Bumperstickers and Campfires

A lot of people think they know what Christians are against:  gays, lesbians, the right to an abortion, other religions - and the list goes on.

 

Do they know what Christians are for? 

 

Given public perceptions, progressive Christians have a lot of explaining to do.  We have to go out of our way to make explicit that we're about full LGBTQ inclusion, women's rights, and cultural and religious pluralism... for starters.

 

That's what our new Progressive Christians Uniting bumpersticker is about.  It's bumpersticker season!  Put our sticker on your bumper - or elsewhere - above the other stickers that show where you stand on candidates and issues.  Show the world that there really are Christians who are FOR justice and kindness, and for the candidates running for office that share our spiritual values. 

 

Here's how to order your own: 

 

Go to this website.  Go to the upper right corner area and click Sign In - My Account.  There, enter this email address:  [email protected] .  Click "Yes, I have a password."  Enter this password:

christiansfor .  That will take you to a page where you will find our bumpersticker listed as a product.  Order your bumpersticker - as many as you want! 

 

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CAMPFIRES ARE BLAZING

 

Here's an update on the new initiative I'm leading at the Office of Religious Life at the University of Southern California:  Campfires @ USC.  

 

It is about creating and sustaining the conditions for friendship and community to flourish on campus.  We launched it last month, and so far, it is going well.  The tag line:  "Ask questions - Make friends - Build community." 

 

The number one complaint of college students is loneliness.  And all university campuses face a mental health crisis which can't be fixed with more counseling services alone.  Campfires @ USC aims to be part of the solution to these challenges: 

 

A campfire gives people a focus while they hang out together.  There’s something elemental about it, no?  – going back to human pre-history.  A campfire encourages intimacy, but allows for quiet.  The sight and sound of it are soothing, encouraging reflection – an ideal environment for making friends!

So light a virtual fire, and gather round! —  in classes, Greek life, clubs, dorms, special events, or – just for the joy of it!  Get a group together in a circle.  Put your all your laptops and/or smart phones (with phones in airplane mode) in the center, all playing this campfire video (no need to synch – the sights and sounds blends together).  Start asking questions!

You don’t need a special reason for a campfire – any excuse is good!  The principle behind them all:  creating a convivial environment in which acquaintances can move toward real friendship.

CAMPFIRES re-purposes mobile phones - so often problematic in isolating students from face-to-face relationships - into means of encouraging in-person conversations based on this lists of questions.  Students, professors, resident assistants, and campus club leaders are already using the campfire video, and our lists of questions, in creative ways.  This program is open-ended, encouraging students and faculty to improvise.  See below for our list of special "Campfire" events and groups - including a new not-for-credit course on healthy relationships, CLICK!  - taught by my friend and colleague Cat Moore.  (See my "musing" about her remarkable community-building work here.)

 

Have a look!  Light "campfires" in your church, temple, school, community group, or other "gathering".  Let me know how you use it!

 

 

CAMPFIRES @ USC

ASK QUESTIONS – MAKE FRIENDS – BUILD COMMUNITY

“Friendship improves happiness and abates misery, by the doubling of our joy and the dividing of our grief.”  – Cicero, Roman philosopher, 44 BCE

ARTS OF CAMPFIRE –  Thursdays, 7 pm, URC 203 – – OPEN TO ALL STUDENTS — This weekly student-led “campfire” explores ways that clubs, residence halls, fraternities/sororities, and other groups – as well as individuals – can create the conditions for friendship and conviviality to thrive on campus.  Student org leaders are especially encouraged to attend on a drop-in or regular basis.  Among the topics:  facilitating club/group-wide intimacy, mindfulness in group settings, hosting meaningful and cool parties, friendship in the great outdoors, etc.  Contact student leader for details:  Lisa De Rafols – [email protected]

DREAM CAMPFIRE – Thursdays, 7 pm, URC 202 – analyze your nighttime dreams with other students – contact student leader for details:  Adam Jonah [email protected]

SOUL CAMPFIRE — Tuesdays, 7:30 pm, URC 202 — asking the burning questions of spirituality – interfaith/interspiritual – for all students.  Host:  Dr. Wanjiru M. Gitau, [email protected], USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture.

CLICK!  Making Meaningful Relationships – a free non-credit course for all students – 5 sessions – Oct 3-31, Wed’s, 12 – 1:30 pm, URC 201 – email orl.usc.edu to register – subject: “click class”.  Grow in your ability to make and maintain friendships.

GET ON THE LIST!  To hear about future CAMPFIRES – email orl.usc.edu – subject: “campfires” .

 

 

JIM BURKLO
Website: MINDFULCHRISTIANITY.ORG   Weblog: MUSINGS    Follow me on twitter: @jtburklo
See the GUIDE to my articles and books
Associate Dean of Religious Life, University of Southern California