Should One Ministry Control the Internet?

The International Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers recently announced that they had received 1,930 applications from organizations and individuals wanting to own new specific web address extensions. (Similar to .com, .net and .biz) With nearly half of the applications originating in North America, most are exactly who you'd expect. Apple computer company is seeking to lock down .apple and protect their brand, ABC wants to ensure no one tries to stream their shows on a (perhaps convincing) address and geographic regions look to protect their images for Pr and tourism profits.

Amongst the sea of application is one stream that stands out in this collection of multi-national corporations, governments, and wealthy entrepreneurs: religious organizations. RNS reports that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints placed bids on .LDS and .Mormon and that the Vatican applied for .Catholic in four languages at a cost of $740,000.

Monsignor Paul Tighe, secretary of the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Social Communications has said .Catholic will help his church deliver its message online.

But only entities, parishes and religious orders formally recognized under canon law would be allowed to use .Catholic, "so people online -- Catholics and non-Catholics -- will know a site is authentically Catholic," Tighe told Catholic News Service. 

At a time when the vatican is battling liberal theologians and American nuns over the definition of modern Catholicism, .Catholic would ... allow the church hierarchy to monitor and control its brand...

What I find most interesting about RNS's article, though, is that the LifeChurch.tv applied for the simple extension .church.  LifeChurch has said that they will most likely allow any organization of people who share "similar religious beliefs" to apply.

What do you think about ICANN ceding control over vast swathes of online real estate to organizations with enough cash? Should any one ministry be allowed to decide who has access to .church, .christian or any other religious web address extension?

A (Short) Night of Music with Dala

This weekend, we took the Little One to his first concert. He lasted a solid 25 minutes before meltdown. Not too bad for 18 months old.


I think he might've lasted a little longer if the gals in Dala weren't as good at connecting with their audience. His interest waned during the talking portions of the show, but boy did he love listening to the "pretty girls" sing.


Of the handful of songs we heard before our forced exit, my favorite was a bouncy tribute to the attraction of opposites called Lennon-McCartney.





We were planning on attending all along, but decided to grab a seat for the little one at the last minute to give him a chance to practice sitting still. It'll come in handy later when we go to the SAU Galvin Fine Arts presentation of Dakota Jones and the Search for Atlantis, a children's musical we'll be seeing in December.


I think we might need to practice a little bit more to make sure he'll make it through the whole show.


Anyone have any advice on getting a little one to sit still for a whole performance?

Why so Angry?

In May I walked across the stage, took the pictures and received the congratulations on graduating from Seminary. But I knew I wasn't finished. No diploma resided in the handsomely apportioned case handed me as I confidently strode across that stage. No, inside was a single sheet of paper that read, "Return this case. You will receive one with your diploma when you finish your graduation requirements." This sentiment was underscored when my theology professor whispered, "now remember, you're walking by faith." as I shook his hand before leaving the stage. 


What was left for me to do? Well, I still needed to pass my seminary orals. As part of that process, I've been working in fits and bursts on a 2 final papers for my Seminary degree. The first on Pre-Tribulation Rapture and the second on God's sovereignty (you know, the whole Calvinism/Arminism thing). 
Both of these topics have knowledgeable and thoughtful scholars who disagree on how to interpret scripture. The tenor of the disagreements are quite different from each other. In the timing of the rapture debate, people are civil and their critiques have an attitude of "Well, I probably can't get the other guy (or gal) to change his (or her) position, but I sure can have fun with it by poking a little fun at them." 


On the other hand the sovereignty debate is vicious. Both sides are playing for keeps. throwing down gauntlets as requests for proof and then refusing to accept what proof is offered. (And please note, I did say BOTH sides.) It's hard to even consider entering into a debate where arguers are routinely accused of ignorance and stupidity in interpretation and  misleading Christians in this "most important of all doctrinal issues." 


I find this particularly frustrating in that I hold to parts of both traditions, but adhere to neither in its entirety. So, my question is this: Why is this issue such a contentious one? Why would people say that Arminians and Calvinists shouldn't even work together (as one friend of mine was advised)? I haven't come across this advice over End Times theology or many other theological issues. Why is this the common response for this one?

Trying not to Suck.

A couple of years ago, I was on a list to preview books and give feedback.  I'm not sure how I got on this list (I probably signed up for it somewhere), but I wasn't very good at it. Since then I've had the opportunity to write and be written about a few times and realized how valuable my input could've been to those writers.

Over the same time period I've become more and more perplexed by how fractured and distant the "christian" world has become.  It seems with the full coming of age of the internet, civility has lessened a great deal.  When one can post whatever they want in very short order, the filters that keep us polite tend to go by the wayside.

This blog is my small attempt to correct both of these things.

I'll post book reviews and thoughts about our current situation.  If you think it's worthwhile, awesome. If not, no worries.