Theological Rants, Musings on the Mystical, and Wonderings about Stuff
We are trying something new! Since some people (and you know who you are) feel that an entire episode is just too long to listen to, we have separated the episode into two parts. For this part we hear Jonathan’s conversation with Stacy around the rialage, scripture, and watcha’ into. The next conversation will feature the main topic – change in the church.
Read MoreNow there are those who would argue that truth is a firm reality that cannot be argued or moved or changed. Yet so much rests on how truth is presented, the point of view, etc. Facts may be firm, but the truth that facts point to can vary and change depending on how you look at it, understand them, and how they are presented.
Read MoreThe Bible is a collection of a multiplicity of passages that speak to a variety of experiences. Perhaps the text is not reflecting the violent nature of God but instead the violent nature of humanity.
Read MoreOne of the questions is how to honor one’s religious experience, make room for a diversity of experiences, and at the same time keep to a sense of tradition. Some experiences may not make sense in different traditions and that is ok. It is not saying that some are right and others are wrong, but more that some will or will not make sense depending on the context.
Read Morethe Holy Spirit will move as it will and make things happen that we cannot explain. People will experience the Spirit differently and because it is quiet and calm does not make it wrong. Nor is it wrong if one’s experience of the Holy Spirit involves noise, dancing, and speaking in tongues. The Holy Spirit can be experienced differently, but one form of experience should not be elevated above another.
Read MoreOne of the contributions that Girard offers is a way of moving beyond our basic human instincts to be better, and to not copy the negative, destructive desires of humanity. The conundrum is that Girard suggests that it is through Christ and the cross that we are freed from the negative aspects of our mimetic desires, but it is done universally. So are we pushed beyond religion, or are we saved through a specific understanding of Christian religion?
Read More...part of the issue is around values or faith. For some communities it is more about the values of that community than the faith statement, and for others it is the faith statements rather than the values.
Read MoreIn their conversation Jonathan wonders about the place of community and the awareness of the transcendence without a faith community. Apparently people still get together and are nice to each other without the idea of God.
Read MoreBelieving seems to be hinged on a choice. There is a moment when someone can chose to believe or to not believe and then live life accordingly. The risky part of this is that it takes away an ontological reality that many people (believers or non-believers) like to hold to and instead say that we just do not know. So choose one or the other and live.
Read MoreThis is the second part of the conversation (see the previous episode) with the Rialiage, Opening the Word, and Watcha’ Into. These three think so much of themselves that that think it takes just an hour to talk about what is supposed to be filler for the podcast. Maybe the next time the three get together the focus of the conversation should be humility and brevity.
Read MoreAuthority is not claimed by an individual, but is given by the community whether it be a structured hierarchy or a local congregation. This makes authority relational by nature and when one breaks relationship with the community one’s authority as a clergy person comes into question. So be nice to each other!
Read MoreFor a Calvinist God is sovereign, in control, and that offers a good deal of comfort. Unless you are not “in” but then we won’t know if that is the case or not until this life is over. So you should be a Pascalian Calvinist, entwining the Divine Wager with God’s sovereignty. For some reason Jonathan and Josh missed that point.
Read MoreIt is important to remember that it was violence that was the cause of Christ’s death and he did not respond in kind. In his resurrection we do not find a response around the notion of “getting even” but instead around love and forgiveness. So many Christians seem to forget this, seem to embrace the violence that is very real in our world, and accept it as a given. Christ calls us to a better path.
Read MoreThere is a real problem with many aspects of Christianity (and other faith traditions) in that they are all too nice. It is this drive and desire to justify everything, to make all actions ok, and a underlying worry that everybody is always happy. Sometimes people need to be angry, sometime we need to criticize people’s actions, and sometimes everything is not ok. More than this, there are times when what we do can make God angry and it is appropriate to know this and to be realistic about it.
Read MoreOne of the things that comics do is engage the reader in a number of different ways. The story is told with pictures and words meaning that there are different ways of telling and showing the story.
Read MoreThe point is, good theology, well articulated, well thought-out, well reasoned theology relies on philosophy for input, guidance, and direction. The problems that people like Kant, Hume, Wittgenstein, and others have worked on should have a good and strong influence on theology and can help one to think theologically in a good and critical fashion. In many ways the two are very closely related and are almost impossible to separate.
Read MoreWe are dealing with and working with people. Some of these people have their own religious story and others do not, but they are all people with their own struggles, worries, and ideals. It is important that in working with people in the political arena that we continue to share and show the love of Christ to all that we encounter.
Read Morethe Bible should be used for more than just a passage to guide the sermon, but can inform and guide every aspect of worship. In fact, scripture should do more than just offer some prayers and a sermon text, but could and should give a believer a “grammar” for being a Christian.
Read More