Yesterday we looked at conceptions of a 'people' and a 'nation' through historic transitions in the past 2 centuries. More recent authors extend that concern beyond just text to the escalated pervasiveness of electronic media. Appiah frames it this way: The worldwide web of information – radio, … Read more about How We Imagine Ourselves part 5: technology
Jihad v. McWorld: How We Imagine A Nation part 4
A Second Shift In the previous 3 parts we established that a significant shift took place in the late 19th and early 20th century. This initial shift in modernity has subsequently created the possibility of a second, more contemporary, move that I want to explore. Taylor provides the context of … Read more about Jihad v. McWorld: How We Imagine A Nation part 4
How We Imagine A Nation part 3
In the shadow of the Sochi Olympics and the unfolding tension in the Ukraine, we are exploring the theme/thesis that: 'Nation' is both sovereign and transcendent. 'Nation' is both a social imaginary and an emergent reality. Benedict Anderson explains that the notion of imagined communities … Read more about How We Imagine A Nation part 3
How We Imagine A Nation part 2
In part 1 I introduced a theme/thesis for this series of posts: ‘Nation’ is both sovereign and transcendent. ‘Nation’ is both a social imaginary and an emergent reality. Charles Taylor utilizes the term ‘social imaginary’ to refer to god-like capacity described by Anderson. The term … Read more about How We Imagine A Nation part 2
How We Imagine A Nation part 1
Watching the Olympics was different for me this time. During the past four years I have been in a PhD program and have burrowed down into topics that have deeply impacted me. Within one of my cognate fields (non-core studies) I addressed the issue of nationalism and the modern imaginary. The … Read more about How We Imagine A Nation part 1
Should Christians Vote? Russell Brand has got me asking again
Last week Russell Brand, in a BBC interview, raised a lot of eyebrows by calling into question the legitimacy of voting. He talked about the brokeness of the system and the relative banality of the process. I saw lots of good Facebook conversation (which seems rare these days) about the clip and … Read more about Should Christians Vote? Russell Brand has got me asking again
TNT: Jim Wallis, the Church and the World
In this episode: Tripp talks with Jim Wallis about the Common Good and being on God's side, then Bo and Callid chat about the church and the world. The four books that come up in this episode are: On God's Side: What Religion Forgets and Politics Hasn't Learned about Serving the Common Good by … Read more about TNT: Jim Wallis, the Church and the World
TNT: Labels – Rick Warren – Politics
In this Theology Nerd Throwdown, Bo and Tripp discuss labels, Rick Warren mourning publicly (and virtually) and how the issue of gun control demonstrates the broken nature of our political system. We begin with a fun new game of defining words in 30 seconds. If you want to follow up some of … Read more about TNT: Labels – Rick Warren – Politics
Christian Social Justice and “the Common Good”?
I'm a big admirer and supporter of Sojourners Magazine and its editor-in-chief Jim Wallis, who was just interviewed on the Homebrewed Christianity Culture Cast again, and just released a new book entitled On God's Side: What Religion Forgets and Politics hasn't Learned about Serving the Common … Read more about Christian Social Justice and “the Common Good”?
Faith-Works: What’s the differance?
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— 9not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life. –Ephesians … Read more about Faith-Works: What’s the differance?
Beauty, Bodies and Blunders
President Obama got in some hot water for a compliment he paid California Attorney General Kamala Harris. He said: You have to be careful to, first of all, say she is brilliant and she is dedicated and she is tough, and she is exactly what you'd want in anybody who is administering the law, and … Read more about Beauty, Bodies and Blunders
Homosexuality: the difference between TV and Greek Tragedy
Blogging is a fascinating way to interact with people over an issue or topic. Once in while a blog will unexpectedly come back to life after months of lying dormant. It usually happens when A) somebody references it month later B) when the topic hits the news again. The dying embers leap back to … Read more about Homosexuality: the difference between TV and Greek Tragedy