Last night, the third floor of Cole’s hosted a standing-room-only crowd. The people gathered to listen to a Jesuit Priest and Professor present a lecture called, “Galileo: Rude, Arrogant, Almost Entirely Wrong.”Prior to the event, I had only heard the outline of the story, which went something like, “the Pope was a bad guy and locked up Galileo for proclaiming that the earth was not the center of the universe. The church doesn’t like science.”But it’s not as simple as Galileo being right, and the Pope being wrong, says Fr. Moleski. “I could cheerfully strangle both of these guys,” he proclaims, “because…
Author: Drew
What does Hanukkah, the Jewish festival that begins tomorrow night, might mean for the City of Buffalo?The story of Hanukkah basically goes like this: Around 200 BCE, Jerusalem was ruled by Seleucid kings. One King, Antiochus IV, was particularly brutal, and he went as far as to slaughter Jews, loot the Temple, and sacrifice a pig to Zeus there.The Jews, greatly outmatched, rose up and amazingly, defeated him. When they went to re-dedicate the Temple, lights were to be lit to signify the presence of their Lord. These candles were not to be extinguished, but there was only significant oil for one…
What is theology if not gratitude? On Thanksgiving week I spent some time thinking of things I am thankful for–in the length of one short walk home–that I will share with you.Loaves and Fishes: I can’t even get out of my building before I remember that here, in our neighborhood, people struggle to make it, and other people give of their time to offer a helping hand. Without this kitchen, it would be even harder for poor people than it already is.Can-can candy: The place just feels good, and they’ve got all my old favorites.The fact that I am walking:…
Once upon a time, I didn’t know anybody living with HIV, and didn’t want to know them. I didn’t want to be infected, and I was pretty sure that “those people” did something to deserve their disease.Since then, I have changed, and the world has changed. HIV is more understood. Treatment is better. Prevention and testing are more common.And yet, when I started with a new dentist, the standard questionnaire still asked me if I was HIV positive. Thousands of people still do not know their status, and may be infecting others. Health care and health insurance are complicated by…
One week from tomorrow, the “shopping season” officially begins.Last year, people actually died shopping-related deaths at Wal-Mart. A large group of people cared more about getting to a deal than about the person beneath their feet.And, lest we be too judgemental of the people caught up in that tragic group-think, let us remember that in a global economy, more of us have people beneath our feet than we would care to admit. Twenty-seven million people are in slavery today–including many in our country, and many more who produce goods we buy. As if that weren’t enough, our hunger for…
When the creation stories of the Abrahamic religions came onto the scene, they were different in that God was very intentional about creation. This is taken for granted now, but many earlier creation stories (from the middle east, at least) had God (or Gods) make humans – or even the world – accidentally, in order to take some of the workload away from God.In “newer” stories, however, God is not compelled to create. Instead, we find a God that brings order out of chaos simply as a matter of choice. In this way, evolution and the creation stories agree: the…
The Bills have a bye this Sunday, but two other Buffalo teams will suit up and do battle for your entertainment.Unlike the Bills, these athletes will be competing within the city limits, you won’t feel bad laughing at them, and you can bring your kid without worry.These competitors, the Red Hot Wingz, and the Blue Cheesez, will battle for your laughs. Creating scenes and jokes on the spot, Buffalo Comedysportz, will be playing this Sunday at Lafayette Ave. Presbyterian Church, at 7PM. In this fast-paced competition, the teams score points by entertaining the fans.Admission to this show is free, and…
In the spring of 2003, three young filmmakers traveled to Africa in search of a story. What started out as a filmmaking adventure transformed into much more when these boys from Southern California discovered a tragedy that disgusted and inspired them, a tragedy where children are both the weapons and the victims. After returning to the States, they created the documentary “Invisible Children: Rough Cut,” a film that exposes the tragic realities of northern Uganda’s night commuters and child soldiers. The film was originally shown to friends and family, but has now been seen by millions of people. On Nov…
The Statler is a good building, but had those recently falling bricks landed on a passer-by, said passer-by would not be inclined to agree.Let’s pretend, just because it’s a season for pretending and looking at the dark side of life, that those bricks did fall on a person.Now, if they hit somebody you believe deserved it (don’t name names!), you might claim it was divine judgment – God using a decaying building to right a wrong – so let’s challenge ourselves a little bit more. Let’s say it was a person that has been a force for good in this town.At…
Preparations for one of the coolest events I have even been associated with are under way. Mass Appeal is a fundraiser for the Elmwood Village Association, and this is the second year that it is happening at Lafayette Ave Presbyterian Church. Let me be clear, this is an Elmwood Village event, not a Lafayette Church event. EVA does not endorse any religion, and this event is about fashion and the Elmwood Village; it happens in a church building, but it obviously isn’t “church.”I’ve been asked a lot of questions about the show. Should a church involve itself at all with…