This article from the BBC, Setback for Church conservatives, chronicles the turmoil in the Anglican (Episcopal in the US) community over its stance on homosexuality. The Anglican communion is a bit more progessive than their Catholic counterparts regarding being gay (I speak from having studied and completed a graduate degree in dogmatic and systematic theology from a conservative Catholic lay institute attached to a seminary), but I can't help but think of the early Christian Tertullian, who (around the year 200) wrote:
'See how [these Christians] love one another.'
Yes, they love one another so much they are ready to break their church apart because of a gay bishop. I did not know he was such a threatening person, but this must truly be the largest problem facing humanity now, or at least facing the Anglicans. Thankfully war, terrorism, global warming, and the perrenial poverty and hunger are somehow manageable situations. After all, Catholicism has held that such homosexuality is an intrinsic disorder, and look how well they are doing? The Catholic population is growing because it is growing older, while the Anglicans are starting to sniff a more inclusive rather than exclusive religious practice. Perhaps the WWJD method may be interesting to think of here, but I digress. I wonder who will attract a larger audience?
Well, I lost .6 pounds this week on Weight Watchers! I shared my 5 pounds good news two weeks ago, and then was disappointed last week having gained .4 back. I know those things happen (thank you for your encouragement in this, Michael, Robin, and Ernie). That makes a total of -5.2.
Phew. I need some chocolate!
As I mentioned in my reply to Beth's post, What is rapid attention shifting?, I am constantly reminded that the engagement in educational settings is part of good teacher / trainer / instructor / educational preparation. I can want X, Y, and Z from my students, but part of the skill of an educator is the interest and ability to find a way to enable the learners to achieve the learning that they want to achieve, especially with adult students. Hey, whose lives are they, anyway?