ME19four: life, faith and role-playing games
Saturday, September 09, 2006
Rare, Disconcertring & Bizarre
(Category: life)
Over the years my email addresses (yes, I have several) have been picked up by the spammers. Most of us have experienced the same thing, I suspect. Maybe having my own domain name actually increases the problem, because it remains the same when I change ISPs.
Nevertheless it is a rare, disconcerting and bizarre experience (happenig maybe once every two years, I think) to receive an email purporting to be from myself!
Sound familiar? ¶ 3:17 pm 0 comments
Over the years my email addresses (yes, I have several) have been picked up by the spammers. Most of us have experienced the same thing, I suspect. Maybe having my own domain name actually increases the problem, because it remains the same when I change ISPs.
Nevertheless it is a rare, disconcerting and bizarre experience (happenig maybe once every two years, I think) to receive an email purporting to be from myself!
Sound familiar? ¶ 3:17 pm 0 comments
All books are books, and therefore sacred
(Category: life, faith, role-playing games)
I once saw that phrase, quoted on a bookshop's bag, if I remember correctly. While I'm not sure I can agree 100% with the statement, it certainly rings true. (BTW, can anyone identify the author of that quote?)
Having had far better response to my meme challenge than I expected or deserved, John got his own back with this. It's odd that this should come along just as I've decided I need to read more, even if the intention was mainly that I should read more in the theological vein.
One book.
1 One book that changed your life:
It might sound incredibly sad, and say more about me than I'd care to admit, but it would have to be "The Alternative Service Book, 1980." A book that showed me that liturgy had value and included scripture. A book whose words said what needed to be said, in that time and place.
2 One book you’ve read more than once:
Hmm, it might be easier to ask me to name one book I haven't read more than once... I'll give two. As good sci-fi "Dragon's Egg" by Robert L Forward (1980). As fiction mixing with faith, "The Hidden Years - a novel about Jesus" by Neil Boyd (1984), speculating about Jesus' growing realisation of his mission, not to mention an insight into the temptation in the wilderness.
3 One book you’d want on a desert island:
I'd have to go with John on this one - A decent survival manual.
4 A book that made you laugh:
Pretty much anything by Terry Pratchett set on the Discworld. I'm particularly fond of "Reaper Man".
5 A book that made you cry:
I genuinely can never remember reading a single book that has done this. But the older I get the more easily moved I seem to be, so there's time yet!
6 A book I wish I’d written:
Pass. I'm not that envious of anyone else's work, although I can think of some I might like to write, like "Rev Strangelove, or how I learnt to ignore the rules and stay a happy Anglican."
7 A book I wish had never been written:
Can't think of any one in particular. I'd want to delete some of the worst pieces that incite hatred and violence.
8 A book I am currently reading:
Seeing as how my life is littered with half-read books, I'll have to comment on the one I'm actively reading - Kester Brewin's "The Complex Christ" (2004). I was reading it in tandem with Nick Page's "The Church Invisible" (2004) for at least the second time, which I finished this morning. Kester's book is passionately and persuasively written, possibly bordering on polemic in places. I find much I agree with, along with a few perplexing implications. Nick Page's book makes a good companion to Kester's, or any other book which challenges us about the serious need to deal with ecclesiological and missiological matters while there is still time.
9 A book I’ve been meaning to read:
Until Greenbelt I would have said Kester's! That said, I have meant to read "Titus Groan" (1946) by Mervyn Peake, as well as the sequels "Gormenghast" and "Titus Alone" for ages.
10 A book I wish had been written:
"Role-Playing Games are NOT from the pen of Satan," (possibly subtitled "USE your imagination")! Me? Issues? What issues? :) ¶ 10:25 am 0 comments
I once saw that phrase, quoted on a bookshop's bag, if I remember correctly. While I'm not sure I can agree 100% with the statement, it certainly rings true. (BTW, can anyone identify the author of that quote?)
Having had far better response to my meme challenge than I expected or deserved, John got his own back with this. It's odd that this should come along just as I've decided I need to read more, even if the intention was mainly that I should read more in the theological vein.
One book.
1 One book that changed your life:
It might sound incredibly sad, and say more about me than I'd care to admit, but it would have to be "The Alternative Service Book, 1980." A book that showed me that liturgy had value and included scripture. A book whose words said what needed to be said, in that time and place.
2 One book you’ve read more than once:
Hmm, it might be easier to ask me to name one book I haven't read more than once... I'll give two. As good sci-fi "Dragon's Egg" by Robert L Forward (1980). As fiction mixing with faith, "The Hidden Years - a novel about Jesus" by Neil Boyd (1984), speculating about Jesus' growing realisation of his mission, not to mention an insight into the temptation in the wilderness.
3 One book you’d want on a desert island:
I'd have to go with John on this one - A decent survival manual.
4 A book that made you laugh:
Pretty much anything by Terry Pratchett set on the Discworld. I'm particularly fond of "Reaper Man".
5 A book that made you cry:
I genuinely can never remember reading a single book that has done this. But the older I get the more easily moved I seem to be, so there's time yet!
6 A book I wish I’d written:
Pass. I'm not that envious of anyone else's work, although I can think of some I might like to write, like "Rev Strangelove, or how I learnt to ignore the rules and stay a happy Anglican."
7 A book I wish had never been written:
Can't think of any one in particular. I'd want to delete some of the worst pieces that incite hatred and violence.
8 A book I am currently reading:
Seeing as how my life is littered with half-read books, I'll have to comment on the one I'm actively reading - Kester Brewin's "The Complex Christ" (2004). I was reading it in tandem with Nick Page's "The Church Invisible" (2004) for at least the second time, which I finished this morning. Kester's book is passionately and persuasively written, possibly bordering on polemic in places. I find much I agree with, along with a few perplexing implications. Nick Page's book makes a good companion to Kester's, or any other book which challenges us about the serious need to deal with ecclesiological and missiological matters while there is still time.
9 A book I’ve been meaning to read:
Until Greenbelt I would have said Kester's! That said, I have meant to read "Titus Groan" (1946) by Mervyn Peake, as well as the sequels "Gormenghast" and "Titus Alone" for ages.
10 A book I wish had been written:
"Role-Playing Games are NOT from the pen of Satan," (possibly subtitled "USE your imagination")! Me? Issues? What issues? :) ¶ 10:25 am 0 comments
Friday, September 08, 2006
Crikey! Death and TV.
(Category: life, faith)
Amid the continuing fall out from the death of the flambuoyant Australian TV conservationist and TV presenter Steve Irwin there's this interesting piece from the good folks at the Beeb.
One argues that we should allow the film to be screened, pointing out that Irwin made his name by undertaking dangerous exploits in the attempt to educate us. She concludes that since his life was spent in showing the reality of "nature red in tooth and claw" so the "footage of Irwin's death is his ultimate message to us of the ruthlessness and power that we admire and fear in nature."
On the other hand, despire acknowledging that Irwin's statement "If I'm going to die, at least I want it filmed" might have been meant to be taken at face value, the nay-sayer errs on the side of caution, primarily for the sake of Irwin's family, but also because it "may well harm the watcher, whose humanity and moral sensibility will suffer."
Both viewpoints are valid and logical. Yet as interesting as their pieces are, I can't help wondering whether they have slightly missed the point, or at least, a point.
It is possible that I am extremely sad, cynical and mentally-ill individual. I wouldn't think it likely but it is true. For me the question is rather more blunt - what difference does it make anyway?
We are all regularly subjected to pictures of death and injury, both in regular news footage, and via the entertainment industry. Scenes of violence and murder are common place within our televisual media. It could be argued, of course, that since this is "entertainment" we know they aren't real, and therefore they are afect us rather less, but I'm not convinced. Like it or not, we as a society have become pretty much inured to such images.
The pictures of the death of a famous individual are most likely to shock us because of a degree of identification, of "knowledge" we feel we might have about that individual. The memorable (and I must confess that at least intially, on a personal level, I could not say "shocking") images of the two planes crashing into the Twin Towers nearly 5 years ago, are indistinguishable from what the best special effects departments can, and do, create on a regular basis for the entertainment industry. As such, the victims are somewhat 'removed' from us, especially on first viewing. It's not shock that's the problem - it's over-familiarity.
Only in the application of the general to the particular, in the consideration of the human angle of such images and stories, do they really impact us. And even then, the question is actually how much? Given what we see on our TV screens week-in, week-out, and the general level of public response they (fail to) create, I suspect the answer is "not a lot." The injunction to love our neighbour, rather breaks down when we fail to cast the other in the role of "neighbour," and retain them simply in the role of victim.
And if you were wondering, about my personal answer to the question that heads the Beeb article "Would you watch it"? I would say that from morbid(?) curiousity, I would probably want too. But I don't need to. In the light of 'experience' it would probably be fairly unremarkable. I shouldn't need to see it. Maybe that sums up the point rather too well... ¶ 1:55 pm 0 comments
Amid the continuing fall out from the death of the flambuoyant Australian TV conservationist and TV presenter Steve Irwin there's this interesting piece from the good folks at the Beeb.
I find it fascinating that the individuals asked for their opinions are "medicial ethicists." Why confine the discussion to that particular field of ethics, I was forced to wonder? Are they the only ones seen to have the monopoly in matters of life and death? However...
"Crocodile hunter Steve Irwin's final moments were captured on camera. But should that film ever be broadcast to the watching public?"
One argues that we should allow the film to be screened, pointing out that Irwin made his name by undertaking dangerous exploits in the attempt to educate us. She concludes that since his life was spent in showing the reality of "nature red in tooth and claw" so the "footage of Irwin's death is his ultimate message to us of the ruthlessness and power that we admire and fear in nature."
On the other hand, despire acknowledging that Irwin's statement "If I'm going to die, at least I want it filmed" might have been meant to be taken at face value, the nay-sayer errs on the side of caution, primarily for the sake of Irwin's family, but also because it "may well harm the watcher, whose humanity and moral sensibility will suffer."
Both viewpoints are valid and logical. Yet as interesting as their pieces are, I can't help wondering whether they have slightly missed the point, or at least, a point.
It is possible that I am extremely sad, cynical and mentally-ill individual. I wouldn't think it likely but it is true. For me the question is rather more blunt - what difference does it make anyway?
We are all regularly subjected to pictures of death and injury, both in regular news footage, and via the entertainment industry. Scenes of violence and murder are common place within our televisual media. It could be argued, of course, that since this is "entertainment" we know they aren't real, and therefore they are afect us rather less, but I'm not convinced. Like it or not, we as a society have become pretty much inured to such images.
The pictures of the death of a famous individual are most likely to shock us because of a degree of identification, of "knowledge" we feel we might have about that individual. The memorable (and I must confess that at least intially, on a personal level, I could not say "shocking") images of the two planes crashing into the Twin Towers nearly 5 years ago, are indistinguishable from what the best special effects departments can, and do, create on a regular basis for the entertainment industry. As such, the victims are somewhat 'removed' from us, especially on first viewing. It's not shock that's the problem - it's over-familiarity.
Only in the application of the general to the particular, in the consideration of the human angle of such images and stories, do they really impact us. And even then, the question is actually how much? Given what we see on our TV screens week-in, week-out, and the general level of public response they (fail to) create, I suspect the answer is "not a lot." The injunction to love our neighbour, rather breaks down when we fail to cast the other in the role of "neighbour," and retain them simply in the role of victim.
And if you were wondering, about my personal answer to the question that heads the Beeb article "Would you watch it"? I would say that from morbid(?) curiousity, I would probably want too. But I don't need to. In the light of 'experience' it would probably be fairly unremarkable. I shouldn't need to see it. Maybe that sums up the point rather too well... ¶ 1:55 pm 0 comments
Of hedges, bicycle lanes and "flying lessons".
(Category: life)
The Vicarage here in MLPK is "blessed" with hedges. You may remember that I am not the world's greatest gardener - primarily becuase I can be rather lazy. I appreciate a good lawn, or a good hedge, but that doesn't help motivate me to do anything to them one iota. Instead I tend to (inwardly) mutter and grumble when doing it - even if I quite enjoy usuing the hedgetrimmer (a sort of wimp's chainsaw!) Still, if I hadn't have been doing the hedge then I wouldn't have had this encouraging experience.
There I was, getting towards the end the task when a schoolgirl, returning home at the end of the day, stopped and talked to me. Hardly earth-shattering stuff you might say. And at one level I would have to agree. The delight was not only that she said hello, but that she greeted me by name and was pefectly open to saying what she had been up to, why she was late, and how she was enjoying her new school, having left one of the two primary schools here at the beginning of the summer. What was so encouraging to me was that this was just a little indication that I might be getting things right. MLPK has no secondary schools for me to visit. The children here have a choice of almost a dozen secondary schools to attend. I've been trying to build bridges so that once the children leave at least they will have positive memories of me, and all that I stand for. I should take heart. Perhaps the effort is sowing seeds after all.
Over the past few days, in a fit of enthusiasm (either for health purposes or to make the most of the good weather) I've got my bicycle out again. The fact that it's been in the shed for the best part of two years with minimal maintenance is by the by! It's a great way to be seen, a good bit of exercise and actually rather enjoyable - and given the size of MLPK it's not much slower than using the car. In fact I've already had enough passing conversations to justify it, which is good. That doesn't mean I'm a particularly sociable cyclist. I ride to get from A to B with the greatest speed and efficiency, and it's that fact which has led me to return to my musings and ponderings about cycle lanes.
Here in MLPK many footpaths along through roads are designated as dual purpose for pedestrians and cyclists. And I have very mixed feelings about them.
[gripe="on"]
At the one level I'm not really convinced of their necessity. The roads here in MLPK are pretty quiet, although I would concede that they get busy at peak times as parents take children to school, or leave to go to work etc. However since it is already an accepted principle that children may ride on the pavements (even if technically illegal), why do you need the cycle lane?
I also have practical, and principled, reservations. On the practical note they are prettily designed in quite a few places. Nice for pedestrians, but a pain for cyclists, as the sinuous curves force you to slow down and the overhanging trees and adjacent bushes force you to duck and weave, with the same effect. Thus, these sections do not really endear themselves the the cycling maniac who is the vicar!
The principled one is slightly different, and doesn't quite apply so much here, although it has been a regular issue in the past. I object to cycle lanes as they deny me of my rights as a road user. If I am driving my car past a lesser sideroad I have the right of way then the traffic joining the road has to give way. However, using the cycle path at the same juction I not only have to look behind me to see whether a car is turning into the side road, but also have to give way to any traffic joining the main road from the sideroad. I have been demoted to the rank of pedestrian, and well, that's just not cricket!
[gripe="off"]
On the funny side though, and it is rather funny, I had an involutary "flying lesson" yesterday too. There was I, whizzing around on two wheels, and frustrated by the courses of paths and cycle tracks, I tried to be clever. A quick bunny hop up the kerb would save about 20 seconds. The prolem of course, lay in me having given minimal attention to the bike. I pumped the tyres, true, and checked the brakes. It was only when I attempted this manoeuver did I realise what I'd forgotten to do. You see my mountain bike has a quick release mechanism on the front wheel... and it chose this moment to demonstrate that it had been accidentally released at some point. It's not much use pulling the front forks up when the wheel decides to stay where it is. I'm told the resulting "flying lesson" was rather amusing when viewed side on! Instead of hopping up the kerb, the bike stopped... sharply. The only ever time I can remember a similar experience was when once as a child I slipped on the way downstainrs and found myself in the curious position of temporary flight. All I can say is that adrenaline is a wonderful thing and the whole experience was rather more one of exhilaration than injury - although if my left arm isn't back to normal by the end of next week I may have to visit the doctor's as I put rather a lot of stress on the muscles and connective tissues on landing.
Has it stopped me cycling? Fat chance!
Don't you just love bikes? ¶ 1:26 pm 2 comments
The Vicarage here in MLPK is "blessed" with hedges. You may remember that I am not the world's greatest gardener - primarily becuase I can be rather lazy. I appreciate a good lawn, or a good hedge, but that doesn't help motivate me to do anything to them one iota. Instead I tend to (inwardly) mutter and grumble when doing it - even if I quite enjoy usuing the hedgetrimmer (a sort of wimp's chainsaw!) Still, if I hadn't have been doing the hedge then I wouldn't have had this encouraging experience.
There I was, getting towards the end the task when a schoolgirl, returning home at the end of the day, stopped and talked to me. Hardly earth-shattering stuff you might say. And at one level I would have to agree. The delight was not only that she said hello, but that she greeted me by name and was pefectly open to saying what she had been up to, why she was late, and how she was enjoying her new school, having left one of the two primary schools here at the beginning of the summer. What was so encouraging to me was that this was just a little indication that I might be getting things right. MLPK has no secondary schools for me to visit. The children here have a choice of almost a dozen secondary schools to attend. I've been trying to build bridges so that once the children leave at least they will have positive memories of me, and all that I stand for. I should take heart. Perhaps the effort is sowing seeds after all.
Over the past few days, in a fit of enthusiasm (either for health purposes or to make the most of the good weather) I've got my bicycle out again. The fact that it's been in the shed for the best part of two years with minimal maintenance is by the by! It's a great way to be seen, a good bit of exercise and actually rather enjoyable - and given the size of MLPK it's not much slower than using the car. In fact I've already had enough passing conversations to justify it, which is good. That doesn't mean I'm a particularly sociable cyclist. I ride to get from A to B with the greatest speed and efficiency, and it's that fact which has led me to return to my musings and ponderings about cycle lanes.
Here in MLPK many footpaths along through roads are designated as dual purpose for pedestrians and cyclists. And I have very mixed feelings about them.
[gripe="on"]
At the one level I'm not really convinced of their necessity. The roads here in MLPK are pretty quiet, although I would concede that they get busy at peak times as parents take children to school, or leave to go to work etc. However since it is already an accepted principle that children may ride on the pavements (even if technically illegal), why do you need the cycle lane?
I also have practical, and principled, reservations. On the practical note they are prettily designed in quite a few places. Nice for pedestrians, but a pain for cyclists, as the sinuous curves force you to slow down and the overhanging trees and adjacent bushes force you to duck and weave, with the same effect. Thus, these sections do not really endear themselves the the cycling maniac who is the vicar!
The principled one is slightly different, and doesn't quite apply so much here, although it has been a regular issue in the past. I object to cycle lanes as they deny me of my rights as a road user. If I am driving my car past a lesser sideroad I have the right of way then the traffic joining the road has to give way. However, using the cycle path at the same juction I not only have to look behind me to see whether a car is turning into the side road, but also have to give way to any traffic joining the main road from the sideroad. I have been demoted to the rank of pedestrian, and well, that's just not cricket!
[gripe="off"]
On the funny side though, and it is rather funny, I had an involutary "flying lesson" yesterday too. There was I, whizzing around on two wheels, and frustrated by the courses of paths and cycle tracks, I tried to be clever. A quick bunny hop up the kerb would save about 20 seconds. The prolem of course, lay in me having given minimal attention to the bike. I pumped the tyres, true, and checked the brakes. It was only when I attempted this manoeuver did I realise what I'd forgotten to do. You see my mountain bike has a quick release mechanism on the front wheel... and it chose this moment to demonstrate that it had been accidentally released at some point. It's not much use pulling the front forks up when the wheel decides to stay where it is. I'm told the resulting "flying lesson" was rather amusing when viewed side on! Instead of hopping up the kerb, the bike stopped... sharply. The only ever time I can remember a similar experience was when once as a child I slipped on the way downstainrs and found myself in the curious position of temporary flight. All I can say is that adrenaline is a wonderful thing and the whole experience was rather more one of exhilaration than injury - although if my left arm isn't back to normal by the end of next week I may have to visit the doctor's as I put rather a lot of stress on the muscles and connective tissues on landing.
Has it stopped me cycling? Fat chance!
Don't you just love bikes? ¶ 1:26 pm 2 comments
Monday, September 04, 2006
(Eternal) Life, Faith and (Computer) Games
It had to happen sooner or later... I know this is predominantly a US phenomenon, but even so this news is hardly the sort I want to hear.
Maybe it should just be Left Behind, or better still consigned to The Fire? ¶ 9:16 pm 0 comments
Maybe it should just be Left Behind, or better still consigned to The Fire? ¶ 9:16 pm 0 comments
