Ignorance about God on the part of those who are wise in divine things is not a lack of learning, but a knowledge that knows by silence that God is unknown.
God possesses an existence... that is beyond all affirmation and negation.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Maxiums the Confessor (580-682 CE)
Ignorance about God on the part of those who are wise in divine things is not a lack of learning, but a knowledge that knows by silence that God is unknown.
God possesses an existence... that is beyond all affirmation and negation.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Mission
In Tom Robbins' Another Roadside Attraction there is an account of the passing conversation that Jesus had with Tarzan. I don't think that it is historically factual. But maybe some sort of truth can be found in it?
---
[Jesus]: I’m preparing myself for my mission.
[Tarzan]: Which is…?
[Jesus]: To change the world.
[Tarzan]: The world is perpetually changing. It doesn’t do much else but change. It changes from season to season, from night to day, from ice to tropics. It changed from a pocketful of cosmic dust into the complicated ball of goof and glory it is today. It’s changing every celestial second with no help whatsoever. Why do you want to stick your nose into it?
---
Facetious iconoclast though he is, Tarzan kind of deserves an answer. Or if not an answer than at least some thought in response to his rhetorical question.
At least that's how I feel. Because here I am, back in the classroom, preparing myself for my mission. It's good to be here. It feels natural for me. To what end? Or is it enough to be somewhere that feels right.
I can't decide if I want to change the world, or find my place in it. Maybe those two options aren't radically different?
---
[Jesus]: I’m preparing myself for my mission.
[Tarzan]: Which is…?
[Jesus]: To change the world.
[Tarzan]: The world is perpetually changing. It doesn’t do much else but change. It changes from season to season, from night to day, from ice to tropics. It changed from a pocketful of cosmic dust into the complicated ball of goof and glory it is today. It’s changing every celestial second with no help whatsoever. Why do you want to stick your nose into it?
---
Facetious iconoclast though he is, Tarzan kind of deserves an answer. Or if not an answer than at least some thought in response to his rhetorical question.
At least that's how I feel. Because here I am, back in the classroom, preparing myself for my mission. It's good to be here. It feels natural for me. To what end? Or is it enough to be somewhere that feels right.
I can't decide if I want to change the world, or find my place in it. Maybe those two options aren't radically different?
Thursday, September 16, 2010
link
Classes are cruising along. Lots of stimulation, a great community of learners, plenty of reminders as to why it is that I am doing what I'm doing. Why? To change the world of course! -- Kind of kidding, more on that from Tom Robbins later...
For now, here's a link to some balanced and, from where I stand, pretty accurate thoughts about Islamic concepts that might otherwise seem confusing to my readers whose only understanding of Islam is in the context of the sensational headlines of mainstream media.
Feel free to post your thoughts and comments here. Though I would ask that you think first and then post, thus filtering out unfounded animosity.
Article: The Meaning of the Koran.
For now, here's a link to some balanced and, from where I stand, pretty accurate thoughts about Islamic concepts that might otherwise seem confusing to my readers whose only understanding of Islam is in the context of the sensational headlines of mainstream media.
Feel free to post your thoughts and comments here. Though I would ask that you think first and then post, thus filtering out unfounded animosity.
Article: The Meaning of the Koran.
Monday, September 06, 2010
routine
Tuesday 2pm. Constructing a Concept of God.
Xenophanes observed that people create gods in their own image. Whether that's true ontologically or not is still up for debate. But that old satirical Grecian hit the nail on its head in a round about way at least. How we conceive and perceive of God is partially due to the stance we take, the angle we're coming at God from. Tuesday's at 2 I will join professor Laurel Schnieder as we "examine and develop various proposals for conceiving of God in rapidly changing Christian communities". We'll be unpacking all of the heft and bulk of angles like this: liberationist, post-modern, feminist, African-American, Asian, and post-colonial.
Tuesday 6.30-9.30pm. History of Christian Thought: Foundations.
That's quite a presumptuous title. Historically speaking Christians have done an awful lot of thinking. And those thoughts veined out in every which way. Truth be told this course will be sticking mostly to Western manifestations of Christian thought, and we'll only have the space really to survey some of the loudest and proudest of Christian thinkers from early on through to the Reformation. I like the title, it abbreviates nicely (Hist XN Thot), but "Some of the Thoughts Christians Had for a Millenia or So" would be a touch more appropriate.
Wednesday 9am-noon. Interpreting the Gospels.
No small task in and of itself. I'm alright without Greek for this class, but I will be brushing up on the "Grecco-Roman milieu of the Gospels". Professor Yang (rumor has it she pulls a bit of weight in the contemporary milieu of New Testament hermeneutics) will open our burgeoning minds to today's methods of gospel research and scholarship. But in an ongoing effort not to bite off more than our mandibles can handle we'll be sticking to the canonical gospels for this course.
Wednesday 6.30-9.30pm. People and Faith of Israel I
Bible stories mostly. But not the rated G, warm and fuzzy versions. The Hebrew Bible has been put through the crucible a time or two. And it has emerged as one of the finest collections of literary prowess on the market. It has a lot to say about God, a lot to say about faith, and a lot to say about life. Hopefully they won't be saving all of the juicy stuff for the second installment of the course. That shouldn't be a problem; there's plenty of substance to go around.
Xenophanes observed that people create gods in their own image. Whether that's true ontologically or not is still up for debate. But that old satirical Grecian hit the nail on its head in a round about way at least. How we conceive and perceive of God is partially due to the stance we take, the angle we're coming at God from. Tuesday's at 2 I will join professor Laurel Schnieder as we "examine and develop various proposals for conceiving of God in rapidly changing Christian communities". We'll be unpacking all of the heft and bulk of angles like this: liberationist, post-modern, feminist, African-American, Asian, and post-colonial.
Tuesday 6.30-9.30pm. History of Christian Thought: Foundations.
That's quite a presumptuous title. Historically speaking Christians have done an awful lot of thinking. And those thoughts veined out in every which way. Truth be told this course will be sticking mostly to Western manifestations of Christian thought, and we'll only have the space really to survey some of the loudest and proudest of Christian thinkers from early on through to the Reformation. I like the title, it abbreviates nicely (Hist XN Thot), but "Some of the Thoughts Christians Had for a Millenia or So" would be a touch more appropriate.
Wednesday 9am-noon. Interpreting the Gospels.
No small task in and of itself. I'm alright without Greek for this class, but I will be brushing up on the "Grecco-Roman milieu of the Gospels". Professor Yang (rumor has it she pulls a bit of weight in the contemporary milieu of New Testament hermeneutics) will open our burgeoning minds to today's methods of gospel research and scholarship. But in an ongoing effort not to bite off more than our mandibles can handle we'll be sticking to the canonical gospels for this course.
Wednesday 6.30-9.30pm. People and Faith of Israel I
Bible stories mostly. But not the rated G, warm and fuzzy versions. The Hebrew Bible has been put through the crucible a time or two. And it has emerged as one of the finest collections of literary prowess on the market. It has a lot to say about God, a lot to say about faith, and a lot to say about life. Hopefully they won't be saving all of the juicy stuff for the second installment of the course. That shouldn't be a problem; there's plenty of substance to go around.
Thursday, September 02, 2010
place in space
With a fresh batch of eager friends and colleagues, a charming neighborhood (and city) to continue to explore, and an exciting schedule of classes soon to begin I move into this weekend both weary and light.
Our apartment has become thoroughly ours and, infused with personal touches of color and comfort, will function as the perfect home base for this coming bout in academia. (Thank you Lauren.) My new friends come from all walks (and sprints and tip-toes and dances) of life - they are beautiful and energetic and I feel embraced and privileged to be among them.
I'm trying now to catch my breath in the midst of all of this incipience.
I breathe in satisfaction, and breathe out anxiety.
I breathe in organization, and breathe out clutter.
I breathe in expectation, and breathe out intimidation.
I breathe in deep into the center of myself, and breathe out with my arms wide open.
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