11 comments

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  markvans

  8 months ago

  I have always hoped for more far-reaching articles here on JM...but such articles require imagination, and these days everyone's political imaginations are being shaped by the election. As a result, most stuff written tends to focus on challenging the political system.
  
  I think there is a lot of room for reflections on church life, regular life, art, culture, etc. And, indeed, we've had that sort of stuff. It usually doesn't get the same amount of attention as the "radical" stuff. It would be good if not only more submissions in different areas were submitted, but also more attention was given to those areas that were submitted.
  
  At the same time, it is entirely ok for us to have a focus. We have an niche that is under-represented...so we shouldn't be afraid of not appealing to everyone. Not everyone needs to feel like they fit in at every website. We should always seek to be hospitable, but not at the expense of our unique perspectives, concerns, and contributions.
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  hewhocutsdown

  8 months ago

  And I'm alright with niche's, as long one's vision does not degenerate to where what was once the focal point of discussion is now all you can see. :)
  
  Perhaps the answer is just more along the lines of helping bring another perspective to the broader ecosystem of online spiritual/religious magazines. The ties to Christarchy are important as well, I feel....allowing people face-to-face meetings to explore these and other concepts in everyday living and in a depth unattainable in online discussion.
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  markvans

  8 months ago

  I completely agree. I think I can overlook the need for that sometimes because I am immersed in a much broader pool than is readily apparent on JM. What I write on JM are my own personal reflections along a theme. I am less likely to write my thoughts about the practical workings of hospitality with folks in the margins than I am to try to work that out in community. Because of this, I am more likely to write abstract thoughts about Empire. But JM needs to point towards embodied, complex realities.
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  Luke vdH

  8 months ago

  Well said, but definitely don't deviate from doing what you're doing. The things you've put up here have been really helpful in thinking over my own position on these issues. Keep on keeping on.
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  coldfire136

  8 months ago

  I agree about the "broken record," but that often happens at any place where there is a central theme around which the users center. I hope also to see more diverse articles in the future, but I also like what I am already reading. It provides an alternative to nicely offset the rest of what I read in Christian literature. We just have to remember not to be "radical for radicals sake" (like Maria said recently).
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  Jason Winton

  8 months ago

  Here's my two cents: write with the community of radicals in mind, but don't take their ideas or commitments for granted. They (we) may not be as plain as we (they) think.
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  Gordon Hackman

  8 months ago

  Thanks,
  
  As someone who after serious wrestling and thought has come to consider himself broadly conservative, but who is often attracted to many of the perspectives expressed on this site, I really appreciate the tone and substance of this article.
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  hewhocutsdown

  8 months ago

  Glad to have you Gordon. You're exactly the kind of audience we need to keep, and I'm thankful that you're sticking around and speaking up. :)
  
  All the best.
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  mountainguy

  8 months ago

  Without losing our usual approach, It would be really interesting to have discussions with conservative evangelicals, as well as other important groups. What could Dawkins et al say about christians like Shane Claiborne et al?
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  hewhocutsdown

  8 months ago

  I've actually been trying to do this, it's a little harder to achieve in practice than it was in my head...but look forward to something of this ilk coming....
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  mountainguy

  8 months ago

  I wish you the best with this.
  
  Ps: Hey y'all: I'm going to the country on tuesday, for three weeks. See you in late November.
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