The Heart of Christianity - Rediscovering a Life of Faith
by Marcus Borg		 Clicking the book anywhere will bring you back to this starting page.
"Do you still not perceive or understand? ... Do you have eyes, and fail to see? Do you have ears, and fail to hear?" (Mark 8:17-18)  
The Holy Manners Book Study Group. This book asks what it means to be a Christian today. Borg introduces a "new paradigm" that revitalizes our traditions. This Winter 2005 book study is archived on the website for the review and sharing of any other netizens. It is a record of our proceedings, our research and our meditations. We hope it might be of help in your own study of this excellent book.
Excerpt from Chapter 6 - Born Again The author has put part of Chapter 6 - Born Again on line at explorefaith.org. Click left to read the excerpt to see how he revitalizes the understanding of "born again".
Background on Holy Manners Holy Manners The background on the phrase and why we have adopted it. The guidelines for our studies.
Click to visit the St. David's Adult Ed Forum Internet Discussion Group at Yahoo - the St. David's Forum. The archive is public and readable. Participation is by invitation. Click HERE if you would like to join. You will then be able to post your own responses to the list and will be emailed the notices and contributions of the others. Click left to visit the archives of the site (read only). There are presently 75 persons.
Book Review Book Review - By Wayne Holst
not the words not the words - a poem by jock
The Internet Reference Collection Research Page for this study. This will grow during the study also.
      Course Outline and Links to the 8 Session Pages   
Section Review and Discussion Questions (courtesy Peter Barnes and FFF).
Chapter notes will be posted after each session.
January 10 Introductory Session.
January 17 Preface: What does it mean to be a Christian today?
Ch 1: The Heart of Christianity in a time of change.
January 24 Ch 2: Faith: The way of the Heart
Ch 3: The Bible: The Heart of the tradition.
January 31 Ch 4: God: The Heart of reality
Ch 5: Jesus: The Heart of God
February 7 Ch 6: Born Again: A New Heart
February 14 Ch 7: The Kingdom of God: The Heart of Justice
February 21 Ch 8: Thin Places: Opening the Heart
Ch 9: Sin and Salvation: Transforming the Heart
February 28 Ch 10: The Heart of the Matter: Practice
Ch 11: Heart and Home: Being a Christian in an age of Pluralism.
This course is developed from the work of Rev Peter J Barnes in Australia from an course outline prepared for St Stephen's Uniting Church in Australia as made available through Faith Futures Foundation. and from a course delivered by Wayne at the University of Calgary last fall. This study will focus on small group discussion. In addition to reading the 2 chapters each week, preparation will be facilitated by Peter Barnes Synopsis and discussion questions on each session page. Weblinks will be posted both to the website and links posted to the Yahoo StDavids Forum. Format: opening meditation, Wayne and Jock will each share their take on one of the 2 chapters of the evening, small group discussions, plenary discussion, closing meditation.
Group Facilitator. Wayne Holst

I spent most of my life thinking like a church professional, rather than as a regular congregational member. My training as a pastor always had me asking myself 'how can I apply this discovery, insight, new information to a regular church setting?'

Often, clergy have been hesitant to share the discoveries they have made through a 'critical' approach to the Bible with their parishoners because they wonder how laypeople might accept it. I have found that many thinking laity are professionals in their own fields of endeavour and understand a critical approach very readily. What they seek are ways of relating faith to daily living.

I am grateful for the journey I have been taking through ordained ministry to teaching at the university and serving as a fellow layperson at St.David's United Church. Here we find that questioning and honest expression of our faith and doubt is readily accepted and supported.
EMAIL WAYNE
Group Facilitator. Jock McTavish

I am a student and a poet, a democrat and a techocrat, an eclectic eccentric. I grew up in a loving Baptist community, so in my heart I'm still a Bible loving evangelical. As I grew in learning I found a new home in the United Church whose tolerance embraces the broadest range of Christian understanding. I most enjoy the illumination of our ancient traditions by modern scholarship. For they show in clear novel ways that the perspectives of the Special Ones were seldom the understandings of those that followed. They show all knowledge to be in relationship .

There seems a lack of understanding in our secular world for religious practices. The reasons why I still gladly - even necessarily - attend church are difficult to voice to those unfamiliar with church, or those injured by church. Elliott got it right. We find our way back to the place we started from. But with new understanding.
EMAIL JOCK


January 2005