Family Retreat II, Aug. 10 -16, 2008
Camp Okoboji, Iowa
Camp started on Sunday evening with supper, a mixer and a camp fire with S’mores. We have been able to see some people we have not seen in a while, including the Porath family.
Monday began in the study sessions with Dr. Paul L. Maier. Title of the Studies is: Christ or Caricture. A Seminar on History, Archaeology, and Christianity.
Monday’s session was how Christ is characterized in this day and age. Dr. Maier writes: “this is a very challenging time for Christians, since the faith is under fire from religious competitors, radical critics, media personalities, and sensationalist novals/movies like The Da Vinci Code. Christ appears in caricature rather than in authentic portrait. How are believers supposed to defend the faith in this hostile climate? Is it possible to learn more true details about Jesus of Nazareth and his world than we find in the Gospels? Are there any outside proofs that the New Testament records are reliable? Indeed there are, and defending the faith has never been easier.”
Dr. Maier took us through many of the distorted images of Christ that we see today. He told of us many books that are out there and why they are “junk.” Even though the Da Vinci code is really fiction, though the author purports otherwise, it is scary as it has sold more books in four years that all the other books over a 40 year period combined. Wow. Dr. Maier also told us how the media plays up the fiction of Christ that is out there.
Dr. Maier mentioned a wretched double standard that is prevalent today and that is you dare not criticize any religious system unless it is Christianity.
1 comment:
THAT is so neat, where you went to camp!! Some friends of ours, moved to there, and do that camp - rick and diane P. - did you meet them by any chance? I know, that's like asking for a needle in a haystack..but just thought I would - you never know! Rick and Di live there now, and keep asking us to come for the camp - sounds like you enjoyed it!
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