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Theology on Tap, Series #18
The Rev'd Patrick Gray
Friday May 15, 2009
If you are a young adult interested in learning about and discussing issues involving Christian faith, in
a casual relaxed atmosphere, then Theology on Tap is for you!
This exciting program, sponsored
by The Church of the Advent
on
Beacon Hill in Boston, will be serving challenging ideas from phenomenal speakers to people in their
twenties and thirties, both singles and couples.
In our next series, we revisit “Theology and Pop Culture” with sessions on
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June 1st
The Gospel according to Fight Club: Existential Love in the Time of Ikea
Mr. Nathan Cleveland
In the cacophony of our increasingly centralized but individually fragmented age, many search
for a sense of self, community and love through sex, capital, idealistic organizations, even
the church, but are left wanting, remaining isolated in shared comfort.
One wonders what it means for Jesus to ask us to lose everything for his sake and how this
makes us whole. Finding inspiration in an unlikely place, Nathan Cleveland will explore how
the Gospel creates a bridge for fragmented and isolated people desiring to be made whole in
community and in life as illustrated (albeit in a Eucharistically insane way) in Chuck
Palahniuk's novel Fight Club.
Nathan Cleveland is a parishoner at the Church of the Advent who currently works for Genzyme
in Kendall Sq. Having studied history, theology and philosophy at Indiana Wesleyan University,
he relocated to South Hamilton, MA to begin a Masters of Arts in Theology at Gordon-Conwell
Theological Seminary in the fall of 2003. After a brief, one semester stint at Gordon-Conwell,
Nathan simply became a North Shore local until moving to Somerville when hired by Genzyme in 2007.
His interest in Palahniuk began July 2001 after hearing a lecture on Fight Club and Nihilism while an Intercollegiate Studies Institute honors fellow in Seattle. At one time Nathan jokingly
referred to himself as an Apostle of Chuck but now more seriously considers himself a hopeful
skeptic of Palahniuk's world of immediate perception. Nathan's theological interests lie at
the cross section of post-enlightenment skepticism and catholic orthodoxy (and no, he doesn't
know what that's supposed to mean at the moment either).
June 8th
The Gospel according to South Park
The Rev'd Mike Dangelo
June 15th
The Gospel according to Martha Stewart
Dr. Melanie MacNaughton
Ever wondered if cleanliness actually was next to godliness, or if that was simply a rumor your
mom started to get you to clean your room? This talk will explore this very question, examining what
views of the world underlie the design of Stewart's domesticity, how this world view is made present
in Martha Stewart's domestic design, and what the 21st-century's goddess of domesticity can tell
us about our relationship with God (such as living well, approaching daily interactions as important
forms of doing, and presenting traditional content as fresh and important to today's world). And, if
none of that grabs you, come to hang out with interesting people and look at some cool pictures of
home projects beyond the reach of mere mortals.
Melanie McNaughton is an Assistant Professor of Communication Studies at Bridgewater State College,
and is a parishioner of the Advent. When not grading student papers or reading Martha Stewart Living
magazine, Melanie works out angst over imperfect pie crusts by training in Muay Thai. Though she is
not speaking on “The Gospel according to Fight Club”, Melanie is fairly confident she can bring the gospel to a fight club.
June 22nd
The Gospel according to Star Trek
Mr. Kyle Haugen
Is faith or logic the key to a better world? In the words of Captain Kirk, “What does God need with a starship?”
Boldly go toward the answers of these and other “fascinating” questions through Star Trek's vision of the future
Kyle Haugen is one of those lifelong “Star Trek” fans who can quote a fair share of
dialogue (mostly from the movies and from The Next Generation), yet he's adamant that hes only
worn a “Star Trek” costume for Halloween. Kyle's background includes both music and
media studies as an undergraduate, and he holds a Master's degree in Sacred Music. Among his musical
exploits during five years living in Boston, Kyle served as music director for The First Lutheran
Church of Boston and was later a member of the Choir of the Church of the Advent. Now back in his
hometown of Tacoma, Wash., Kyle works for the Office of Admission and for the School of Music at
his alma mater, the University of Puget Sound. He is also a choral conductor with Tacoma Youth
Chorus and with Northwest Repertory Singers.
The series will take place Mondays (June 1, 8, 15, 22), 7 PM, at M. J. O'Connor's Irish Pub,
27 Columbus Avenue (in the Boston Park Plaza Hotel), Boston. Oh and it's free!
Eat good food, drink great beer, meet excellent people, think deep
thoughts. What more could you ask for on a Tuesday night? Invite anyone
that might be interested and hope to see you there!
If you would like any more information please contact
us.
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What is this Theology-on-Tap
anyway?
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M. J. O'Connor's Irish Pub
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Series #17: You Do What?! Odd But Essential Christian Actions–Community, Worship/Prayer, Stewardship and Service.
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Series #16: You Believe What?! Odd But Essential Christian Beliefs–The Trinity, Incarnation and Resurrection, The Holy Spirit and The Blessed Virgin Mary.
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Series #15: Theology
and Pop Culture IV–The Gospel According to… Mick Jagger, Damien Hirst, The Metaphysical Poets and William Shakespeare
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Series #14: The Portraits of Jesus
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Series #13: The Gospel according to the Gospels
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Series #12: Theology
and Pop Culture III–The Gospel According to… the Internet,
Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Star Wars, Dante and Quentin Tarantino
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Series #11: The
Seven Deadly Sins continued
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Series #10: The
Seven Deadly Sins
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Series #9: Theology
and Pop Culture III–The Gospel According to… Narnia,
Jane Austen, Bob Dylan and Monty Python
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Series #8: The
Manifestations of Faith, Hope, and Love
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Series #7: Christian
Community
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Series #6: Theology
and Pop Culture II–The Gospel According to… The
Red Sox, The Sopranos, and the DaVinci Code
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Series #5: Creation,
The Fall, Redemption, and Consummation
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Series #4: Society
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Series #3: Theology
and Pop Culture–The Gospel According to… The Matrix,
Harry Potter, The Simpsons, and The Lord of the Rings.
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Series #2: Music
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Series #1: Art
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