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Fundamentalist conservatism a threat to democracy – a reflection on the Norweigan tragedy

2011
07.24

Places that evoke happy memories of  carefree summer, sun and  strawberries have become tainted. Friday and Saturday I became glued to the internet as my Facebook (fb) and txt messages went to friends in Norway. Tragedy had struck close to where I used to live and work 10 years ago. With the bomb blast in downtown Oslo –  I recognised – it most likely was close to the down town  Adventist Church,  where also a lot of young people live.

I was watching images in disbelief, I mean Oslo –  Norway – of all places,  a country of about 5 mill inhabitants, Oslo a city of  400.000 ppl, renown for its international focus on Peacework and for the Nobel Peace Price.  A terror attack!  It couldn’t be a Norwegian was my thoughts – for anyone having worked in Norway knows that July is vacation month and most offices are closed. On Friday afternoons the city offices become deserted as people head home early for the weekend (pretty much just after lunch). Anyone who wanted to cause more than material damage would have chosen another day – another month…

Then Utoya…

A small island in Tyrifjord – an hours drive out of Oslo – 5 miles from where I worked , a serene beautiful Lake with small islands.  My friends boat is docked across from the island, unimaginable that someone would attack an island with a teen camp out convention. What was the likelihood of me knowing anyone there? Although most of the youth I taught and those I worked with, was not politically active, the mere proximity to my friend’s residence and my former workplace had me on edge.

Following the online Norwegian media – NRK and VG a picture emerged of a huge tragedy.

Via Facebook and txt I was in contact with friends and saw more and more people declaring themselves safe and alive on fb.

News kept emerging on the horrific tragedy.

As the dead tolls are rising and investigations are continuing, a young man with extreme fundamentalistic conservative ideas, claiming to be Christian, expresses extreme hatred for all non Norwegians, hatred for democracy. It begs for us to ponder over how we  don’t speak up against people with extreme fundamentalist views, being it political or religious, thereby letting their views flourish and take root.

How often we let the extreme conservative gain foothold in our society and in our faith communities. Individuals who express  fundamentalist conservatism become a threat to a democracy where all humans are equal.  And that tragicly is the beauty of democracy; that all views have a right to free speech.

“Freedom is always the Freedom of those who think differently” Rosa Luxemborg

A democratic society is a society where censorship is unconstitutional. That is a democracy worth fighting for and, yes, we are to hear the thoughts of those who think different than ourselves, and that is often what Fundamentalist conservatism advocates against. And this, in my opinion, is why this group of individuals can be a  more serious threat to a free  democratic society than we dare to acknowledge. In Politics and Religion alike.

A generation of future political leaders in Norway if they survived,  have been traumatised-  To read one of the survivors’ blog please visit: (in Norwegian)

http://prableen.origo.no/-/bulletin/show/672218_helvete-paa-utoeya

a translated English version is on this blog:

http://midgetviking.wordpress.com/2011/07/23/hell-on-utoya-an-eyewitness-account/

As Im writing this blog and fb with my friend, Norweigian police forces are in action in east Oslo, the tragedy continues to develop as the People, Royalty and political leaders gather in Oslo Cathedral for prayer. On fb people are showing support by adding a Norwegian flag to their profile picture – and joining in fb groups encouraging others to light a candle. Grieving is not limited to Oslo and Utoya, but is global. Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg has said he hopes Norway remains an open and free society “without being afraid”.

My friends are safe, but I know of those who have lost loved ones.

Its easy to fear what we don’t know and it would have been less painful for Norway had it been an “outside” terrorist. Home grown terrorist cry out for a hard look at one self, what in our community breeds such hatred, its no longer the evil out there – but here among us. And not only in politics – I see it more and more in faith communities such as my own; where conservatism is on the march with extreme fundamentalist views following close behind.

Perhaps a danger to our community also lies in the part of society that is fundamentalistic and conservative – that do not share the  True Christian values that all are equal, that love and respect for others really is the foundation of any civilised society – and Christian faith.

A young survivor  Stine Renate Håheim was interviewed by CNN today and asked if they now wanted to fight terror more intensely. Her answer was: “If one man can show this much hatred, imagine how much love we can show together.” Her quote was repeated by the Prime minister and is resonating across the world.

As my heart cries out for Norway and the tragedy there, I wonder what it will take for us all to be serious about recognising that  fundametalist conservatism is a threat to our society and faith.


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Chasing the devil

2011
03.10

Last month I spent quite some time reading through this book.  It was  unusual for me to read it so slowly, but this story stayed with me,  as I journeyed alongside in my mind, reflecting back to my childhood impressions and  experiences of this part of West Africa

Having read Butchers best seller “Blood Rivers” where he travels through the Congo in the footsteps of Stanley, I was drawn to this new travelogue as it took me back to the West African countries I lived in briefly in the late 70’s, Sierra Leone and Liberia

I picked up the book and flipped through it to a map and instantly recognised places. And as I started to read I realised that this time Butcher was tracing the journey of Graham Greene in 1935. This brought me to reflect back on my own grandparents who had lived in Sierra Leone in the late 1920’s/1930’s a bit earlier than Greene.

As this travelogue was weaving anecdotes from Greenes travel and Butchers travel , images  comes to my mind of old photos from my grandparents and my own experiences as a child of the country. My grand parents who lived in Freetown- Waterloo, and how I as a child meet one of my grandfathers students there in Waterloo who could tell me about a grandfather I never knew.

The book took me down memory lane as I recalled journeys from Freeetown up country to Bo and Kenema and Segwema , or north to Massanga , visit to Lebanese shopkeepers in the city, the large Cottentree in Freetown, markets in Bo, ice creams in Kenema, attending an all girls school in Segwema, and the field trips with my father to various villages and paramount chiefs as he was researching.

Butchers ability to weave the journey of Greene and himself together, enriches the book and enabled me to reflect on what my grandparents had encountered, comparing it to the impressions the landscape and people left on an 11 year old.

Cotton tree were slaved were freed. Now the center of Freetown, this image from the 70's

My memories were refreshed as I recalled the sights and smells while  I read in recognition of locations,  and experiences of the unbearable humid heat,  the narrow canoe in crocodile infested rivers, the anticipation of a car driving over a wobbly broken bridge, the gorgeous beaches with the deadly current, the orange sticky fanta, the poverty, the stench of a market, the lack of sanitation,  rubber plantations, fear of malaria,  leprosy hospital Massanga,  secret society, devil dancing, roadblocks, missions,  priest and diamond dealers and my frustration of not understanding/speaking English all that well.

Not many travel writers seek out the back and beyond of Sierra Leone and Liberia, and its still not a part of the world that is popular with travellers despite the gorgeous beaches. The book gave a glimpse of  these two war torn countries.

Why did i enjoy it so much? I seldom finish reading  travel books, but Butcher did keep me reading through this journey. The book definitely speaks to my heart and childhood memories, adding facts and historic event to deepen my understanding of what went so gruesomely wrong that war raged these countries to such atrocities against humanity .

My time in Sierra Leone & Liberia enriched my childhood on so many levels, I still have textile and artefacts I picked up from various markets- yes even then I was into home-decoration.  My living room does reflect an African flavour, and I have altered some traditional skirts from 30 years ago that I wore last summer ( fashion always comes around). I love spicy food and enjoy humid tropic weather. I also know that I come from a privileged part of the world, that comes with a responsibility to be socially aware and care for those who are less privileged.

Most of all the book resonated with a landscape hidden away deep in my soul.  Butcher was chasing the devil through walking the jungle of war torn  and forgotten corners of two countries, never really solving the question of how much the secret society “devils” actually influence modern Liberia and Sierra Leone.  Always suspecting the presence but never able to prove his gut feelings. Almost sensing a disappointment in Butchers slightly naive approach to  what  are some strong and powerful secret societies, that seemingly shape so much of the life among the people groups he writes about.

Tragic war atrocities  has defined this part of West Africa, and one can only hope that they will be able to rebuilt nations that have so much potential, but it remains to see.

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Gifted to lead

2011
02.01

I recently got a book from a friend with “I thought of you when I read this book” . The Book was “Gifted to Lead The art of leading as a woman in the church” By Nancy Beach

Gifted to Lead

After having read it I recommended it to female pastors on Facebook and got a few responding as to wanting to know my thoughts on the book, so let me give a few pointers of why I liked the book

Let me be clear, its not heavy reading – which I this time really enjoyed as I could relax with the book.  I have so many heavy books on leadership strategies etc that I just cant seem to finish,  so it was nice with a  a fast read.

With warmth and humour and insights  the author describer her own journey in leadership at Willow Creek. Her open hearted sharing  resonated with me, here are some thoughts  I enjoyed about the book.

1. To read another womans honest and open journey is rare and resfreshing, especially a woman in  church leadership
I enjoyed that it wasn’t a “poor me” or “look how amazing I have it all together” book

2. Recognising some of your own challenges in a male lead church was affirming
3. Recognising not only challenges but hesitation in leadership- as you feel so out of the box sometimes- very reasuring to “not be alone” in that.
4 to see how she clearly following Gods calling into uncharted territory, and how God lead the way and made the impossible possible.

5 its not just me with these odd/ strange experiences :) she was able to verbalise the experiences and her thoughts so articulate-It silenced my doubts as to there only being one type of leader in the church, and that some of the  things that I questions ( lord is it just me being awkward) was put into perspective
AND I laughed

especially on her take on women and microphones ( ill leave you to read that )
there also is a good chapter(7) in the book especially for men who are working with women or would like to understand some of what women in church leadership might be  experiencing.

let me know your thoughts…

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January : new possibilities or just hibernating

2011
01.24

Its the end of January 2011 and we have tasted a bit of the possibilities of 2011.

Here in England we have experienced a rise in vat,  and the financial crisis does not seem to be over. The government is declaring “cuts and savings”  and one wonders if these cuts actually will save in the  long run or merely increase unemployment and thereby tragedy in peoples lives.  We are  again reading of a new “lost generation” of youth unable to find jobs, it appears very similar to the challenges for youth in the  80’s. And that was a depressing time to be young in.

January is always a bit of a challenging month. It seems dark and depressing, the weather is abit bland, as one is payed early in December due to holiday, January payday seems a long time coming. And this is the month we welcome the new year in! A year where we try to express positive excitement of what is to come, but at times  the excitement of welcoming new possibilities seems wrapped in gloom.

Is it merely mind over matter- can you psych yourself up to being one of those positively annoying overexcited happy people- in January!!

This is the time I love to snuggle up in a warm and cosy bed with a cup of tea and a good book.  Exactly what I did yesterday (- Sunday-) doing absolutely nothing- and loving it.

It made me wonder if we really have to be so caught up in “starting the year on a positive note” or if its OK to just snuggle up and let a gloom January pass, holding out to the spring to start thinking of  “new possibilities”

To hold out for the sun to lengthen the days and warm up the air, making it much easier to smile.

January is a month of hibernation with tea & good books/movies.A bit gloomy, wake me up when the sun shines, for now I’m merely holding out for spring.

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Advent thoughts

2010
12.08

We have entered the Advent season.

In northern Europe this signals a time of long nights, the sun sets early and rises late- here in England it’s not quite as dark and dramatic as you will find further north were above the Arctic Circle there is no sun, merely a little daylight.

But even here,” the darkness creeps more into our day, making it dark when we return home from work, but worst of all is probably the darkness in the morning when it feels as if night has extended itself and it becomes a struggle to get out of a warm bed.”

The word Advent originates from Latin : Adventus meaning arrival and when we use the word advent, we use it in context of waiting for the  arrival of something,  here in December, The church calendar season  is named Advent, and  refers to the period of 4 weeks before Christmas and is observed by some Christians as a season of fasting and prayer.  It is a time that we look forward to remember the first coming of Christ, which is what we celebrate at Christmas.

“If Advent is about waiting, the question lingers, what are you waiting for ?”

Advent, its the time that we wait for light to come, and we light candles to bring more light into our dark days, and perhaps that is to be compared with our spiritual life, that in our lives there might be darkness not dissimilar to the darkness of the long nights.

“And just  as we discover we are not master over daylight, we might discover than in our own life there is a darkens that can only be mastered by the coming of the Light of the world into our own lives. “*

“In the Advent we are in our darkness waiting for the coming of the light.”*

The Gospel of John starts with thees thoughts: “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

* thoughts translated from J Mollehaves sermon in “Hvor Kaerlighed bor”


Advents krans

Advents krans is one of the beautiful and meaningful christmas traditions from Denmark, where a candle is lit  one a week for every week leading up to Christmas.

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Dutch inspiration

2010
11.04

It never ceases to amaze me how at home i feel in The Netherlands. I have never lived there, nor do I speak the language, but it still resonates of something familiar.  In this highly populated country there always seem to be space to be who you are, and I enjoy the flat countryside regularly  interrupted by canals.

at Dover waiting for ferry

Last weekend I had the privilege to be asked to be a speaker and motivator to a Church plant in Utrecht called Uniek. So Karsten and I packed the SMART car and drove to Utrecht.  Uniek is one of the few church plants or new churches in Europe that has been able to attract a high percentage of new believers as well as former believers. This makes the group a very diverse group, who on paper wouldn’t interact well, but when God is added to such a mix, there is an inclusivelty of differences that is inspiring.

Uniek Church Group

Celebrating 10 years as a church group Uniek is at a crossroad and the weekends focus was dialogue about identity andauthenticity, and where to proceed to from the Status Que .Uniek is very much a cutting edge church group that has understood that churchplants is about being relevant in their culture.  The group was eager to grow, and great conversations enabled a free discussion, which  I hope  in turn will  lead to great potential in growing both in numbers but also in spirit and character. I tried to make the weekend about encouraging the group to stay authentic, have authentic faith,  and the confidence to invite friends,  using especially social media and being intentional about including people in events.  But I also felt it important to affirm uniek as a church with an identity in the Adventist Church.

Being back in Utrecht and driving by a congress center  brought forth memories of  15 years ago when  I walked the congress centers corridors in tears and frustration and disbelief as my world church chose to not affirm female leadership, in the form of letting individual regions decide whether or not to ordain women clergy on equal footing with male clergy.  And 15 years on my church still struggles on this matter. My heart still breaks at the inequalities within my church.

Utrecht

Being with the Uniek  church plant group gave me hope that there are new churches of inclusive and relevancy where there is space to be- that is my hope for the rest of my global church- that we may be a church of space and freedom to be authentic and relevant.

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exhausted and exercise

2010
10.16

Some days I feel like I’m running around trying to get everything done and I collapse on the couch remembering all that i didn’t get done.  Im simply exhausted. I have been told over and over again that  I would have more energy if I looked after myself more, and I’m constantly reminded that I don’t exercise enough

I’m not a marathon runner like my friend Dilys or climb a mountain every morning  like my friend Anne Berit in fact I have struggled to do much exercise for years due to various illnesses, lately due to an ankle injury followed by ankle surgery- which still gives me pain.  So yes I do go on walks,  but gone are the days I would run 1 mile a day before PE lessons or cycle every day, or play volleyball- these activities stopped when i had knee surgery 20 years ago.

You see I know I have many excuses for not exercising and most of them are not only good but true too.

When I recently went to a  see a consultant for yet another medical condition, he read through my medical notes and looked up at me and then reading more until he said – Your are really an interesting person- you really have gone through a lot with your health, his amazement increased when I added the medical history that would be found in the Danish/Swedish notes that he did not have translated…

So I understand  granted my medical history why I am exhausted, but I somewhat refuse to accept limitations.

I wont list all my medical ailments here, it would be too depressing, and  I don’t want that to identify me, but yes it does sometime limit me.  Singer Anastacia  has a couple of lines in a song that resonates with how I sometimes feel:  Im sick and tired of always being sick and tired.

You see when you start with a healthy body, exercise is a mind over matter.  But when you are regularly fighting illness you body’s energy is used by just living and doing regular things. So often I hear from healthy people and friends that I just need to get back in an exercise routine and I will get energy… This is true when you are not battling illnesses, but when you starting point is below zero its a different matter, and not merely about willpower. Living with pain and through pain depletes your energy reserves, and yes whereas exercise is good and needed its not about simply putting on your running shoes.  You are limited and have to work within those limitations.

Health  effects your entire life, and when parts of your body is ill – your entire body is effected. This can be limiting

Limitations that come  in the shape of lack of energy and not being able to do as many things as  planned.

But perhaps I need to look at it the other way around. perhaps my limitations focuses me on more  important matters than exercising and being obsessed with having a healthy body- for i’ll never get that- my scars remind me that I have been sent to the operating table 6 times for various illnesses,  and my broken body has been repaired through medication and surgery.

But does it matter that I can’t exercise that much?  That my body has to preserve energy to stay relatively healthy?

In a body/fitness  obssesed culture what matters more than being fit?

I am blessed. I am alive. I can move around.  I am able to work. I have great friends. I have an amazing husband.

Perhaps my exhaustion comes from being overly optimistic in what can be done in a day.

Perhaps I simply plan too many things that are unrealistic to accomplish in time allocated. Sound familiar?

Perhaps  if I stopped cramming so much into my daily schedule and recognised that I cannot do it all and indeed I don’t have to do it all, if I let go of this urge to respond to all needs presented to me when they are presented to me, then just perhaps I will stop collapsing on my couch  in exhaustion.

In the Bible the gospel of Matthew (chapter 11 v 28-30) Jesus gives this advise

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

I will in this month try to take deep breaths, rest, laugh out loud  and marvel at the colours on the trees as I sip a nice cup of tea.

I believe living to the full is possible even when your physical health gives you limitations. I enjoy life. I am blessed.

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Thoughts on Justice, Mercy and Humble Walking

2010
09.13

This last Saturday 11th september 2010 I was preaching on Micah 6:8

“He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.”

as I  was reflecting and asking friends for thoughts, the text  stuck in my mind for a couple of weeks. For what if we as individuals and collectively as a community lived out the text, Act Justly, love mercy and walk humbly with our God- what would that look like ? What would it do to you and I and our community?

I believe that the old prophet micah who wrote in 8 BC actually strips away all the irrelevant trappings of religion – the hierarchies, the rules, the sacrifices, the man-made interpretations – and goes to the heart of God’s expectations for the people of God – justice, mercy, and a living relationship with God.

Focuses us on the core of living out our Christian faith,  Kingdom living here and now. It brings out three thoughts:

  • Kingdom living is when we stand for justice, when we speak up for those who have no voice.
  • Kingdom living is when we are kind to each other
  • Kingdom living is journeying with God taking Him serious

Kingdom living is when we live out how God  wants us to live here  and now reflecting what his eternal Kingdom is about.

Walking with God is a motion forward, how we journey through life with God. Because when

we interact with what we are given we develop and change and growth is not only possible but inevitable.

To act Just, Love mercy and walk humbly with our God really is Living out the grace of God in our lives journey. Because Gods grace changes us individually; when we live it out it changes our community as it continues to develop  and shape us along the journey toward eternity.

and my question lingers what would that look like in my life- in your life and in our community

Kingdom living is journeying with God taking Him serious

Kingdom living is when we live out how God our King wants us to live here reflecting what his eternal Kingdom is about.

To act Just, Love mercy and walk humbly with our God really is Living out the grace of God in our lives journey.

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Mourning not only what was, but what could have been

2010
09.07

Mourning not only what was but what could have been

As a pastor I seldom experience two days that are identical, its different meetings, different people, some admin-stuff that is repetitive but mostly it’s about walking with people on their journey of life.  When you work with people the unexpected happens and you experience joy and sorrow. And as much as joy is celebrated when sorrow comes, it can be tough to make sense out of it all- and I have stopped trying. I cannot make sense out of everything, and I am not sure that is my purpose.

Death & Funerals are parts of my job that I struggle with.  When death arrives I find it tough. Especially when it comes unexpected and you grieve not only the person and what has been, but also what never will be. One cannot trivialize another person’s mourning.  But the question remains- how do I as a pastor comfort those who mourn?  I find it difficult to know what is of most comfort- saying nothing or sharing memories. Im sure it varies from person to person, but I still find it challenging to know.

This summer we as a church and as a college community have lost an outstanding person who had so much potential in her. She studied theology while in her 60’s and was a legend in the Karate world- where she was the first and highest ranked woman in the world. Pauline Bindra was an amazing pioneer that had so much more to give.  I mourn not only what was, but also what could have been, how she was able to impact so many people in such a different way than a traditional congregational  pastor, yet she remained humble about her achievements, never bragged, or let on to us who don’t understand the language of the karate world how unique she was.

I am glad I’m not officiating at the funeral, but will pay my respects. As I share a video tribute made by her son I hope you too will be inspired by her life.

A tribute to her is found on

http://blog.blitzsport.com/2010/09/01/pauline-laville-bindras-funeral-date-and-tribute/

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Time Out on Tenerife

2010
08.16

I have been reprimanded for starting a blog and then not updating  it regular.

I am guilty, (no question,) of not updating at all in July!  My Apologies.

kirsten on balcony tenerife

Its been Time Out for me. After attending  Karstens PhD graduation and Newbold College Graduation on July 11

I did indeed take Time out, also called vacation.

I was fortunate to be able to really take time out from my daily routine.  Together with Karsten I traveled to Tenerife and spend time in a wonderful flat and was truly able to relax- enjoy the sun and sea views and cooling off in a nice pool.

And yes admitting Tenerife is an island that I never had the urge to visit, but  I did enjoy it. Tenerife despite it being Spanish  was indeed an extension of all things English, as most of the restaurants were English and I did not need to get out a dictionary to try pronouncing( or mispronouncing) Spanish words- every one spoke English,  both nice and a bit sad. One of my favorite things on vacation is to try to learn a few words in the language spoken.  But with 4 million UK out of 10 million tourist yearly visiting the Canaries Islands- shops and restaurants did reflect and cater to this massive UK tourist market.

Tenerife 2010

But we went to Tenerife to relax, and relax we did, embarrassing as it sounds we did no sightseeing, none at all. Very unlike me to not want to explore, but I was tired and needed to simply recharge. I was grateful for the chance to do exactly that.

Relaxing and recharging is one aspect of vacationing, it also enables you to put things back home in perspective. It brought home once again the importance of Rest, of taking a time out from our rat race to recharge our batteries. Its so easy to get caught up in our routines that taking time out- stepping back to take stock over our lives and what we spend our time actually doing, is recommendable and healthy. Catching up on sleep, the smell of sea and sunlight makes a huge difference in my life. Not forgetting time with my beloved spending time reading books, playing Carcassonne and talking. NO INTERNET. No faceBook or emailing ( at least for the first week- then we tracked down an internet cafe to check face-book)  Quite a challenge for both of us. But I read some amazing books- one that stands out was :

Burnt Shadows by Kamila Shamsie

A story that following a woman’s survival journey from 1945 Nagasaki – Abomb, via India and Pakistan to New York post 9/11. Shortlisted for  Orange Prize  for Fiction 2009.


Rest & Time Out is an ancient principle,  a principle that makes sense several thousand years after God introduced it to us as a regular day of rest at the end of a week.  Just as we need one day of Rest  planned into every week, its also recommendable to take Time out regularly.

It makes you appreciate your working life as well as it  puts in perspective what is important in your life- it might not be what you think- so step back – take time out and get perspective. It makes me thankful for the blessings I have in life and makes me cope with  challenges that Life brings.

I was reminded of  my need to reflect and to spend time with my beloved Husband, and how blessed I am to share life’s journey with him.  After 15 years as a couple we  still have so much fun.

Relaxing Holiday

We stayed in Los Christianos check out  accommodation: www.urlaubteneriffa.net

balcony and pool- and yes those seaviews

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