|
|
|
News & Views
A short description about your blog
Tag >> book study
After many impassioned speeches, a lively discussion, thoughtful questions, and much deliberation, the vote came down on the side of Barbara Kingsolver's book Small Wonder. A collection of essays and parables for the modern world, Kingsolver's exquisite writing encourages us to think of how we approach and address questions both large and small about our place in the universe. I'm so looking forward to the insights and discussion. Join us in January 2011! I'll be placing the first order for books over the summer, so please let me know if you'd like me to save one for you. Cost is $15.00. For more information, email me at dana@westhill.net or through the church office. And don't forget to join us for the wrap-up party on April 23rd! Click here for more information.
Join us this coming Friday April 23rd for our annual Book Study wrap up pot luck party. Even if you've not be able to come out for a session all year, come on out to this one. Thanks to Marion Cruikshank for hosting the pot luck. Please contact the church office or dana@westhill.net for directions. Time is 7:00 pm. See you there.
Just the facts: When: January 15, 2010 and alternating Fridays until May Time: 7:30 pm to 10:00 pm Where: WHU Upper Lounge Who: You! Details: Join us next Friday January 15, 2010 at 7:30 in the West Hill United Church lounge for the first session of this year's book study. Meeting alternating Fridays in the West Hill UC Lounge, this season we'll be taking a look at A Fair Country: Telling Truths About Canada by John Ralston Saul. Recommended by Darrick Heyd, A Fair Country unveils three founding myths about our country and argues for a new way of looking at Canada, as a Métis nation and through aboriginal ideas and culture. How does a new way of thinking about our country change the way in which we connect with it? Are there lessons here for the way we explore the idea of faith at West Hill? Participants are not always West Hill congregants and the Book Study is always open to new voices so please do join us for an intriguing and animated discussion. Please contact me at dana@westhill.net, in church, or give me a call (through the church office) if you'd like to be on the mailing list. See you soon.
No, quite yet, but it is time to start thinking about getting your book. Beginning on January 15, 2010, we'll be taking a look at A Fair Country by John Ralston Saul. Recommended by Darrick Heyd, A Fair Country unveils three founding myths about our country and argues for a new way of looking at Canada, as a Métis nation and through aboriginal ideas and culture. How does a new way of thinking about our country change the way in which we connect with it? Are there lessons here for the way we explore the idea of faith at West Hill? Participants are not always West Hill congregants and the Book Study is always open to new voices so please do join us for an intriguing and animated discussion. The book has just come out in paperback and I'll be ordering books in bulk over the next couple of months. Please contact me at dana@westhill.net, in church, or give me a call (through the church office) if you'd like me to order a copy for you, or, if you'd like to be on the book study email list. The book study takes place in the lounge at West Hill from 7:30 to 10:00 on alternating Fridays. See you in January!
We've had a fantastic time looking at Chris Hedges's I Don't Believe in Atheists and Sam Harris's short book Letter to a Christian Nation over the past several months. We've watched videos, youtube interviews, taken part in a debate, and seen movie clips. But moreover, we've had a really good time discussing the concepts outlined in Hedge's and Harris's books, asking questions, and learning. Last Friday marked the annual discussion, debate, deliberation, and voting on next year's book. The field was full - 9 books, all worthy. But in the end, after three rounds of voting, John Ralston Saul's A Fair Country was chosen by the group. From the Amazon review: In this startlingly original vision of Canada, thinker John Ralston Saul unveils 3 founding myths. Saul argues that the famous "peace, order, and good government" that supposedly defines Canada is a distortion of the country's true nature. Every single document before the BNA Act, he points out, used the phrase "peace, welfare, and good government," demonstrating that the well-being of its citizenry was paramount. He also argues that Canada is a Métis nation, heavily influenced and shaped by aboriginal ideas: egalitarianism, a proper balance between individual and group, and a penchant for negotiation over violence are all aboriginal values that Canada absorbed. Another obstacle to progress, Saul argues, is that Canada has an increasingly ineffective elite, a colonial non-intellectual business elite that doesn't believe in Canada. It is critical that we recognize these aspects of the country in order to rethink its future.
What does a new way of thinking about our country change the way in which we connect with it? Are there lessons here for the way we explore the idea of faith at West Hill? Join us in January 2010 and find out!
We've almost come to the end of our 2009 winter book study. We've had a wonderful time looking at Chris Hedges's I Don't Believe in Atheists and Sam Harris's short book Letter to a Christian Nation. Now all that's left is the celebration! Mark you calendar for Friday, May 1st for our annual pot-luck wrap-up party. This year, it's hosted by Jeanne Hamel at her home away from home, West Hill United Church. If you've been thinking about checking out the book study, have always wanted to come to a book study, used to attend the book study at some time, or have had no interest in the book study and just want to come and party - this is the event for you! In pure pot-luck fashion, bring whatever you like - it always works out. Jeanne simply asks that you please BYOD - bring your own dishes to save washing up. Start time is at 7:30 pm in the Lounge. See you there. Please speak to Dana if you have any questions, or email her.
It's been a great book study season so far as we look at both Chris Hedges's I Don't Believe in Atheists and Sam Harris's short book Letter to a Christian Nation. There has been much thoughtful conversation and lively discussion. And if you haven't participated yet, there is still time. Mark your calendars for April 17th, 7:30 pm. Join us at the upper lounge at West Hill where we'll be deliberating, debating and voting on the choice of the book for 2010. If you've never been to a book study session this year, have always wanted to attend, used to attend in the past, or want to just check it out, this is the one to be at. And you're welcome to bring a book to pitch to the group; get ready to share your enthusiasm for it as an ideal book to study next year!
Posted by: David Barker in book study on
Jan 15, 2009
Posted by: David Barker in book study on
Jan 13, 2009
Here's the follow up to my previous post for the book study. As with the "conceptual" roadmap of atheism, I don't have to do a lot of work on the "historical" roadmap because the University of Cambridge has already done it for me. Investigating Atheism is an excellent exploration of the context in which the recent "God Wars" have arisen.
Posted by: David Barker in book study on
Jan 12, 2009
Hi Everybody,
I only just checked Dana's Book Study Schedule and discovered that I'm leading the first session! So, I thought I'd use the WHUC blog to post resources that might be of interest.
Dana has (wisely, I think) carved up the books in a non-linear way so that we approach things thematically. So, for the first session, we'll be looking at:
• Harris, pgs vii to 23; pgs 93 to 107
• Hedges, Prologue and Ch 1: The God Debate; &
For the first session, I'd like to create something of a roadmap. Who are these guys? And how do they fit into the larger debate?
|
|
|
|
