Taking a course this week.
 Book on the topic recommended by Worldview Resource Group |
Hi everyone!
I’m heading off this morning (like, right NOW) to take a course (auditing) at the Seminario BÃblico de Puebla on Animism and Folk Religion. It’s part of a Masters level series offered by the Worldview Resource Group (USA) in conjunction with Recursos Estratégicos Globales (Argentina). These people have a passion to help disciple-makers from all over the world who are going all over the world.
Folk religion and animism, of course, deals with the disconnect between "official" religious beliefs and what is actually believed "on the ground". This is a huge issue in Mexico, as it is in the Muslim world, and really just about everywhere.
Hopefully I can speak more intelligently when the course is done. 😉 It runs from morning until evening Monday to Thursday, so I’d appreciate your prayers as I try to endure the long days (I’m usually doing well if I can handle a two hour meeting!). 😉 And also we’d appreciate your prayers for Shari and the kids as they have a hectic schedule without me there.
14 November 2009 @ 11:08 pm
Jim: I guess this is what you’d call a “crash course” on the subject. I hope you managed to focus pretty well and learned enough for future ministry.
I just read about the rain stick in one of Barbara Johnson’s books. I’d like to learn more about this. She has one in what started out as her “Joy Box” but which is now a “Joy Room.” She writes, “According to the instruction pamphlet, the rain stick is made from the fallen stalks of the normata cactus. Thorns from the cactus are pressed into the hollow staff so that when the stick is rotated the seeds fall on the thorns to create the sound of light showers or driving rain. The rain stick was used by the Diaguita Indians of Chile to call on the rain spirits. I’m not interested in contacting the rain spirits, but it is nice to tilt my rain stick at a 40 degree angle and thank the Lord for His showers of blessing.” Like me, she loves the sound of rain on the roof, so finds this comforting.