Original intent

When it comes to the Constitution of the U.S., most American Christians are quite adamant about how it is interpreted.  Most would insist that we should follow the original intent of its creators, and it is no different for judicial law, which seeks to protect the law from distorted variations of that intent.  (This article is a good example... http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=29647)

Many Christians would argue that the original meaning of the Bible is preserved throughout time and through the process of interpretation and cultural change... the Word is preserved.  It may be true that truth is preserved, but how easy is it to find that truth?  Many assume the Bible can be taken at face value.  I believe that, for much of the Word, this is true.  But it is also dangerous to assume that we understand or that the truth is there, plain to see.  Every text, even the Bible, requires that every reader interpret its meaning through their own eyes and in the context of their own experiences.  

So, what model of approaching Scripture will work?  If the truth is not always apparent, how do we know original intent?  And is the key to all things in that intended meaning?

The Big Switch

Some people would say that the switch from modern thought to postmodern thought was a big switch.  Others would say it is still happening.  Either way, it intrigues how that switch might play out on the Internet... not so much "Is the Internet a product of this switch?" but... "Can we observe culture change via how people use it?"  

Nick Carr thinks we can... he wrote a book called The Big Switch (no, it's not my term) and his basic premise is that the Internet is changing culture.  How?  Carr stated on the Sept. 25th "Colbert Report" (http://www.hulu.com/watch/36717/the-colbert-report-thu-sep-25-2008) that we are now beginning to think like the Internet in that we are simply open to the random updates and constant buzzing of meaningless/ful news and incessant option of the Internet.  So, we're losing our ability to concentrate.  As ridiculous as it might sound off the cuff, it gives me pause because I do find it a lot harder to settle down and just read a book or contemplate and write/journal.  

Of course, the younger you are, the more this applies to you.  Whether it's happening to you or not, it is happening to the lion's share of a generation, and Christians are gonna have to figure out how to communicate the timeless values of listening, waiting, meditating... no worries, though.  I think there will plenty of people hungry for a bit of inner sanctum.