Do you have those moments when you zone out? Like when you’re driving and you forget what you doing and all of the sudden, you’re at your destination? This happened to me yesterday, though in a different aspect. Driving my usual route, I tend to be in this autopilot status. It usually takes some upheaval to break the rhythm I’m accustomed to when driving. Which is exactly what happened to me yesterday morning.
I don’t think this phenomenon is limited to cars. In a recent Atlantic Monthly article, this sentiment was highlighted through recent advances in aviation automation and its effects on safety and the airline industry. Essentially, when electrical systems are taken offline, the pilots flying the plane have a difficult time flying the planes. Because of the advances in automation software, there is little to no need for manual action. The way computers can weaken awareness and attentiveness points to a deeper problem: pilots are forgetting how to fly.
David Suarez in a recent TED talk echoed the same sentiments. While automation can help us find the most efficient way to downtown Spokane, it can’t help us with why we should be downtown Spokane. In essence, if we are told that automation will make us more efficient, and that we will have more time to devote to higher pursuits, why are we wasting this extra time on zoning out and not finding active ways of improving our community?
The same goes for the spiritual dimensions of our lives. Like setting a plane or a car on autopilot, if we trust the software fully, we will discount what information we actually see and hear right in front of us. This could be a problem. The idea of automation transforms us from those who act into those who observe. So if we are merely observing and not acting—what else are we doing?
This is important because spiritual automation creates an environment that limits innovation and free thought. If we allow ourselves to either forget how to be spiritual, we end up not seeing this, a presentation series coming to Spokane in the coming weeks. With billboards placed in low socioeconomic and educational-level neighborhoods, this series embodies the negative aspects when we are on spiritual autopilot. Billboards advertising hateful events like this are missed on your drives to work. (See this link also).
The presenter, a traveling lecturer who has been self-publishing books through Sealing Time Ministries on the topic Biblical references to the rise of Islam in the book of revelations — problems with anachronism and those things called facts aside, it is astounding to me that anyone would take-on reading into the future to look for evidence of boogeymen in sister religions. When we decide to put our spirituality on autopilot then get things like this.
The transition from religious actor to religious observer is easy to make because it is convenient to choose fear over understanding. To build animosity over building community. I have bought my ticket to attend the first lecture, and many of my Muslim friends have as well. I am inviting you to do the same here. I’m hoping to ask some very serious questions. I’m hoping to at least show this person that in my community, I won’t stand for someone labeling my friends as terrorists. Maybe if we all agree to turn off our spiritual autopilot, we can start thinking for ourselves and remember that we are called to build bridges, not burn them.
Skyler, did you see this line in his bio, “He loves to present prophecy to people of any or no religious background. All are welcome at his seminars.”? Of course he does, so he gets no arguments!!
Which day and time are you going to go? Each night is a different lecture.
And remember, if we go, it will be to promote interfaith dialogue, right? Even with those who disagree with us…
I have been thinking of going to this as well. I’m afraid though. No one get’s hated be religious folk like an atheist.
Hi Paul! Thanks for your comment. I think the religious folk going to this event to advocate for community and respect of others would love to have you there. I know I would. Plus, we shouldn’t ever be afraid to speak out against blatant derision in our community, and advocate for those around us. No matter our background or affiliation. I’ll save you a seat. 🙂
Skyler, seems a little premature to call someone a “hater” when you haven’t even been to a meeting yet. And by the way, just because someone doesn’t agree with you on an issue doesn’t make them a hater anyway. Of course that’s the way political correctness tries to intimidate anyone outside their box into silence.
Hi Dennis,
Thanks so much for your comment. I’m at a loss to find where I said anyone was a ‘hater’. I make a point of always making a distinction between the “sin and the sinner”. Political correctness and fear-mongering are two separate things.
Hey Skyler,
Maybe I took your comment, “billboards advertising hateful events like this” the wrong way. That still seems like a premature and overstated critique of this event as yet unattended.
Dennis
I wish I could agree with you. I base my opinion on the event off of the advertising choices of the event’s organizers. The billboard (As shown above) shows symbols that are hard to interpret any other way. Showing the Dome of the Rock (Islam’s third holiest site) superimposed over a mushroom cloud, between a tank and what appears to be an armed Islamist fighter cannot be interpreted as a call to peace or cooperation between these sister faiths. The website name “rethinkislam.org” signals that a second look would make people rethink their stance on the faith; something that can only mean the faith is hostile, given the symbols used on the billboard itself. It is also to note the placement of the billboards in neighborhoods with lower socioeconomic and educational statuses shows me that the organizers could not get away with advertising this event where people know better. The lecturer’s books (which I have purchased and am currently reading) fit into the perspective of a “clash of civilizations”– something that is neither factual, Biblical, nor helpful to our community. I will attend the lectures. Despite of all of the marketing towards the contrary, I hope to be proven wrong. I will happily apologize and thank God when that day comes. But I will be vocal on any perspective that insights violence, derision in my community, for if we don’t are we not silently consenting to these hurtful doctrines?
I think it would be very interesting to take a poll in several European countries to get their opinion on whether a “clash of civilizations” is accurate or not. Islam seems to base its behavior on what percentage they represent within any given society. The higher it is, the more aggressive and violent. I’ve read much of the Quran and some other Islamic writing and passivity is not the representation I come away with.
I would make the same argument about Christianity. Especially throughout European history…
I hope you will also attend the lecture series as well. I know many Muslims who will be there to listen and participate in discussion. Perhaps you can ask them their opinion…
The errors and outright debauchery of the Roman Catholic Church does not come out of obedience to God’s word. In fact they did everything they could to keep congregants from reading it in their own language in order not to be exposed. I don’t see the connection, since Islam is following their scriptures.
It’s worth noting that the Roman Catholic Church has not always been an institution of, as you have written “errors and outright debauchery”, nor has it been the only Christian church in European history. To use your earlier comment, it might be “premature” to make these assumptions without doing out homework.
To your last sentence, I’m afraid that I don’t understand your point of “Islam following their scriptures”, though I would like to hear your elaboration so that I might respond in a cogent way…
**spelling correction: “our homework” not “out homework”.
I agree that there were times when the Roman Catholic church was not totally debauched, but for a thorough history of the papacy down through the centuries I would suggest a book by Dave Hunt entitled,”A Woman Rides the Beast”. It is very well documented and extremely enlightening. My mom, who is with the Lord now, gave me an old book entitled, “Behind the Purple Curtain”, by Walter M. Montano. It is also a devastatingly revealing history of the RCC in South America. So I have done some homework, and I responded to your comparison of the aggression and violence of Islam being compared to the Christian church in Europe, in a general and all inclusive way. Most if not all of that was accomplished by the RCC, which in my opinion, is not a fair representation of Christ’s true church.
As I stated before, I have read some of the Quran myself, and also heard several in depth interviews with former Muslim scholars converted to Christ, who have explained that the Quran and other Muslim scriptures, require and encourage the use of violence as true devotion to Allah. That is a better description of what I meant. Sorry for not being as clear as I should sometimes.
As the speaker of the “Islam and Christianity in Prophecy” seminar, I really appreciate your discussion. I will treat people of all viewpoints with respect (including Atheists Paul). However, my experience tells me that not every one who attends would be respectful of others if I opened up for general questions. So I make myself available before and after presentations for dialog and questions. On Thursday night after the attendees have gotten used to respectful presentations I then open up for public Q & A. To the best of my knowledge we have never had a Muslim leave angry with me. Having a differing opinion, yes, but as friends not angry enemies.
My seminar will focus on the prophecy of Daniel 11 which is the most literal and least symbolic of the Bible prophecies. This prophecy has been completely accurate for 2,500 years. The part dealing with the Islamic – Christian conflict has been accurate for over 1400 years. My promise is to attempt to be true to the Bible and to be direct, honest and respectful. That does not mean I will be politically correct. I will point out some similar failings of both Islam and Christianity that were predicted in this prophecy. I did not have a voice in the placement of the billboards but it would be my guess, the were placed where the billboards locations were available. I too would love to have well educated people attend, so I hope you invite them. While I am in the area I would also be willing to meet with college classes, civic groups or do talk radio interviews. Just let me know. You should know the young man coordinating the advertising tried to purchase time for a trailer in theaters and some other advertising but it was deemed to politically incorrect and rejected. So he was trying to advertise to a larger audience but was denied. We will follow up with a mailed invitation to every residence in the area of the seminar. In the last year I have had military intelligence, FBI, State Department, and Home Land Security officers attend my seminars and they said they found the seminar very accurate and useful. Please come and introduce yourself to me at the seminar.
Dear Pastor Roosenburg,
I am so glad to see your words here. Thank you so much for taking the time to address my concerns, and the concerns of my community.
I am heartened to hear that you will be open to dialogue at some point. I will have many questions for you!
I would love to hear how Daniel 11 is, as you have shared, the “most literal and least symbolic” passage in the Bible, given that it is entirely a dream narrative. It would also be enlightening to hear your modern-day interpretations of such a text, seeing as how the majority of Biblical scholars have agreed that these passages are referring (quite accurately) to the conflicts between the successors of Alexander the Great, who both laid claim to Judea, what is known as the six Syrian wars dating around the 3rd century to the 1st century BC. I am curious to hear how you frame the “conflicts” being accurate for 1400 years as well. Will you be highlighting the centuries of peace between these sister religions? The times when Muslims, Jews and Christians worshipped together in Jerusalem, often in the same building, often using one another’s sacred scriptures during mass? I wonder if you will also be using the Qur’an as a source of material just as we are using the Tanakh, given the ninety-something references to Christ, and the veneration Muslims have for him– calling him the only man without sin…
I am sad to hear that the reason the advertising providers weren’t able to elaborate more on their reason for labeling the content of your lectures as being “politically incorrect”. It is sad when people cannot truly express themselves under the guise of political correctness. As a Christian myself, I seldom have had this fear, because it is never politically incorrect to express dissent to those who would seek to paint the “Samaritans of our time” as boogeymen. I hope to find the same fearlessness that our Rabbi Christ perfectly embodied in his message of compassion and love for all, in your lectures as well.
If I read it right he said, ” the most literal and least symbolic of bible prophecies”, not of any passage in scripture, quite a difference there. It is clear from the passage that God sent this messenger to Daniel with a message to be taken literally. Verses 35 and following shift the narrative to the end time, indentifying that as a time yet future to us. The chapter break is unfortunate and not inspired, as 12:1-4 are clearly a continuation of the revelation, which show the eternal result of true faith in Jesus Christ, or the lack thereof. Being written in that book would be preferably to anything we could possibly want in this life.
Syler,
I also think it’s a bit of an overreach to address the pastor from the standpoint of “your community”. I’m sure the city of Spokane and surrounding areas have a wide range of opinions on this that don’t necessarily equate to yours. No offence intended, but I think it’s more honest to say we are speaking for ourselves here.
whoops, sorry for the name mis-spelling Skyler.