Moral Dilema for the Twenty-First Century (Part One)

The Church has some big issues to discuss, issues which could shake the Kirk to its very foundations, and which ultimately could cause deep schisms.  The questions centre around whether we welcome them with open arms, or look upon them as an afront to creation and cast them out.  I am of course referring to one group...

Androids.

As I understand it, the Church of Scotland has no policies in place to deal with the rise of artificial humanoid (AH) worshippers within the community.

Work is currently underway to make machines that are aware of their surroundings and can be employed to be of benefit to mankind.  What would happen if  a future version of Asimo rose above his original programming?

In the film "Short Circuit 2" the star, the robot Johnny Five is chased out of a confessional.  Perhaps this is the first encounter between a robot and religion, and the encounter is not a happy one.  At a time when the newly self aware robot is trying to find a self identity, the robot is chased out of the church.  If the church cannot help create a sense of identity, then who can?  I fear that the robots of the future may seek out artificial stimulants in order to escape the drudgery of life.  I'd hate to see a wasted generation of robots getting tanked up on WD-40.

Johnny Five is clearly a robot in the traditional sense.  His design, while highly functional, remains consistent with his machine pedigree.  Newer designs of robot are being created which approach  the uncanny valley, and while looking realstic, they seem to cause an uncomfortable feeling in the observer. Something deep down in our being makes us find realism disturbing.

Which brings me on to the Cylons.  Cylons were created by man, as the soldiers and servants of humanity.  in time they become self aware, and like other systems that become self aware (see Skynet from the Terminator universe), the machines rise up against their creator.  Following the first Cylon war, where original Cylons rose up against their creators, they returned, having adopted a new, biological form.


So now the war is over, and there are Cylons living in the community.  One Sunday morning you look around and there's a lady with a distinctive red dress, accompanied by what looks like her twin sister.  And there's three versions of some other guy.  And they are all joining in with the worship, and have recited the Apostle's Creed with as much sincerity as displayed by the rest of the congregation.

So are they welcome?  Do they really believe?  Based on the assumption that the only commandments the original Cylons were given, and then promptly broke were the three laws of robotics, the biological Cylons are now following the Ten Commandments.  God created the earth and everything in it.  God created us and gave us the wisdom to create new things, so by that measure, is it true that everything that we create is ultimately a creation originating from God? An intelligent artificial life-form would be able to adopt an evolutionary approach to its source code - editing out the bits that are useless and allowing their own form of intelligent design to allow them to move on.  Is the incorporation of the Ten Commandments and the teachings of Jesus a recognition that this is the best set of rules to live by.  Or is it proof that the Divine is truly in everything.   As the Cylons have risen above their original programming, and also appear to have the means to reproduce without human intervention, have they as much right to a soul as the rest of us?

Take a look around at this new congregation.  Are they real Christians, or are they just following the motions?

And what about the robots?


Deus ex machina?

Countdown

At the end of March I've got "The Meeting" where my future, at least as far as this part of the process goes comes to an end.  As I understand it, there's three options.

1. Sod off.
2. Sod off for a couple of years and come back.
3. Go on to conference.  And at conference, options 1 and 2 remain on the table, with option
4, Come and join us being the other option.

Now there are a couple of things I'm finding trouble with at the moment.  I've had a busy old week, placement-wise and I've seen amazing works being done by churches, involving the uneducated, the under-privileged, the unloved, the untouchable.  And at every one of these events I've taken away notes on what to do, should I find myself with time on my hands and with a few spare warm bodies to help out.  It's all exciting, and it's all a far cry from sitting in a Church on a Sunday morning.

And here's the problem.  I'll tell people about these things, and they will say "That's nice, but do you really need to be an Ordained Local Minister to do that?"  And for a lot of the time, the answer is no.  But the stuff is worth talking about.  So I tell them.  But to them it looks like I'm less interested in the ministry, and more into the practical side of things.

I'm still seeing myself as part of a local ministry.  Doing all the things you see a minister doing on a Sunday, with quite a few of the things they do the rest of the week thrown in for good measure. why should people be expected to come to our uncomfortable stone boxes on a Sunday? Pastoral care groups are excellent, but there are still people who want to speak to a minister.  I want to be that minister, but I'm lousy at expressing my call.  So people think I'm only really wanting to be the person that does unusually practical stuff in the background.

I entered this whole process pretty unsure if this was the right move.  Now I'm more confident that I am being called by God to be one of His Ordained Local Ministers, but now I'm worried that if I don't make this clear enough, the people doing the earthly selection are going to give me options 1 or 2. At the very least I want 3. 

I'm booked to do a sermon on the 4th March.  The Lectionary gives me Abraham being called as a set of readings. Somehow it seems appropriate.  I've got another service as a favour to a friend in April.  If I don't get my arse in gear, then these will be my last two services. 

Is there a Doctor in the House?

No, not a chaplaincy visit.  Mrs Gerbil does Doctor Who!

Chaplaincy visit

(source BBC)

(This is one of those posts where confidentiality reigns over the needs of a journal)

The other week I met up with a couple of our local hospital chaplains.  Now I'm not exactly the biggest fan of hospitals, hate needles, blood or anything even remotely medical and I hide under a cushion when there's anything gory happening.  So I had been putting off the whole visiting a hospital thing.  Yes, I know I'm not there for me, yes, I know I'm there for the people, and yes I know I'm just expressing a bit of God's love to those I'm visiting.  I know.  I just don't particularly like it.

I'm a big feckin' jessie.

The chaplains that I met were great.  Very easy people to talk to, and from walking around, they are liked by patients and the staff.  And while they come from a variety of faith backgrounds, they work together to share the love.  Something we are often not too great at doing outwith the hospitals.

I'm thinking that if I'm going forwards, I should consider some sort of chaplaincy placement. 

Censorship kills the web

Piracy is bad.  Censorship is worse.  Keep the web free.

Blog Closed

For the next 24 hours, the Gerbil Burrow will be closed in support of the Wikipedia/SOPA blackout.

Brass balls

Clearing landmines.  Equipment requirements:

A stick.
A pocket knife.
A well pressed shirt.



Now, would you please put your toys away when you finish playing with them.

A dark spell

Not blogged for a while.  This is a bad sign.

I entered a sort of dark period a few weeks ago.  Much the same way that I felt I was being called to the OLM, I had a similarly strong feeling telling me to get out.  I wasn't sure I was up to carrying out the role of an OLM, and I felt I was wasting everyone's time.  Coupled with a very busy period for myself anf Mrs G, and i felt I should try to get out.

The feeling has sort of passed.  It's still there in the background, and while I'm not ignoring it, I'm not worrying about it either.  I'm carrying on with the original position of throwing my everything into the enquiry process and getting something out of it.  If I'm accepted to go on to conference, fine.  If not, I'll find something else.  Thy Will Be Done etc.

It's a sort of confidence thing....

************************************************************

I was writing this post when Mrs G told me of someone suggesting that OLM's were interfering with their call.  Suggesting perhaps that OLM's had a lesser call.

Up yours pal.


It's not your call, it's God's call and everyone he calls will do their part for His kingdom.  We won't be set against each other.  All the ministers I've spoken to have said they and their congregations would welcome an OLM helping them out and would support OLM's working in their parish.  OLM's are not "Diet Coke ministers" (one calorie, not quite the whole minister) and they will have to work hard to fit ministry alongside their working lives.  I'm not doing this because i want to, but because I think I'm being called to.

So I wish you well in your calling.  I hope to work with you in the future.

And thanks for your anti-OLM comments.  You've peeved me enough to throw myself into this, just out of principle.  Suddenly I'm feeling invigorated.

Would Jesus be welcome?

Racism sucks.

http://gawker.com/5863878/horrible-hicks-ban-interracial-couples-from-church

Short version.  Mixed race couple aren't allowed to marry in the church she has went to for years. Quote:

"Parties of such marriages will not be received as members, nor will they be used in worship services and other church functions, with the exception being funerals"

It gets better:

"This recommendation is not intended to judge the salvation of anyone, but is intended to promote greater unity among the church body and the community we serve"

Greater unity?

Permitting funerals probably means that the problem eventually goes away... This is the sort of balatant, backwards racism, where the choir should wear white robes with pointy hats, and the cross outside should be burning.  


Has anyone ever pointed out to these half-wits that all those biblical characters that you claim to love, were all from the Middle East?  We don't know what the cast of the Testaments looked like, but if you ignore medieval church art, there's little or no chance they were as white as this Gerbil's knees. 

If Jesus came knocking on the door, would you let him in?

So you want to work In Cheltenham

From the BBC today, GCHQ has laid down a challenge to codebreakers in order to raise its profile and attract new staff.  The website, http://www.canyoucrackit.co.uk/ invites you to break a code, in theory leading you on to another page  where you can apply for a job .


And then once you've got your head around all those numbers (is that hex I see before me?),  the lucky winner gets presented with this page...

Yes, that is a screenshot of the real page. I would have carried on with the application process, but I'm still trying to get my head around the Kirk enquiry process.  And while it's a nice place to visit, I'm not too sure I want to live in Cheltenham.  If GCHQ wants to get in touch, you already know where I work.  (Sorry chaps, I cheated.)

Things that I learned today...

GCHQ's enquiry process is harder that the C of S.

Q would probably frown on Bond using Google...