Spring Session 2023
The class has selected:
Do I Stay Christian: A Guide for the Doubters, the Disappointed, and the Disillusioned by Brian McLaren
This book is new this year and has three sections. The first is the No answer, the second, Yes, and the third How. This book is both apologetic for Christ and Christianity and gives fair reason for Church critics. I don't suppose this will be an easy read, but it would be good for those who wish to have a conversation about Christ with insiders and outsiders.
Please volunteer for one or more of the weeks below marked "Volunteer." Let Doug or Marty Know. Thanks!
| Date | Instructor | Topic |
|---|---|---|
| Part I The “No” Answer | ||
| February 5 | Doug Olena | Introduction to Do I Stay Christian, setting up the Spring study. “Introduction” and Chapter 1. “Because Christianity has Been Vicious to Its Mother (Anti-Semitism)” |
| February 12 | Catherine McGee | 2. “Because of Christianity’s Suppression of Dissent (Christian vs. Christian Violence)” 3. “Because of Christianity’s High Global Death Toll—and Life Toll (Crusader Colonialism)” |
| February 19 | Don Tosh | 4. “Because of Christianity’s Loyal Company Men” (Institutionalism) 5. “Because of Christianity’s Real Master (Money)” |
| February 26 | Lois Olena | 6. “Because of the White Christian Old Boys’ Network (White Patriarchy)” 7. “Because Christianity Is Stuck (Toxic Theology)” |
| March 5 | Volunteer | 8. “Because Christianity Is a Failed Religion (Lack of Transformation)” 9. “Because of Christianity’s Great Wall of Bias (Constricted Intellectualism)” 10. “Because Christianity Is a Sinking, Shrinking Ship of Wrinkling People (Demographics)” |
| Part II The “Yes” Answer | ||
| March 12 | Volunteer | 11. “Because Leaving Hurts Allies (and Helps Their Opponents)” 12. “Because Leaving Defiantly or Staying Compliantly Are Not My Only Options” 13. “Because … Where Else Would I Go?” |
| March 16-18 | This is the SPS meeting in Tulsa. The goers may or may not be back on Sunday, but someone else should probably take the 19th. | |
| March 19 | Volunteer | 14. “Because It Would Be a Shame to Leave a Religion in Its Infancy” 15. “Because of Our Legendary Founder” 16. “Because Innocence Is an Addiction, and Solidarity Is the Cure” |
| March 26 | Volunteer | 17. “Because I’m Human” 18. “Because Christianity Is Changing (for the Worse and for the Better)” 19. “To Free God” |
| April 2 | Doug Olena | 20. “Because of Fermi’s Paradox and the Great Filter” Part III The “How” Answer 21. “Include and Transcend” |
| April 9 | Volunteer | 22. “Start with the Heart” 23. “Re-Wild” |
| April 16 | Volunteer | 24. “Find the Flow” 25. “Re-Consecrate Everything” |
| April 23 | Volunteer | 26. “Renounce and Announce” 27. “Stay Loyal to Reality” |
| April 30 | Marty Mittlestadt | Reflections |