Jesus, we are told, went back to his home town. But people there didn't buy his story, and said, essentially: who on earth do you think you are? We have known you forever. And he was amazed to see that he could do no deeds of power there, besides heal a few people (And, really who can't do that? (Joke, obvs.)) (This is my very brief precis of Mark 6:1-6 ) People rejected him because they though they knew what he had to say. That's kind of like our culture - it thinks it knows what Christianity is and who Jesus is, and think they have rejected him. But do they? What is going on here? To open up the discussion we spent a while thinking about different archetypes from our culture, and archetypes who represent more Kingdom values. It was a good evening, and we had a good conversation, so I was enthused to blog about it (as part of his current Charles Taylor obsession.) Here's the blurb and a link: Do you find the story of Jesus' self-giving love profoundly meaningful? Or do you sometimes wonder whether he should have just kept his head down and stuck to carpentry? It's one of the most profound questions of our age. http://alisterpate.com/2018/07/16/charles-taylor-and-the-sea-of-faith/

1. Resistance
Luke 4:1-13

2. Gratitude
For what are you grateful?

3. He left that place and came to his home town, and his
disciples followed him. On the sabbath he began to teach in
the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded.
They said, ‘Where did this man get all this? What is this
wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power
are being done by his hands! Is not this the carpenter, the
son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and
Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?’ And they took
offence at him. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Prophets are not
without honour, except in their home town, and among their
own kin, and in their own house.’ And he could do no deed of
power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick
people and cured them. And he was amazed at their unbelief.

4. The (Secular) Good Life
• What does the ideal life look
like in our culture?
• Can you think of an
archetypal person?

5. The (Christian) Good Life
• What does the ideal Christian
good life look like?
• Can you think of an
archetype?

6. Human Flourishing
• Is Human flourishing (as
defined in the Secular Good
Life) the ultimate, or final, end
and purpose of human life?

7. A Secular Age by Charles Taylor
• In 1500ce, essentially
everyone “believed in God”
and it wasn’t generally
possible not to do so.
• In 2000ce, many people
manage to. What has
happened?

8. The Problem with God…
• Why do you think people find
it hard to believe?

9. The Subtraction Story
The Sea of Faith
Was once, too, at the full, and round earth’s shore
Lay like the folds of a bright girdle furled.
But now I only hear
Its melancholy, long, withdrawing roar,
Retreating, to the breath
Of the night-wind, down the vast edges drear
And naked shingles of the world.

10. Subtraction Continued
• Materialism is what you are left
with when all the myths, magical
thinking, and obscurantism of
religion are stripped away.
• However, this is one possible
“social imaginary” among others

11. Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.

12. Go in peace;
may you carry God’s Wisdom,
speak forth God’s Word,
and embody God’s Presence
wherever you are.
In the name of Christ. Amen.