MORGAN'S MOMENT
     I don't believe 
         in the kind of God
         that intervenes.
    Otherwise how explain
        obscene incidents
        of non-intervention?
    But my unfaith
        has been seriously
        undermined.
    How to you explain
        Oregon State University 55
        and UCLA 7?
    Is there greater evidence
        for the fact
        of Divine intervention?
    On the other hand
        where was God
        when it was UW 55 to 7?
    I think it kind of dumb
        to believe in the kind of God
        that fixes football games.
- Art Morgan
MOMENT MINISTRIES             Nov. 1, 1999
25921 SW Airport Ave.   Corvallis, OR 97333   541-753-3942
email at  a-morgan@peak.org
NOVEMBER
    We've been “on the road” for two weeks, including attendance at the annual Turner Lectures in Yakima. Many of those in attendance are readers of the blue sheet. We always add a few to our list during these events. We visited a number of “blue sheet people” along the way. (The Bellevue Mitchells, the Leavenworth Salters — including seeing a play, “Quilters”—, the E. Wenatchee Morgans and E. Wenatchee Yates, the Sunriver Lorenzens the Ashland Salters and Grandson, Aram [i.e.. Michael], plus a concluding brunch in Medford with Betty Ann Dibb!) 
    Our Washington Associated Moment Minister, Don Whitney, reports doing the first wedding in the new Safeco Field home of the baseball Mariners in Seattle. 
    Meanwhile, Paul Pritchard was invited to sing the National Anthem at the Sonics-Trailblazers game in Corvallis. 
    The November Thursday Night Moment is scheduled for November 18.
    Jerry Burd e-mailed from Santa Fe that he has his first grape crush completed with wine in the making. Lynda works in the Community College. They invite friends to visit and sample.
MARCUS BORG IN YAKIMA

We are mostly disconnected from our Christian Church roots. Two events are the exceptions, the Turner Lectures in Yakima, and the Association for Theological Discussion held in Oregon. We attend the Washington lectureship because of its generally substantial quality and its absence of ecclesiastical business.

Marcus Borg is one of the main “Jesus Scholars” and populizers of Christian scholarship that traces its roots back to the 1800’s. Why raise up such old scholarship? Mainly because clergy have done such a poor job of it and because modern (and honest) scholarship demand it.

What is amazing to those dreadfully imbedded in local congregations is the reality that people outside the church hear this scholarship gladly. In fact, to the surprise of preachers, a large percentage of their lay people also welcome this understanding of scripture, God and Jesus.

As the only Oregonians in Yakima, it was a thing of wonder for us to realize that this Marcus Borg was a professor at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon. “God” in mysterious ways doth wonders perform.
the back page
WHAT DOES BELIEVING HAVE TO DO WITH IT?
     I happen to think that how you believe matters. Some belief systems work and others don't. Some are helpful, others destructive — even dangerous.
     While sitting in on Borg’s Yakima lectures with people who were in the believing business, I wondered how they would handle his challenge to outmoded belief systems.
     But Borg threw a curve.
     Marcus Borg reminded us that religion is not about believing.  It is more about companionship with the sacred.  Religion is being in harmony with the Spirit of life, or Nature, or Mystery more than in believing. To be religious is to practice living in that kind of relationship.
     He thinks that lots of people are outside the church because it holds belief in such high regard to the neglect of guiding folks into the practices that result in a sense of relationship with the sacred in life.
     Not that he thinks beliefs do not matter. Otherwise why would he be spending so much time writing books about his understandings of Jesus and God and scripture?  And why would he be spending 100 days of every year going around the country teaching his beliefs to seeking souls?
     As I sat there, I wondered how many people who listened to these preachers actually believed what they were supposed to believe? According to Borg, the lay folk who listen to his lectures refuting many standard beliefs, tune in to what he is saying and confess to guilt about having harbored such thoughts themselves. They were in church, not because of beliefs, but for other reasons. (Habit, friendship, family, service opportunities, etc.)
     A thoughtful friend e-mailed a confession regarding his renewed church attendance:
“Recently I decided that I had attended church every Sunday of my youth and, damn it, it didn't do me any harm and my kids need that rounding exposure to life. Probably wouldn't hurt me either. You know, the more you do something, whatever it is, the more the habit of that thing become part of you, be it sitting in the seat of scoffers or joining the feast of the righteous…Repetition is a powerful force to modify behavior, personality, and outlook. Using this powerful environmental tool, I think that by dint of sheer habit you can become a better, or at least a more thoughtful, person by sitting down in that pew and just going through the motions.”
     I don't think that believing has anything to do with his decision to be in church. There are other factors involved. At best he must find the music and rituals stirring some kind of soul experience that transcends the creedal statements he is called upon to recite.  He will withhold belief while allowing the metaphors to engage him. When he reads this I expect he may clarify his reasons. What I do know is that the preacher who thinks that believing is what brings people to church doesn't have a clue. In fact, insistence on a belief formula will turn many modern people away from church. 
     If you look into the various religious and non-religious communities you will find a common theme that emphasizes experience and practice more than belief. People are tired of the claims of those who claim to have a corner on truth. Those who seek any kind of spiritual life are interested in something that helps them merge into the freeway of life. What does believing have to do with it?                                                        — Art Morgan, Nov. 1, 1999