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Blog your thoughts about this intervention project. Do you think it is relevant? Has it made you think twice about what 'religion' you actively practice? Are there other 'altars' in your life? Start the conversation by leaving your comments!
posted by CoffeeALTARnative | 3:39 PM
5 Comments:
I saw your sticker on a sugar packet at Panera Bread in Apple Valley. I had no idea what the website meant, so I was suprised when I read your statement. As a faithful coffee drinker/addict, I can appreciate your group's suggestion of approaching the coffee altar as a religious rite. Maybe it's the new Universalist religion, where we can all just get along. Except for Mormons, I suppose, since technically they can't drink caffeinated beverages. Decaf of course, still contains caffeine in trace amounts. Well, maybe free-wheeling Mormons, too.
I'm all about interrupting my daily routine for a reflective pause. And coffee IS one of the few daily routines that doesn't lose it's power. Every morning when I have a sip of coffee it's as if it were the first time, as if I were a coffee virgin. I choose to buy my coffee from local shops. For me this is part of living a conscientious life in which every choice I make matters. I walk to work and shop locally, and try to think about how my daily actions serve (or do not serve) to bring hope and justice to my global neighbors.
I have found that a real disconnect for Christians lies not between affiliation and action-in-going-to-church but rather, a disconnect between church-goers and a service mentality, an action-in-serving-to-make-the-world-a -better place in a concrete fashion. How about going to church AND supporting and investing in your community and neighbors, education, social services, and making choices that challenge oppression. How about closing the disconnect between people working for pennies a day in Ecuador so that Starbucks can rule the world with it's corporate oppression and the undermining of cultural diversity. This is the kind of dialogue that piques my interest.
I am a faithful coffee drinker and appreciate this site's challenge to reflect upon the religious nature of their actions and the object of their devotion. Go pick up some Fair Trade Coffee at your local coffee shop today!
What I take away from your initiative is a question regarding the disconnect between people claiming to believe in a higher power, and those that act upon their belief by participating in a worship community. You point out that there are things in life, eg. drinking coffee, that resemble the form of worship. So why coffee, and why not God?
I did not grow up in a Christian home, and therefore was not raised going to church. However, when I was presented with the message of the gospel, the good news about salvation - it was hard to resist. I learned (and have experienced) that Jesus comes to give life and life more abundantly, that whosoever believes in Him will have eternal life - that He took my sins upon Himself and I've been forgiven - that He gives me a new spirit, a new heart, a clean conscience, a purpose and a vision. For me, the parable that Jesus relays comparing the kingdom of God to a precious pearl - once you find it you sell all to have it, rings true.
If coffee offered me the freedom and life that Jesus does - perhaps I would approach the coffee altar as a religious rite too.
I see areas of concern in all of the worlds cultural extremities. Seriously, some people do follow Oprah like a messiah. In my humble opinion, I say think for yourself. I have witnessed many church goers that are polar opposites than their 1 hour a week church persona. Genocide, children being killed... What happened to that little light inside of people that tells them what's right? Do people even know where they're going? Maybe these mindless extremists need to wake up while they're mind isn't thinking about Oprah, or politcial power, and ask God for help guiding their path.
oh yeah, i forgot to include that they should try the new enlightening blend in those morning moments of clarity.
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