree with this? do you believe this is true of the church and its followers? if so, is that okay? do we need to change it? just some thoughts from a man much smarter than i.