I spent one decade submerged into a subculture which I didn’t even realize existed at the time. As I found myself escaping the subculture, I realized I was living life only in the “Christian subculture“. Now, after spending a decade on the outside of the “Christian subculture“, I don’t consider myself bitter about the “Christian subculture” but alarmed about it!
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Dana Hanley is author of the popular family issues blog, Principled Discovery. We’d like to thank her for contributing to the content of Humble O.
On June 6, 2007, the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion and Belief held a meeting of religious leaders at the House of Lords in the UK. The purpose was to look at the challenges presented to various faiths in the implementation of Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which states,
Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.
Today’s guest blogger is Lena Nelson Dooley, a multi-published author and experienced speaker. When Lena tackles anything to do with writing, you know you’re going to get an informed opinion. So, let’s hear her take on the odd subject of… a Christian vampire horror novel?
You got it. The book is Never Ceese by Sue Dent, and like Hallowe’en, its nature is controversial in Christian religious circles. Here’s Lena to give us a look beneath the surface.
Getting back to the land, owning an acreage or a small farm, is a really cool fad these days. Everyone’s doing it, you know.
For one, it seems to mesh with a certain portion of the Christian homeschooling community, so well that conservative Christian businessfolk Paul and Gena Suarez expanded their online business to cater to Christian homesteaders. What began as The Old Schoolhouse Magazine and HomeschoolBlogger.com now includes HomesteadBlogger.com, which amounts to an online small town in both size and culture.
What’s the deal? Well, the rhetoric about good management of the earth comes from a couple of directions—one, it comes from within the churches. What amounts to campaign materials are handed out to churches and denominations. These even include sermon suggestions for incorporating concern for the earth. [1]
Two, like those campaign materials, the rhetoric comes from secular sources. Accusations link Christianity to male domination and exploitation of, like, everything—women, children, and dolphins. (I had no idea my church’s deacons had so much spare time on their hands.) Homesteading and ecological awareness is one response from the Christian community.
Most of all, though, there is realistic motivation for individuals as they pick up on the realities of our food distribution system. People aren’t satisfied with blueberries that have been sitting on the boat from Chile for a month. [2] Folks are absorbing a perennial flow of news items about environmental concerns, and an ever-expanding grassroots buzz about better living.
The sustainability movement has links to globalism, and also contains plenty of pagan philosophy. Are Christians aware of everything they’re adopting? And what about pagans? I’ve seen several pagans try to integrate into the HomesteadBlogger community, only to end up leaving or limiting their participation, for various reasons. Do Christians handle these interactions wisely?
Lemme know what you think. [3]
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[1] Forcing Change Magazine, Issue 6, Volume 1, www.forcingchange.org
[2] See http://lazycreek.net/TYDOS/2007/04/seasonal-produce-and-winter-eating.html for more information.
[3] Author’s note: The uploading of this post was fraught with homesteading peril, so I appeal to the record for grounds that my frazzled nerves deserve the contribution of your opinion, dear reader.
Urgh… Groan… There’s a Monday looming somewhere, full of foggy-brainedness and weekday drudgery. And, worst of all, no live, interactive Marty-and-Bob broadcast till Tuesday. Gasp!
Fear not! My name is Cathi-Lyn Dyck, and I am here to rescue you from Mondays. I’m a freelance writer and editor, and I’m not from your neck of the woods. I can just about guarantee this because there are so very few people in my neck of the woods.
I live in the Canadian prairies, six miles from the Middle of Nowhere. I am a Master Gardener, I’ve been experimenting with the development of a Community Supported Agriculture
I also homeschool four wild (but not uncultivated) children whose online names are Spazzerific, Banana Brain, Squirrelly Girlie, and Brat Boy. That should explain a few things about them.
I have spontaneously popped into view like a little mushroom in order to share cool topics of semi-obscurity. These include things like sustainability, Christian homesteading, organic gardening, and the occasional (no, really, occasional) opinionated opinion. Meet me here on Monday—bring coffee, and I’ll be nice to you.
