the big questions
According to Ken Westby, the organizer of these one God conferences, the three biggest questions facing every human being are: Who is God? Who am I? and How should I live?
Finding the correct answer to the first question is critical toward answering the next two. If we are made in God's image, as the Scripture tells us, what is that image? How can we become like God if we don't know who God is, or what he is like, or how he wants us to act and think.
True knowledge of the self begins with knowledge of God. God made man in a certain way for a specific purpose. What is that purpose? Is it to grow into the Image of God, which image is perfectly reflected in Jesus? Did Jesus have a clear image of God and did the way he lived and the things he taught reflect it?
People tend to form their religion around their concept of God. Pagans devise various rituals and sacrifices they imagine their god wants. They have images, concepts, and pictures--real or mental--of their god. Their picture of god influences how they live in seeking blessings or avoiding punishments. Christians are no different. An enlightened, accurate, biblical concept of God naturally promotes enlightened worship of the one true God and influences all aspects of living before that God.
These One God seminars tackle the first of the three big questions.
2009 One God Conference
Plans have begun for our 8th Annual One God Seminar program. We have chosen the Hilton DFW Lakes hotel for our location. It is just two miles from Dallas Fort Worth Airport (DFW) and has shuttle service so out-of-town folks need not rent a car. It is a five star 90 acre resort type hotel with lots of amenities and nearby attractions. They have offered us an excellent rate on sleeping rooms and a meeting room. Details to follow.
Dallas is a central location and we probably have more interest--and opposition--to the One God message here than in any other area of the country. Once again we will offer a two-day program of seminars.
Saturday, June 13, 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM
Sunday, June 14, 8:30 AM to 5 PM
Please let me know (westby@godward.org) if you can attend and if you are interested in making a presentation. Your suggestions are sincerely welcomed. My desire is to make this our most productive and best attended seminar yet.
Your friend,
--Ken
recommended books
The One God Conferences are a great way to become acquainted with the basic contours of the one God movement including a good many of the issues and texts. However, if you would like to dig deeper, there is no substitute for spending the time to read these books.
Inclusion of a book on this reading list does not mean that we endorse all of their views nor even all of what is in the book. Oftentimes we find that the "liberal" scholars, unfettered from church tradition, are most capable of speaking honestly on this topic. So, even if you do not agree with all that you read, it is an important though often neglected exercise to read those with whom you disagree. Doing this will, at best, change your beliefs to be more accurate and, at worst, strengthen your existing beliefs.
useful definitions
While listening to these conferences you may come across certain words that you have not encountered before. Just as every field has its own technical jargon, so theology to has a distinctive set of words that are used in special ways. In order to aid you in understanding these lectures Ken Westby and Dixon Cartright have put together a brief collection of theological words and phrases.