Geoffrey HolsclawA response to a comments from the previous post (and me trying on some ideas) Gordon (and everyone else) , I definitely understand you point, which is first and foremost a theological point about the nature of human beings. And while i would agree with the drift of you response, I would have to say […]
Chapters 1: God the Giver (For those wanting my commentary and not the summary, skip to the bottom) “There is God. And there are images of God. And some people don’t see any difference between the two.” In Free of Charge: Giving and Forgiving in a Culture Stripped of Grace, Miroslav Volf attempts to separate […]
This a great album and a searing social critique of conservative, evangelical christianity and its militant patriotism and consumer. Its brutal and beautiful. Here are the lyrics to the second track: I would offer commentary, but does it really need any? A New Law (vs. 1) don’t teach me about politics and governmentjust tell me […]
Gordon Hackman pointed me in the direction of c.s. lewis’ on science fiction in On Stories. There Lewis offers a taxonomy of sorts concerning science fiction. 1) science fiction by displace authors. This is when an other tells adventure/love/mystery stories in the context of the future, but is only doing it b/c it is a […]
I love being a pastor, because it keeps me connected to the concrete, linked to the practical, daily aspects of life. And even if there is some sort of academic future in/beyond a Ph.d., I hope to always continue in a pastoral role. I’ve read two pieces recently that reminded me again hope important concrete […]
Chapter III: Embrace “The central thesis of the chapter is that God’s reception of hostile humanity into divine communion is a model for how human beings should relate to the other.” (p. 100.) The Ambiguities of Liberation Some claim that dignity and justice are based in freedom, the freedom to choose one’s own life. When […]
Science Fiction vs. Sci-Fi: What is the difference between Science Fiction and Sci-Fi? (I’m basically using a distinction my cousin, Kevin Reed, proposed to me.) Science Fiction: A form of social critique or investigation set in the future (distant or near), or set in the present amid highly anomalous circumstances. Science Fiction is what you […]
Chapter II Exclusion The Dubious Triumph of Inclusion The Western story of progress/civilization is told as one of continual inclusion. “The history of modern democracies is about progressive and ever expanding inclusion, about “taking in rather than… keeping out”. By contrast, stories of ethnic cleansing are about the most brutal forms of exclusion, about driving […]