While much of the US media concerned itself this weekend with the heightening conflict in the Gaza Strip, the questions surrounding another lost flight from Malaysian Airlines, and Weird Al's “Word Crimes,” the Brazilian world mourned the loss of Rubem Alves, a public figure in education, … Read more about A Song for Rubem Alves
Memory, Forgiveness, and Volf’s Heaven
I just recently came across the short 2006 article, "Letting Go: The Final Miracle of Forgiveness," (available here and here) from Miroslav Volf, and it set off an "uh-oh" warning bell for me. Since it is a line of reasoning I've never thought through all the way before I figured I'd pop on here and … Read more about Memory, Forgiveness, and Volf’s Heaven
God Is Not Like Me
I grew up in a tradition that said I should be, as much as possible, like Jesus. I get that - and I try to do so. Yesterday at the Loft LA I had the privilege to say 3 things (among many others) about God: God is Black (from James Cone) She Who Is (from Elizabeth Johnson) God is a Fag ( … Read more about God Is Not Like Me
If Aquinas Were Around Today
Thomas Aquinas comes up a lot these days.* Some of it is generated by a small community of passionate people who want to reclaim his project. This, in turn, prompts some - such as John Caputo in an interview with us - to come up with a legendary one liner that accused this group of ‘retreating … Read more about If Aquinas Were Around Today
Revelation, Restoration, Reconciliation, & Resurrection: the end
I have been researching some famous takes on ‘the end’ (or ‘final things’) in preparation for an upcoming Theology Nerd Throwdown (TNT) about the resurrection and eschatology. One of the reasons that I wanted to go back a re-visit this topic wasn’t just because we got several calls into the … Read more about Revelation, Restoration, Reconciliation, & Resurrection: the end
Luther Goes Progressive
With the Holiday season over, I am busily studying for my qualifying exams again. As of now, I’m reading through Luther’s Greater Catechism. It’s a good work, and I always appreciate the vitriol with which Luther approaches any subject. But there’s a section in this work that I, strangely, found … Read more about Luther Goes Progressive
Whiteheadian Witticisms: The Ark of Dogma
A system of dogmas may be the ark within which the Church floats safely down the flood-tide of history. But the Church will perish unless it opens its window and lets out the dove to search for an olive branch. Sometimes even it will do well to disembark on Mount Ararat and build a new altar to … Read more about Whiteheadian Witticisms: The Ark of Dogma
A Theology of Life from Jurgen Moltmann
In a few weeks I will be getting to interview one of the world's greatest theologians, Jurgen Moltmann. One of his major contributions to Protestant theology is the development of his doctrine of the Holy Spirit. In particular I have been most influenced by his appropriation of the objective … Read more about A Theology of Life from Jurgen Moltmann
How Nietzsche Ruined Dinner
Today I cooked a bunch of food. I made homemade salsa, set up the slow cooker for dinner tomorrow with friends, and made a poppy seed chicken casserole recipe (shared by a friend). All the while I was listening to some Nietzsche on my IPod, trying to assure that more than my belly grew in the … Read more about How Nietzsche Ruined Dinner
Help me interview Jurgen Moltmann
I am busy reading some Jurgen Moltmann for the upcoming theological conversation in a couple weeks and thought I would share a bit along the way. Feel free to let me know your thoughts and questions so I can use them when I have a little dialogue with Moltmann. In particular I am interested in any … Read more about Help me interview Jurgen Moltmann
Impartial love and the rejection of hate
One of my favorite books on postmodern theology is 'God and Religion in the Postmodern World' by David Ray Griffin. I should really reread it again and see how it would resonate with me now, but it was the first theology book that helped me the nature of constructive theology in a postmodern … Read more about Impartial love and the rejection of hate
Ricoeur, Rollins, and Roberts on Parables
To listen to the Parables of Jesus, it seems to me, is to let one's imagination be opened to the new possibilities disclosed by the extravagance of these short dramas. If we look at the Parables as at a word at rest first to our imagination rather than our will, we shall not be tempted to reduce … Read more about Ricoeur, Rollins, and Roberts on Parables