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CVA Weekly Newsletter
August 21, 2013
- Activist Feedback
- Essay: Solely One Trip for the Soul?
- This Week’s Sermon from Rev. Frank and Mary Hoffman
1. Activist Feedback
Helen, who leafleted with a friend at a recent Mercy Me concert in Cincinnati, writes:
We went to the entrance after the convert and gave all 600 out in about 15 minutes. We both discussed that we needed at least two more people and at least two thousand leaflets.
Next year I would like to organize a larger showing for the CVA.
The crowd is so polite and nice, it's a pleasure. And it sounds like they do it every year (Mercy Me). I know other activist here who would be glad to help.
Upcoming Activist Opportunities
08/29 TN Nashville Jars of Clay
09/01 NC Boone High Country Praise Festival 2013
09/08 FL Jacksonville Red
09/06-07 CO Denver Women of Faith
09/08 CA Los Angeles Michael W Smith
09/13 CA Anaheim Women of Faith
09/13-14 NY Rochester Women of Faith
09/20 TX Dallas Women of Faith
09/20 FL Orlando Women of Faith
09/27 MO Kansas City Women of Faith
09/27 WI Milwaukee Women of Faith
09/12 NY New York Third Day
09/14 AZ Phoenix Point of Grace
09/14 AR Fort Smith Rock the River
09/28 DC Washington DC Veg Fest
09/28 VA Charlottesville Cville Vegetarian Festival
09/21 IL Chicago VeganMania
09/20-21 VA Middleburg Awakening Festival 2013
09/15 GA Athens The Only Name Tour
09/20 MO Kansas City The Only Name Tour
09/14 TX Waco Manic Drive – Small Town America Tour 2013
09/27 NC Charlotte Plumb
09/28 SC Columbia Plumb
09/29 GA Macon Plumb
09/29 PA Philadelphia Mercy Me
10/04 NY NYC Hillsong United (Radio City Music Hall) United
10/18 CA Los Angeles Hillsong United
10/29 PA Pittsburgh JCTV Tour
10/19 FL Tampa Bay Tampa Bay Veg Fest
10/10–10 AL Fort Payne The Courage
10/09 FL Tampa Tampa Veg 2013
10/18-19 ON Mississauga Acquire the Fire
10/11 OH Cincinnati Newboys Tour
10/06 MA Pittsfield Kings and Queens Tour 2013
11/01 Blakely PA Third Day
11/01-02 OH Cleveland Acquire the Fire
11/08-09 CA Anaheim Acquire the Fire
11/08 CA Ontario Winter Jam Tour
11/09 GA Atlanta Atlanta Veg Fest
11/09 NV Las Vegas Winter jam Tour
11/10 AZ Glendale Winter Jam Tour
11/12 CA Ontario Hillsong United
11/14 NJ Newark Hillsong United
11/14 ID Boise Winter Jam Tour
11/15 OR Portland Winter Jam Tour
11/15 MA Boston Hillsong United
11/16 PA Pittsburgh Hillsong United
11/16 CA Sacramento Winter Jam Tour
11/17 CA Fresno Winter Jam Tour
11/18 NC Greensboro Hillsong United
11/19 SC Greenville Hillsong United
11/21 NM Rio Rancho Winter Jam Tour
11/22 CO Colorado Springs Winter Jam Tour
11/22 FL Tampa Hillsong United
11/23 FL Miami Hillsong United
11/24 TX Ft. Worth Winter Jam Tour
11/24 TN Nashville National Youth Convention
11/26 TX Houston Hillsong United
12/07 NY NYC Toby Mac Hits Deep Tour
International Events
9/6-8 Toronto Canada Vegetarian Food Fair
10/07 Puerto Rico San Juan Hillsong
2. Essay: Solely One Trip for the Soul?
We all have a personal sense of identity – a consciousness that has subjective feelings that is often called the soul. Could this “soul” have more than one trip here on earth? There are people who believe that they have existed as humans previously, but I am skeptical of their claims. I have no memories of a prior existence, and neither do the vast majority of people. It is curious that many who claim to have such memories describe themselves as important or powerful people, whereas chance would favor them being among the masses. The mind can play tricks on us, convincing us that fabricated mental images reflect reality, and perhaps many of these claims have been honestly expressed mental illusions. Therefore, I do not believe in the classic notion of reincarnation, in which there is a single, ongoing story that involves continuity of the self from one existence to the next. I find no evidence for the notion of karma that evil deeds in one life will result in punishment in the next or that good deeds in one life will be rewarded in the next.
Nonetheless, the mystery of our existence – why our conscious self exists in a certain body at a certain point in time – encourages speculation that this conscious self might exist in other bodies at other points in time. If that were the case, then our conscious self might have existed in the past or might exist in the future. And why not in the body of a nonhuman being? All evidence points to nonhumans having unique conscious lives with subjective experiences that resemble our own.
Therefore, we might be wise to work for a world in which humanity does not treat nonhuman beings with the extreme viciousness that currently characterizes how humans interact with well over 99% of the nonhuman world. Anyone who takes their Christian faith seriously should treat all God’s living beings with respect, and I suggest that self-interest is another good reason to work toward the Peaceable Kingdom (Isaiah 11:6-9), in which no individual harms another.
Stephen R. Kaufman, M.D.
3. This Week’s Sermon from Rev. Frank and Mary Hoffman
Learning from History
Your question and comments are welcome
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