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Pub Theology 10/8/24 -- When were the good old days?
Peter Trumbore • October 8, 2024
About 15 years or so ago I used to listen to a Detroit-based Gothic country band called Blanche. They had two great records back in the 2000s and then kinda faded away. You can still find their music various places online, but they haven't released an album since 2007, and as far as I know, they are defunct. It's a shame, because they had some really great songs.
One line from one of their songs -- I couldn't tell you which anymore -- has really stuck with me though, and the sentiment behind it speaks directly to our discussion topic this week. The line goes something like this: "I dream in sepia." I hints at dreams and thoughts of days gone by, our memory of them faded and obscured but sweetly nostalgic. It's a dream of life as it used to be. In short, the good old days. But when exactly were those? And who exactly were those days good for? Why do we pine for some idealized vision of the past?
Not surprisingly, scripture has something to contribute to this conversation. In Ecclesiastes 7:10 the writer (tradition attributes authorship to King Solomon) advises: "Do not say 'Why were the former days better than these?' For it is not from wisdom that you ask this." Why do we often hold this sentiment that the old days were better? Is it sometimes true? Why might the writer of Ecclesiastes suggest that this is not a wise question to ask? And what do you think of when you think of the good old days?
That's the focus for our conversation this evening. Join us for the discussion starting at 7pm at Casa Real in downtown Oxford and tell us what you think.
This Sunday, all are welcome to join us for a morning of worship and fellowship. Whether you are with us in the sanctuary or joining from afar, your presence strengthens our community. Our services today will be at 9:30 followed by our annual meeting. We warmly welcome those who cannot attend in person to join us via our live stream for the 10:00 a.m. service.
Your hardworking staff here at PubTheo came across the above quote from Albert Einstein the other day, and it sparked a thought: When was the last time I really exercised my imagination? Much of my day-to-day revolves around task management and following the dictates of a fairly routine schedule. In these circumstances I think I fall back on logic -- Einstein's getting from A to B -- much more so than any real sense of imagination. So when do I exercise my imagination? Einstein also had this to say about imagination and knowledge: "Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world." A more famous version of this quote appears in a book Einstein wrote in 1931, Cosmic Religion and Other Opinions and Aphorisms . "At times I feel certain I am right while not knowing the reason. When the eclipse of 1919 confirmed my intuition, I was not in the least surprised. In fact, I would have been astonished had it turned out otherwise. Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution. It is, strictly speaking, a real factor in scientific research.” What is your take on all of this? What role does imagination play in your everyday life? Or in your life in general? Do you see the distinction between logic and imagination that Einstein identifies? What about the idea that imagination is more important than knowledge? What do you think Einstein was driving at? Do you agree? Which is more important in your own life, knowledge or imagination? Would you say that most problems stem from a lack of knowledge, or a lack of imagination? For a longer discussion of Einstein's perspective on the relationship between knowledge and imagination, this article is worth reading . Where would you say imagination comes from? Do you consider yourself an imaginative person? Have you ever let your imagination run wild? What was that like for you? Finally, have you ever met anyone that you believed was truly lacking in imagination? Join us for the conversation this Tuesday evening, Jan. 14, starting at 7pm at Casa Real in downtown Oxford. Imagine what a great discussion we'll have!
This Sunday, all are welcome to join us for a morning of worship and fellowship. Whether you are with us in the sanctuary or joining from afar, your presence strengthens our community. Our services are at 8:30 & 10:00 a.m. We warmly welcome those who cannot attend in person to join us via our live stream for the 10:00 a.m. service.
It's January, it's cold, and that means it's cozy season! That also means it's time for hygge , a Danish concept that has become recently popularized, inspiring books, articles, TV series, and even Nordic-noir crime novels. So what does it mean? According to the Danes, hygge is about taking time away from the daily rush to be together with people you care about -- or even by yourself -- to relax and enjoy life's quieter pleasures. The word dates from around 1800, at least in its current meaning, and other Nordic languages have their own, related, words for the same idea. In short, hygge is often about informal time together with family or close friends. A Danish government website on Danish culture summarizes hygge like this: "It usually involves sharing a meal and wine or beer, or hot chocolate and a bowl of candy if children are included. There is no agenda. You celebrate the small joys of life, or maybe discuss deeper topics. It is an opportunity to unwind and take things slow." That sounds a lot like some of our Pub Theology sessions. The cold, dark, and wet climate during long parts of the year encourages Danes to spend time together indoors. Thus, winter is the prime time for hygge. Cold, dark, and wet sounds a lot like winter around these parts as well, so we're going to take our cue from Denmark and spend our discussion time this week getting cozy and answering some hygge-inspired questions. Join us for the discussion tomorrow evening, Tuesday Jan. 7, starting at 7pm at Casa Real in downtown Oxford.
This Sunday, all are welcome to join us for a morning of worship and fellowship. Whether you are with us in the sanctuary or joining from afar, your presence strengthens our community. Our services are at 8:30 & 10:00 a.m. We warmly welcome those who cannot attend in person to join us via our live stream for the 10:00 a.m. service.
This Sunday, all are welcome to join us for a morning of worship and fellowship. Whether you are with us in the sanctuary or joining from afar, your presence strengthens our community. Our services are at 8:30 & 10:00 a.m. We warmly welcome those who cannot attend in person to join us via our live stream for the 10:00 a.m. service.
This Sunday, all are welcome to join us for a morning of worship and fellowship. Whether you are with us in the sanctuary or joining from afar, your presence strengthens our community. Our services are at 8:30 & 10:00 a.m. We warmly welcome those who cannot attend in person to join us via our live stream for the 10:00 a.m. service.
This Sunday, all are welcome to join us for a morning of worship and fellowship. Whether you are with us in the sanctuary or joining from afar, your presence strengthens our community. Our services are at 8:30 & 10:00 a.m. We warmly welcome those who cannot attend in person to join us via our live stream for the 10:00 a.m. service.
With just one week to go until Christmas, we are taking our annual hiatus to prepare for and celebrate the holidays. We will be back at it on Tuesday, Jan. 7. Until then, we intend to take our cue from Calvin and Hobbes and take some well-deserved naps by the fireplace. See everyone in the New Year.
This Sunday, all are welcome to join us for a morning of worship and fellowship. Whether you are with us in the sanctuary or joining from afar, your presence strengthens our community. Our services are at 8:30 & 10:00 a.m. We warmly welcome those who cannot attend in person to join us via our live stream for the 10:00 a.m. service.