God's Politics Blog » Soong-Chan Rah http://blog.sojo.net A Blog by Jim Wallis and Friends Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:38:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 Avatar and The Blind Side: The Never-ending Messianic Complex Story http://blog.sojo.net/2010/01/13/avatar-and-the-blind-side-the-never-ending-messianic-complex-story/ http://blog.sojo.net/2010/01/13/avatar-and-the-blind-side-the-never-ending-messianic-complex-story/#comments Wed, 13 Jan 2010 18:30:15 +0000 Soong-Chan Rah http://blog.sojo.net/?p=14804 100113-avatarThe last two movies that my wife and I had the chance to watch were Avatar and The Blind Side. Not sure how that happened, but both movies had very rich missiological and race themes to them. Or maybe I just…

]]> http://blog.sojo.net/2010/01/13/avatar-and-the-blind-side-the-never-ending-messianic-complex-story/feed/ 22 Joint Response to Zondervan and Deadly Viper Authors from Asian American Leaders http://blog.sojo.net/2009/11/23/joint-response-to-zondervan-and-deadly-viper-authors-from-asian-american-leaders/ http://blog.sojo.net/2009/11/23/joint-response-to-zondervan-and-deadly-viper-authors-from-asian-american-leaders/#comments Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:19:55 +0000 Soong-Chan Rah http://blog.sojo.net/?p=13605 To Mike Foster and Jud Wilhite, and the leaders of Zondervan Publishing,

When we received Moe Girkins’ statement regarding Zondervan’s response to the Deadly Viper controversy, we felt a deep sense of gratitude and admiration towards all of you, for your courage…

]]> http://blog.sojo.net/2009/11/23/joint-response-to-zondervan-and-deadly-viper-authors-from-asian-american-leaders/feed/ 2 Some Final Reflections on Deadly Viper and Zondervan http://blog.sojo.net/2009/11/20/some-final-reflections-on-deadly-viper-and-zondervan/ http://blog.sojo.net/2009/11/20/some-final-reflections-on-deadly-viper-and-zondervan/#comments Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:00:24 +0000 Soong-Chan Rah http://blog.sojo.net/?p=13597 Mike Foster, Jud Wilhite, and Zondervan acted in a decisive manner yesterday.  Zondervan issued a statement that boldly declared their intention to pull the book off the shelves.  Their actions were courageous and buck against business conventions, but they uphold…

]]> http://blog.sojo.net/2009/11/20/some-final-reflections-on-deadly-viper-and-zondervan/feed/ 3 Tremendous Act of Repentance by Zondervan http://blog.sojo.net/2009/11/20/tremendous-act-of-repentance-by-zondervan/ http://blog.sojo.net/2009/11/20/tremendous-act-of-repentance-by-zondervan/#comments Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:30:38 +0000 Soong-Chan Rah http://blog.sojo.net/?p=13573 Zondervan Statement Regarding Concerns Voiced About Deadly Viper: Character Assassins from Moe Girkins, President and CEO:

Hello and thanks for your patience.

On behalf of Zondervan, I apologize for publishing Deadly Viper: Character Assassins.  It is our mission to offer products that glorify…

]]> http://blog.sojo.net/2009/11/20/tremendous-act-of-repentance-by-zondervan/feed/ 8 The Deadly Viper Conversation Moves from Authors to Publisher http://blog.sojo.net/2009/11/09/the-deadly-viper-conversation-moves-from-authors-to-publisher/ http://blog.sojo.net/2009/11/09/the-deadly-viper-conversation-moves-from-authors-to-publisher/#comments Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:00:44 +0000 Soong-Chan Rah http://blog.sojo.net/?p=13232 Last Friday, a group of Asian-American leaders (Kathy Khang, IVCF / Eugene Cho, Quest Church / Ken Fong, Evergreen Baptist Church and I) were on a conference call with three executives of Zondervan. They were trying to get an understanding…

]]> http://blog.sojo.net/2009/11/09/the-deadly-viper-conversation-moves-from-authors-to-publisher/feed/ 6 Deadly Viper: Personal Apologies and Power Structures http://blog.sojo.net/2009/11/06/my-reflections-apologies-and-the-ongoing-deadly-viper-story/ http://blog.sojo.net/2009/11/06/my-reflections-apologies-and-the-ongoing-deadly-viper-story/#comments Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:30:20 +0000 Soong-Chan Rah http://blog.sojo.net/?p=13192 Without trying to be too presumptuous about the resolution of an ongoing story, I’m doing some personal reflection on the last few days.  And hoping this blog post responds to some questions that have been raised.  I am thankful for…

]]> http://blog.sojo.net/2009/11/06/my-reflections-apologies-and-the-ongoing-deadly-viper-story/feed/ 12 The Deadly Viper Conversation: ‘We’re sorry. We didn’t know. We want to learn. How do we do that?’ http://blog.sojo.net/2009/11/05/deadly-viper-controversy-conversation-and-a-step-toward-reconciliation/ http://blog.sojo.net/2009/11/05/deadly-viper-controversy-conversation-and-a-step-toward-reconciliation/#comments Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:30:02 +0000 Soong-Chan Rah http://blog.sojo.net/?p=13089 Wednesday afternoon I was part of a conversation with the authors of Deadly Viper (and Chris Huertz) and a number of Asian-American leaders.  I am thankful that we were able to engage in a direct conversation over what has become a…

]]> http://blog.sojo.net/2009/11/05/deadly-viper-controversy-conversation-and-a-step-toward-reconciliation/feed/ 4 How Deadly Viper Character Assassins Undermines its Message with Co-opted Culture http://blog.sojo.net/2009/11/04/how-deadly-viper-character-assassin-undermines-its-message-with-co-opted-culture/ http://blog.sojo.net/2009/11/04/how-deadly-viper-character-assassin-undermines-its-message-with-co-opted-culture/#comments Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:15:51 +0000 Soong-Chan Rah http://blog.sojo.net/?p=13066 An open letter to Zondervan and to Mike Foster and Jud Wilhite, authors of Deadly Viper Character Assassin: A Kung Fu Survival Guide for Life and Leadership.

Let me begin by stating that I applaud the intent and subject matter of…

]]> http://blog.sojo.net/2009/11/04/how-deadly-viper-character-assassin-undermines-its-message-with-co-opted-culture/feed/ 50 Christianity Today and Cultural Captivity http://blog.sojo.net/2009/11/02/christianity-today-and-cultural-captivity/ http://blog.sojo.net/2009/11/02/christianity-today-and-cultural-captivity/#comments Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:15:55 +0000 Soong-Chan Rah http://blog.sojo.net/?p=12996 Last month’s Christianity Today featured an article on the state of evangelicalism by CT’s managing editor, Mark Galli.  In the middle of the article was the following:

Dealing with Cultural Captivity

Another wonderful development is our increased awareness of the variety of…

]]> http://blog.sojo.net/2009/11/02/christianity-today-and-cultural-captivity/feed/ 20 The Church-State Debate: Biblical Insiders and Outsiders http://blog.sojo.net/2009/10/15/the-church-state-debate-biblical-insiders-and-outsiders/ http://blog.sojo.net/2009/10/15/the-church-state-debate-biblical-insiders-and-outsiders/#comments Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:00:46 +0000 Soong-Chan Rah http://blog.sojo.net/?p=12466 A frequently asked question these days relates to the role of the church in civic society.  Even as Christians debate the issues of abortion, immigration, war, and health care, different perspectives within the church (oftentimes in conflict with one another)…

]]> http://blog.sojo.net/2009/10/15/the-church-state-debate-biblical-insiders-and-outsiders/feed/ 49 A Father to the Fatherless http://blog.sojo.net/2009/06/19/a-father-to-the-fatherless/ http://blog.sojo.net/2009/06/19/a-father-to-the-fatherless/#comments Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:30:35 +0000 Soong-Chan Rah http://blog.sojo.net/?p=9518 Father’s Day has always been a bittersweet holiday for me.  For most of my life, my father was absent, having abandoned our family when I was in elementary school. Father’s Day as a child was a painful reminder of what…

]]> http://blog.sojo.net/2009/06/19/a-father-to-the-fatherless/feed/ 0 The End of Christianity? http://blog.sojo.net/2009/05/22/the-end-of-christianity/ http://blog.sojo.net/2009/05/22/the-end-of-christianity/#comments Fri, 22 May 2009 14:30:34 +0000 Soong-Chan Rah http://blog.sojo.net/?p=8816 Last month, in an issue of Newsweek, Jon Meacham describes what he perceives to be “The End of Christian America.”  Meacham asserts that “Christians are now making up a declining percentage of the American population,” leading to the “end of…

]]> http://blog.sojo.net/2009/05/22/the-end-of-christianity/feed/ 44 Hope Replaces Cynicism: Reflections on the Inauguration http://blog.sojo.net/2009/01/23/hope-replaces-cynicism-reflections-on-the-inauguration/ http://blog.sojo.net/2009/01/23/hope-replaces-cynicism-reflections-on-the-inauguration/#comments Fri, 23 Jan 2009 20:28:13 +0000 Soong-Chan Rah http://www.sojo.net/blog/godspolitics/?p=5610 Generations are often defined by tragedy and crisis.  Cultural milestones are often measured by a traumatic event that is shared by a generation.  Remember Pearl Harbor?  Where were you when JFK was shot?  Or when Dr. King was assassinated?  Tragedies…

]]> http://blog.sojo.net/2009/01/23/hope-replaces-cynicism-reflections-on-the-inauguration/feed/ 6 I Am Barack Obama http://blog.sojo.net/2008/11/05/i-am-barack-obama/ http://blog.sojo.net/2008/11/05/i-am-barack-obama/#comments Wed, 05 Nov 2008 16:59:10 +0000 Soong-Chan Rah http://www.sojo.net/blog/godspolitics/?p=3486 Whenever John McCain and Sarah Palin would ask: “Who is Barack Obama?” I would cringe.  The implication to me was pretty clear.  Obama is an outsider.  Obama is not your typical American.  Obama is not like “us.”  He’s an Arab. …

]]> http://blog.sojo.net/2008/11/05/i-am-barack-obama/feed/ 32 The Idolatry of Security (Part 2) http://blog.sojo.net/2008/10/01/the-idolatry-of-security-part-2/ http://blog.sojo.net/2008/10/01/the-idolatry-of-security-part-2/#comments Wed, 01 Oct 2008 18:30:49 +0000 Soong-Chan Rah http://www.sojo.net/blog/godspolitics/?p=2535

[Continued from part 1] More reflections from the North Park Theological Seminary’s Scripture Symposium on “The Idolatry of Security.”

One of my favorite papers was presented by theologian and ethicist, Scott Bader-Saye. In his paper, Bader-Saye contrasts the perception of security…

]]> http://blog.sojo.net/2008/10/01/the-idolatry-of-security-part-2/feed/ 11 The Idolatry of Security (Part 1) http://blog.sojo.net/2008/09/29/the-idolatry-of-security-part-1/ http://blog.sojo.net/2008/09/29/the-idolatry-of-security-part-1/#comments Mon, 29 Sep 2008 19:32:50 +0000 Soong-Chan Rah http://www.sojo.net/blog/godspolitics/?p=2457

Last week at North Park Theological Seminary, we conducted our annual Scripture Symposium, which focuses on the theological interpretation of scripture.  This year’s topic was “The Idolatry of Security.”  The topic was actually picked years ahead of time, so the…

]]> http://blog.sojo.net/2008/09/29/the-idolatry-of-security-part-1/feed/ 9 In Defense of Community Organizing http://blog.sojo.net/2008/09/09/in-defense-of-community-organizing/ http://blog.sojo.net/2008/09/09/in-defense-of-community-organizing/#comments Tue, 09 Sep 2008 14:32:07 +0000 Soong-Chan Rah http://www.sojo.net/blog/godspolitics/?p=2459 Sarah Palin appeared poised and confident in her speech on Wednesday evening.

I have the utmost respect for her ability to juggle her role as a wife, mom, and public servant. She is to be commended for her example and particularly…

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