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I’m not sure how to define censorship.

With the idea of fake news, misinformation, and even the polarization of media – we come up with what some call censorship and others call responsible tending of the public (the shepherds keeping the wolves away from the flock).

I joined a group called academia.edu a number of years ago.  Those involved in some way with the academy were invited to join.  I like research, I like to write, I like to continue my education.  The site has been a gold mine of research and articles.

To monetize this venture, the site began to summarize articles and provide special search services for the users.  If you wanted, you could move from a free membership into a price range to suit your needs.

The latest improvement – still on the way – is fact checking.  We used to call this peer review.  Without going into a total rant, fact checking is a scientific venture or a means of censorship.  Depends on which side of the “truth” you fall. 

Our current polarization is based on fact checking.  At least, that’s what I’m struggling to understand.

Are we really able to have a good dialogue if we can’t agree on the facts?  I would go one step further.  Can we dialogue if we can’t even agree on the rules for not only what we accept but also how we will construe what we accept? 

Just my thoughts after a day of reading Facebook rants has come to an end!

Where do you put your last name in your conversations?

Yesterday I’m with a Korean who has just freshly arrived in Canada.  He is bright, knowledgeable and personable.

We begin telling each other our names.  First names.  He spells out his first name and puts the last name down as well.  But we don’t discuss the last name – the family name.  He has learned well the Western way of doing things.  First names are the most important.

Something triggers in the back of my mind. 

Years ago a Korean student came to our seminary in Canada.  He had a distinctly Korean name – but he went by the English moniker, “Henry”.  His last name was “Oh”, a family name which my new Korean friend recognized.

My new friend acknowledged that in Korea the family name is spoken first, and then the given name.

And I had to reach back again.  Henry from Korea was a bit of jokester (actually a “joke star”!).f  He was more aware of our Canadian culture and idioms than we knew.  He chose his name – Henry – with a western culture in mind.

OH HENRY!

And the joke was on us!!

Valentine’s day was low key!

Church service in the morning – leading worship and (as always) chatting with others.

Home for lunch and the evangelical nap.  That is an old term expressing the idea that when you have a day of rest, you actually rest in the afternoon.  A sacred tradition from my youth – I get it now that I’m getting a little bit older.

Then some laughs through comedy on the internet, supper and an evening of two videos that mentioned God in more than just swear words.  Both were romances with strong and evolving virtues. 

And then the final rest of the day.

Good day!

I’ve touched base with a number of pastors and church leaders over the last while.

One of the questions they are asking is:  Who is my church?

For the leaders, this is a question of the span of ministry – you can only stretch so far when the world is virtually open to you (and if there is no one who is following you – your stretch is atrophied). 

For the lone individual, this is a question of the options to receive ministry.  Through technology, it seems we can be gifted with “church” at any time, anywhere, with anyone leading the “church”.

One writer on future church talks of the organized (institutional) church coexisting with the spiritual (heartfelt) church.  Rules and release trying to find a way forward. 

Not a new phenomenon, but very relevant today!