Hacking Christianity

Welcome to Hacking Christianity

New Series: How to Hack the System

16 months ago we started a new project together: a blog talking about Christianity from a computer and religion nerd's perspective. We called it "Hacking Christianity" and have been tinkering with various Christian systems ever since.

But amidst all the star wars posts and humorous videos, on occasion one may look at the blog entries and perceive there's not much hacking being done. Or is there?

Hacking is simply a hermeneutic: a way of viewing an object. In this case, following the HX Manifesto, we are exposing new or novel interpretations or presentations of Christianity so that they break into people's closed systems of opinions about Christianity. Some are bad hacks which close up people's perceptions further. Some are great hacks which open up new biblical interpretations or allow the Spirit to flow easier. We need to look at what fundamentals are at play in making these hacks work.

Starting July 8th, there will be four weekly entries in a series about what fundamentals are at play in this hacking hermeneutic. We will be comparing classical definitions of "hacking" with hermeneutics with our approach here at HX. You will enjoy it.

Here's a short roadmap of the month:

Defining "Hacking" in the Post-Information Age of Church.
Won't Hacked Systems be broken and unsustainable?
Are Hackers really creating Open Source Theology?
Hacking in community: Where will we end up?

Thoughts at the outset?

Worst Camp Sign Ever [humor]

There's just so much wrong with this sign from FAILblog:

(1) Terrible way to shorten "Methodist Bible Campground"
(2) It's a "dead end"?

Sigh.

The Church as Shakespeare...ORLY?

Last week the English language surpassed 1 million words. While we want to blame the internet, the 1 millionth word was "web 2.0"...which is pretty old term in internet-speak.

I suspect the 2 millionth word will come much quicker. In a column in the Tulsa World on June 21st, Michael Overall writes that we now have multiple words or variations of words to describe one specific meaning. For instance, high English "novice" gets shorted to contemporary English's "newbie" gets shortened to text-friendly "n00b". There. Now we have three words to describe one subject, and three different groups (perhaps even generations) which will use them.

Overall's point is that the typical high school dropout recognizes 30,000 words, Rhodes scholars recognize 50,000 words, and the rest of us fall in-between. But with the growing number of words, when will we get to the point where we are no longer able to communicate with each other because we use completely different vocabularies?

Likewise, the number of Christian denominations grows by an estimated 260 per year, and there are an estimated 40,000 denominations today. While some lament the body of Christ being sliced up in this way, competing in inter-necine ways for believers, perhaps just as language is diffusing our experience of God is also necessarily diffusing so different groups can experience God in their language and systems of meaning.

But are we growing in understanding of God or dispersing our experience into a million different slices, not all recognizable to the other? At what point might denominations become completely anathema to each other as their language and systems are unrecognizeable to one another? Or has it already happened?

No real answer, just a musing. But there's an important point to be made that Overall missed in his article. He said that Shakespeare used 31,534 words in his plays and laments, and laments that people do not read them anymore and get the breadth of human language. But it is more important than just simple breadth: Shakespeare coined his own terms, created his own words, and we are using them today.

Today perhaps we are Shakespeare 2.0, and we are creating new experiences of God and calling God by new or renewed words that will benefit all of humankind. Perhaps in an uncoordinated way we are assembling a new work and body of Christ, fragmented as it may be, that is beautiful and evocative in its expression and embodiment. We will use old words and new words, but perhaps together we are creating a body of work and dreams that will inspire people down the road.

Thoughts?

NOTE: ORLY is internet-speak for "Oh really?" You are welcome.

And so it begins... [Road Trip]

Well, it begins. My spouse, two cats, and I will make a trek across America this week. We are leaving New England for the Plains as I begin a new position working with children and youth.

My last Sunday at my current parish was bittersweet and emotional. The congregation doubled in size as we celebrated three years of ministry in my first parish. As the longtime members told me: Pastors will serve a lot of churches, but they only serve their first parish once. So, yes, they will forever be a part of my heart.

The receiving parish has already exhibited tremendous hospitality and enthusiasm. They haven't had an associate pastor of children's and youth before, so they are just excited to have "grown up" enough to merit a dedicated staff person to these ministries. So the excitement of newness is in my spirit already, inoculating me against despair and stress of packing. At least...a little bit! Ha!

So...enough about me, let's move to the Blog. There's a few blog posts scheduled, but probably very light blogging for the next two weeks. There, there, don't cry. There are plenty of twitter updates will be coming. Give me a follow and you'll get them all!

I'm thankful for your prayers, karma, or well-wishes as we make this three-day trek. Blessings and see you on the other side of the Mississippi!

*No, that's not my truck. But it was humorous!

Sunday is for Star Wars

Mashup of Star Wars and the Princess Bride. Truly, is there any better combination?

Inconceivable.

Jesus' Model for Church Growth

As far as Church Growth goes, this is the best model I've seen...although it stops right when things get interesting (and, incidentally, uses Johannine chronology).