Joyful and expansive theses. Thank you. A couple thoughts: 1) I am struggling with the word "entire" in number six. Perhaps 'a primary' or 'very important' might help me, but I'll keep struggling with this. 2) Since I know of you and your work, I realize suffering is a reality and implied in these theses. However, there is a way to read and support number five through a prosperity gospel lens. Since I interact with so many flavors of 'Christians' I am amazed at how the same statements can be taken so many different ways. So perhaps something on humility or suffering may be helpful. Of course, I can write my own theses (perhaps each of us should do that) but wanted to comment on these two areas.
Diane with you words on my heart, I attended a new church with the hope to experience a presbyterian worship service that reflected at least several of points you expressed! I was so disappointed!
I wonder where does one go find the theology that is willing to change!
I loved this piece (and I barely understood half of it...but I'm working on getting the rest) .
You definitely "nailed" it.
And, since I'm in my church's Theology Matters (love that play on words) workshop, I'm sending the link to it to the priest leading the program/workshop.
For the last few years I've been slowly leaving the building I enter on Sunday mornings. Very soon I'll say goodbye to the building so I can fully embrace these eight theses I've carried in the heart for a while. I will miss their faces but not their insistence on management of the Gospel. My journey continues...
Extraordinary, Diana. I love your theses. They resonate deeply with my rabbinic consciousness as I look out at the religious landscape of our time. Now I have to sit down and write my own. We have much to talk about.
Hi Diana, we've crossed paths at a few events, but don't think we've ever met. To your four verses, I would add Matthew 5:10 - "blessed are they who suffer persecution for justice's sake for their is the commonwealth of God" - (i.e. in 2021, they are the redeemers of our unprecedented global civilization's institutions' missions for our common good and that of posterity.
But such a verse is "radioactive" to you and your demographic, best I can tell. Why? Because it might make, shall I say "inconvenient," demands on your/their professional standing and economic security - the operative "gods" of most middle class and above pewsitters in America (and rest of world) in 2021.
The Doomsday Clock of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists is now closer, longer, to midnight than at any time in its over 70 year history, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doomsday_Clock. It signifies the likelihood of human-caused civilizational destruction.
So which of your 8 theses is relevant to the "facts on ground" in 2021 and can you elaborate on their relevance, if any?
Thanks,
Joseph (Joe) Carson, PE - deeply concerned Christian, licensed professional engineer (PE); federal agency employee; American and crew member of planet earth
The entire world is surely blessed by your firm commitment and adherence to what truly matters within the context of authentic spirituality! Old ways are hard to change, but your voice is coming through loud and clear!
Re Thesis 5: Let's hope that asserting a canon -- a canon of love -- within the canon will defend us from those who prefer to use the Scriptures as a kind of arsenal or armory, and reach into them in order to grab hold of texts to be wielded as weapons. For me, the canon within the canon includes the Magnificat (Luke 1), and the Beatitudes (Matthew 5), which share this theme: For those who are weak, those who can never expect to "succeed" as the world measures success, those who are looked on as losers and failures, God nevertheless assures them of revolution and unmatched joy.
You are an unimaginable treasure to us ‘progressives’ spread across the globe. (In my case Oz). Keep going!! You are doing great! And best wishes in your search for a community where you are welcomed. I think it was Brian McLaren who said, “you are not mad, and you are not alone”. 😌
Thank you Diana for your these 8 points. You were able to make clear for me what my faith is all about now as I have journeyed in these last ten years from evangelicalism ( numbers oriented) to a new way of living and practice, and yet I think the more authentic and and ancient way( formation/new creation)
I pray that these 8 points would exemplify my life as well
There are wonderful, but #4 gave me the most to think about today. The power of beauty on the path to liberation. Perhaps Keats had it correct about beauty and truth.
A numbers orientation to growth leads churches to anticipate some kind of Pentecost experience if they can only “get it right.” I’m aware of a church that had spent several thousand dollars (been sold) on a church growth program that came in a Monopoly-sized box. They expected the incoming assistant pastor to implement it. I agree, Diana, that growth happens when individual and corporate houses are built on the solid ground of faith development, which doesn’t typically happen like a wind come sweeping down the plain! Thank you for your continued passion to nail things down for the sake of raising the things that elude nailing.😊
Joyful and expansive theses. Thank you. A couple thoughts: 1) I am struggling with the word "entire" in number six. Perhaps 'a primary' or 'very important' might help me, but I'll keep struggling with this. 2) Since I know of you and your work, I realize suffering is a reality and implied in these theses. However, there is a way to read and support number five through a prosperity gospel lens. Since I interact with so many flavors of 'Christians' I am amazed at how the same statements can be taken so many different ways. So perhaps something on humility or suffering may be helpful. Of course, I can write my own theses (perhaps each of us should do that) but wanted to comment on these two areas.
Diane with you words on my heart, I attended a new church with the hope to experience a presbyterian worship service that reflected at least several of points you expressed! I was so disappointed!
I wonder where does one go find the theology that is willing to change!
Thank you for your wisdom!
I loved this piece (and I barely understood half of it...but I'm working on getting the rest) .
You definitely "nailed" it.
And, since I'm in my church's Theology Matters (love that play on words) workshop, I'm sending the link to it to the priest leading the program/workshop.
For the last few years I've been slowly leaving the building I enter on Sunday mornings. Very soon I'll say goodbye to the building so I can fully embrace these eight theses I've carried in the heart for a while. I will miss their faces but not their insistence on management of the Gospel. My journey continues...
Extraordinary, Diana. I love your theses. They resonate deeply with my rabbinic consciousness as I look out at the religious landscape of our time. Now I have to sit down and write my own. We have much to talk about.
Hi Diana, we've crossed paths at a few events, but don't think we've ever met. To your four verses, I would add Matthew 5:10 - "blessed are they who suffer persecution for justice's sake for their is the commonwealth of God" - (i.e. in 2021, they are the redeemers of our unprecedented global civilization's institutions' missions for our common good and that of posterity.
But such a verse is "radioactive" to you and your demographic, best I can tell. Why? Because it might make, shall I say "inconvenient," demands on your/their professional standing and economic security - the operative "gods" of most middle class and above pewsitters in America (and rest of world) in 2021.
The Doomsday Clock of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists is now closer, longer, to midnight than at any time in its over 70 year history, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doomsday_Clock. It signifies the likelihood of human-caused civilizational destruction.
So which of your 8 theses is relevant to the "facts on ground" in 2021 and can you elaborate on their relevance, if any?
Thanks,
Joseph (Joe) Carson, PE - deeply concerned Christian, licensed professional engineer (PE); federal agency employee; American and crew member of planet earth
Knoxville, TN
The entire world is surely blessed by your firm commitment and adherence to what truly matters within the context of authentic spirituality! Old ways are hard to change, but your voice is coming through loud and clear!
Re Thesis 5: Let's hope that asserting a canon -- a canon of love -- within the canon will defend us from those who prefer to use the Scriptures as a kind of arsenal or armory, and reach into them in order to grab hold of texts to be wielded as weapons. For me, the canon within the canon includes the Magnificat (Luke 1), and the Beatitudes (Matthew 5), which share this theme: For those who are weak, those who can never expect to "succeed" as the world measures success, those who are looked on as losers and failures, God nevertheless assures them of revolution and unmatched joy.
You are an unimaginable treasure to us ‘progressives’ spread across the globe. (In my case Oz). Keep going!! You are doing great! And best wishes in your search for a community where you are welcomed. I think it was Brian McLaren who said, “you are not mad, and you are not alone”. 😌
Thank you Diana for your these 8 points. You were able to make clear for me what my faith is all about now as I have journeyed in these last ten years from evangelicalism ( numbers oriented) to a new way of living and practice, and yet I think the more authentic and and ancient way( formation/new creation)
I pray that these 8 points would exemplify my life as well
My favorite is #5. Just finished Stephen J. Patterson's "The Forgotten Creed." Loved it. Thanks for mentioning it in Tripp Fuller's class.
There are wonderful, but #4 gave me the most to think about today. The power of beauty on the path to liberation. Perhaps Keats had it correct about beauty and truth.
Where 2 or 3 agree in prayer… obviously I see more than that in agreement! There IS hope! Hallelujah!
I've been so disillusioned, and I thank you for helping me rebuild in my 60's.
Word.
A numbers orientation to growth leads churches to anticipate some kind of Pentecost experience if they can only “get it right.” I’m aware of a church that had spent several thousand dollars (been sold) on a church growth program that came in a Monopoly-sized box. They expected the incoming assistant pastor to implement it. I agree, Diana, that growth happens when individual and corporate houses are built on the solid ground of faith development, which doesn’t typically happen like a wind come sweeping down the plain! Thank you for your continued passion to nail things down for the sake of raising the things that elude nailing.😊