The World's a Blur

I went to a conference today at the King's University College on Christian faith in the Shadow of the Empire. While some of you may be thinking I lost my mind what with midterms next week, and all, I still believe it was important that I went. I actually think I learned a lot there today, and if nothing else, I got a free lunch, which is truly difficult to turn down. The keynote and workshops took the view that the world we live in, and the world of the majority of Biblical time, was under the authority of Empire. Whether that empire was that of the Romans, Babylonians, Syrians, Egyptians, Persians, or one of their own making, they were undeniably living under a framework that God did not intend. Today, they painted an interesting picture of the US as that Empire or today, and I cannot help but admit that there are striking parallels. The US shares much more in common with its brethran than I would like to admit in a patriotic sense. Easily, the gigantic political machinery with complex political ties and a massive military do much to extend the ideas of Empire. If not so apparent quite yet to the people within the United States, it is easy to see it from outside. I do not care to rehash the the keynote, but suffice it to say that I found their insight compelling and fascinating. Their conclusions and a more elaborate explanation than I could ever provide here is found in the book Colossians Remixed. I got so little sleep last night. I am heading to bed considerably earlier tonight because I am absolutely exhausted. I don't know how I managed to stay awake during the conference today. I really need my sleep for tomorrow, so I can study effectively (and look for a job in my break times).