Recapping last night's riveting Pigfest ...
It was a night of conviviality and engaging conversation in Salem, Virginia.
Here is a recap of the propositions.
"While watching television clearly requires discernment, it is good for Christians to watch some television to be more effective ambassadors and missionaries to this culture."
"Given the heinous and long term damaging effects of sexual molestation to its victims and to society, and given that statistics show that molesters will continue to molest, convicted molesters should undergo mandatory court-ordered castration."
"Those in the church tend to treat the sins of those outside the church as if a sin scale existed. Instead of focusing on condemning some sins as worse than others, those in the church should spend their time sharing the gospel with unbelievers."
"When Christians practice civil disobedience they should behave more like Christ than the world."
"Christians have misunderstood the teaching to be fruitful and multiply to the detriment of practicing adoption. Adoption is a beautiful picture of the gospel and Christians should lead the way in adopting children into their homes."
The quality and high level of discussion at this Pigfest was remarkable given that each person was a Pigfest first-timer. All of the participants were Christians and everyone knew this ahead of time. Hence, four out of five of the propositions were directed at those in the church. As this Salem Pigfest grows and diversifies, I suspect that the propositions will branch out toward society as a whole.
This Pigfest further reinforced in my mind how hungry people are in our culture for conversation. The twelve of us talked non-stop for two and half hours. The time for an evening spent in conversation is back!
Thanks again Mr. D for officiating. It was a great time.
Mine was the TV proposition. It was originally drafted as the following potential devil's rule proposition:
"The television is the most important item in the average American household (assuming necessities of food, shelter, water and heat are met), and it is a mistake for anyone who intends to be an effectual persuader (be it politician, salesman, or religious leader) to eschew television because they will lose touch with their audience."
The proposition got quickly re-worded by our gracious Mr. D, and the conversation went elsewhere. But it was great as re-worded. I am currently so fascinated by the role of television, news and pop culture on the average American (including me). This book is what got me thinking: How the News Makes Us Dumb: The Death of Wisdom in an Information Society, by C. John Sommerville. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa4004/is_200107/ai_n9001892 (summary of the book)
Posted by: MTM | December 03, 2007 at 11:37