Sunday School Software, Resources

Do you have some favorite software (other than electronic Bibles or normal Bible references) that you use of education at home or at church? Leave a comment (though I check all comments before allow them, so pure business posts that I feel fall short won't get added).

One source that I've located and think has a lot of interesting material is Sunday Software. This business has a ton of interesting software (much of which I'm getting ready to buy and test at home) such as these aimed at youth though adult:

• Awesome Bible Stories - for ages 5 - teen
• Exodus Adventures - 3-D interactive, with characters. Includes locations, re-enactments, special effects, and scripture narration,
• Holy land 3-D
• Life of Chirst - for 3rd grade through High School, though may be suitable for new believers. Some parts are suitable for K-2.
• Pathways through Jerusalem - a multimedia tour of the political and religious history surrounding Jerusalem.
• The Ten Commandmants - a virtual learning hike up Mt. Sinai for ages 7 through adult.
• A walk in the footsteps of Jesus - photo bubbles with navigation.
• Walking in Their Sandals - a multimedia Bible Atlas

Sunday Software also has non-software materials too, for example:

• Bible land posters
• Bible movie posters

Some free Cokesbury materials:

• Magazines and Free Newsletter for Teachers & Christian Educators (Cokesbury)
• Free sample Sunday School/Bible Study lessons (Cokesbury)

Evolving Christianity?

Different people in different times have come to know God in different ways. In today's world, different groups try to apply that knowledge in a myriad of ways. Below is a collection of related links, in no particular order.

• Agape
• Agape workplace initiative. Includes free downloadable (PDF) studies.
• London Institute for Contemporary Christianity
• Christians at Work.
• At-work bible studies
• UM touts evangelism
• Impact of the Internet. This Pew Life study shows impacts on church communications --younger people communicate differently than older ones.
• If we could do church (From the "Real Live Preacher" blog. There's a "part 2" also)
• What is liberal Christianity? (blog)
• What would Jesus say today? (blog)
• Evangelism Today (blog). Thought-provoking news and commentary.

The Trinity

Christians of all sorts believe in the Trinity, God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (aka Holy Ghost). But the word "Trinity" is not specifically mentioned in scripture and the concept was not used until years after Jesus' Ascension. This has led to all sorts of "takes" on the concept.

Nazarites point to a pagan origin and say that the Torah does not mention the Trinity. Skeptics claim that the term was invented. Some claim that the concept was needed in the early church but that it is now an anachronism that is no longer needed.

Some even point to the term "Spirit" being feminine gender ("her") in Aramaic, the language that Jesus used. In Greek, the word in neuter gender ("it"). Only in Latin is the term masculine gender ("he").

I look at the concept of the Trinity as a way we try to understand God. We fallible mortals can never understand God perfectly, but the concept of the Trinity helps us get closer to an understanding.

What's your take? Is the word "persons" in "God in three persons" a mental stumbling block? Would a word such as "aspects" convey the concept better?

Related links

• United Methodist Articles of Religion - Article 1, the Trinity from the 2004 "Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church"
• Meaning of the Trinity, St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church (PDF)
• Holy Trinity is a mystery (Catholic); second, personal page
• Catholics, Methodist agree on Trinity
• Evidence of the Trinity in the Old Testament (Catholic)
• Trinity concept no longer needed
• Is the Holy Spirit feminine?
• Ode 36 of Solomon uses feminine gender for "Spirit"
• There is no Trinity (Nazarite)
• Holy Trinity invented (a skeptic)