simon and i were talking about this chapter yesterday, and i told him that this chapter was harder for me to read than the other two. now that i have re-visited my pencil marks in the margin, i think it wasn't that hard. it think i had a hard week and i did not want to think while i read. it can't be avoided with this book.
i too enjoyed the story of nympha and seeing how the roman empire shaped so many things for people-their very salvation even. and the comparison to the western world was hauntingly true. there are so many images to worship, so many paths to salvation. in a lot of ways america is a more advanced society, but that's not taking everything into consideration. in kenya there seems to be a huge conflict between the rural and the urban. increasing industrialization in this country is not necessarily going to improve things. and it's true that advertising masks the reality of sweat shops and violence and all the different voices that exist in this world.
but i am excited to see how this community of believers reacts toward all of this. there is hope in the story of Jesus, and i look forward to seeing how these followers live in this empire.
Labels: chapter 3
posted by Daylan @ 4:33 AM
1 Comments:
i loved this chapter. two things that stuck out for me were the questions that nympha raises in her ponderings about following jesus on p.57 (i.e.what does it mean to use my wealth for the pride of the city and the empire, now that i no longer honor the emperor?); and footnote 31 that emphasizes that bigger, better, faster (e.g. western superiority and economic progress) has led to wide economic gaps, crazy health problems, racial tensions, urban uglification, stress etc. and NOT happiness. AND NOT HAPPINESS!
to my friends in rwanda and african neighbors: you don't want this life. it is not the land of the shepherd and it is not the land of the farmer. it is the land of the glutton and the land of the consumer.
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