CheeseWearing Theology - Latest Comments

Re: 50 Books For Aspiring Seminarians — Tweaking the List

John — Sat, 11 May 2013 22:35:04 -0000

Hi, I am from Australia.

Did you notice that all of the recommended books were entirely within the (very limited) Western exoteric tradition. Which is to say that perhaps with one exception none of the books were about esoteric Spiritual religion. And that none of them were from non-Christian (or non-Western) sources, which is quite strange in a time and place when every Spiritual, religious and philosophical point of view that has ever been made by human beings in all times and places is now freely available to anyone with an internet connection.

Which is to say that (mis)-informed by such a narrow entirely exoteric and Western (only) perspective such a person is essentially Spiritually, religiously, philosophically and culturally illiterature in this time and place.

Please therefore find a much more comprehensive wider and deeper Understanding of what we are as human beings and of Reality altogether via these references.
1. http://www.adidaupclose.org/Li...
2. http://www.adidam.in/eastwest....
3. http://www.beezone.com/Article...
4. http://www.beezone.com/whitean...
5. http://www.dabase.org/up-1-3.h...
6. http://spiralledlight.wordpres...
On the doubt mind that mis-informs all of Western "theology" and philosophy.
1. http://www.beezone.com/AdiDa/n...

Re: Christians and Game of Thrones

CWtheology — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 19:56:53 -0000

Tim, I am fascinated by the idea that there is a critique of epic fantasy in SoIaF. I need to ponder that more, but there does seem to be something to that.

Re: Christians and Game of Thrones

Donalbain — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 18:27:28 -0000

Tyrion enjoys sex and drink. Therefore Tyrion is evil. Therefore Tyrion is Gollum.

Re: Christians and Game of Thrones

Adrenalin Tim — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 16:34:08 -0000

Great response. Ryan got this badly wrong. I'd say if anyone, Tyrion is closest to "the Frodo" of SoIaF. He's the small, unnoticed, unimportant figure that bravely and sacrificially does the right (but unpopular) thing for the benefit of society as a whole. (The analogy breaks down, but it's a better fit than Smeagol!)

Actually, and this is relevant to Ryan's critique, some have seen in SoIaF a more-or-less direct critique of epic fantasy in general and The Lord of the Rings in particular. GRRM makes explicit a lot of the elements that are just beneath the surface in the works of Tolkien and others—the classism, patriarchy, sexism, sexual violence, deep systemic injustice, and so forth that exist in these pastoral, feudal, medieval Europe-ish settings. (See this Metafilter comment for a better explanation than mine.)

Re: Is Star Trek Friendly to Christianity?

Poetsawyer — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 22:03:29 -0000

Ah, yes, the dark ages..... well if you are interested in that subject, give me permission to call you and I can enlighten you with why the dark ages happened and why Christianity, in it's true form, fully supports space exploration, starships, and exploration of all kinds. Yes, I agree, if Christianity had remained intact, we probably would have all we dream about in Star Trek. Sorry it isn't happening now!!

Re: Is Star Trek Friendly to Christianity?

TheTrekSage — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 12:49:00 -0000

You are aware though that Christianity (the Dark Ages) is the primary reason why humanity does not have starships and an intersteller federation as of 2013? There is a very good reason why christianity is dead in the 24th century, it's abandonment is the only way that starships are even conceivable in less than 1000 years.

Re: The “Unsuccessful” Church

Eric Ortlund — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 11:33:58 -0000

Wow. Powerful. Thank you for sharing.
What wonderful upsets will there be on the last day when Jesus praises the "losers," the nobodies, and the big important people are last in line?

Re: The “Unsuccessful” Church

Erin — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 20:44:17 -0000

Reminds me of this quote from a book I read in a group with Denise Doerksen:

"Nowhere in the Bible does Jesus call us to be successful. Greatly to the contrary, he calls us to be faithful--and faithfulness in ministry might result in failure according to society's standards. Much more important than numbers should be the depth of love and Hilarity and commitment engendered by our work. Much more valuable than crowds are persons who are being changed by the good news of God's love and the principles of the kingdom of God."

-Marva J. Dawn in Truly the Community: Romans 12 and How to Be the Church

Re: The “Unsuccessful” Church

CWtheology — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 11:53:50 -0000

This!

Re: The “Unsuccessful” Church

CWtheology — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 11:53:41 -0000

Sue, I find my heart growing more and more for little churches. They do such good work in such tough circumstances and are roundly ignored or dismissed by larger churches. May you and Dell be abundantly blessed at your little church :)

Re: The “Unsuccessful” Church

RtRDH — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 23:51:14 -0000

"It’s about faithfulness."

The end. It's not about emerging or being relevant. It's about faithfulness.

Re: The “Unsuccessful” Church

Sue B. — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 22:48:36 -0000

Thank you for this post. We needed this today.

Re: Tips for Practicing Lectio Divina as a Student at a Christian College

wmrharris — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 19:26:08 -0000

I would especially highlight the use of space. It can be as simple as moving across the room although I have found a different room to be a better solution. Away from the tools of the trade also cuts the inner dialogue that can interfere with lectio.

Re: Tips for Practicing Lectio Divina as a Student at a Christian College

RtRDH — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 21:50:47 -0000

I really enjoyed this post and the advice you gave. I switched from the NRSV (my scholarly Bible) to the Common English Bible on my Kindle, and I felt so much more at peace. Thank you for this. I need to share this on Tumblr.

Re: What if Barth’s Commentary on Romans had Been Published in the Age of Twitter?

Narrow Gauge — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 10:17:38 -0000

I have to change clothes now because I spilled coffee all over myself reading this! Hilarious.

Re: Does Uriah Know?

Norman — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 12:47:38 -0000

Not to throw cold water down the rabbit hole, however I think you are reading a little too much into the story. You rightly interpret the symmetry of the first and last commandments. For David to be called a man after God's own heart we see how strong the fleshly lusts can obliterate any sense of right or wrong, just what I want right now. The power of choosing sin over God's way is something we deal with in out lives and must continually be guarding our lives to follow not our desires but His. All that you have written is plausible but may not have been probable.

Re: Does Uriah Know?

gamgokt — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 18:06:59 -0000

Does it matter? is it germane to the lesson being taught by God?

Re: Does Uriah Know?

Bob MacDonald — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 12:16:35 -0000

"David as a hologram of Israel" - a nice phrase that captures the singular-plural tension in the Psalms and in Lamentations. Well done/.

Re: The Winter That Wouldn’t Die; Community; and God’s Amazing Blessings

Sue B. — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 23:50:10 -0000

My husband and I feel your pain......you are getting a serious taste of our own lifestyle and you have all our prayers. So grateful for the Lord's assistance and the love of your wonderful friends. Welcome to the real Canadian winter and all the great local folk who are so happy to help out. Thank you for sharing your personal story of God's provision in the midst of mess that could have been very bad indeed. It is an encouragement we need right now at our house. Blessings and prayers.........

Re: Seminary as a Cemetery

Sue B. — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 19:25:14 -0000

Seminary is also a cemetery because old and sometimes cherished doctrines and practices die out in the process of learning what is actually true/false and what is actually ambiguous rather than an established fact; in that death new ideas, practices and the ability to not have our faith shaken in light of scriptural ambiguities arise.

Re: Seminary as a Cemetery

Charles — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 12:19:01 -0000

Great Scott that's awesome.

Re: Theology Round-Up February

Brian LePort — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 18:22:31 -0000

Thanks for the links!

Re: Canadian Christian Blogs

Rick Wadholm Jr — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 17:38:42 -0000

Not sure if you'd be interested in including it, but myself and three others (they are Canadian...I'm only a wanna-be ;-) and we are all alumnus of Providence Theological Seminary in Otterburne, MB) blog theological topics at https://iheartbarth.wordpress....

Re: Theology Round-Up February

Rick Wadholm Jr — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 17:34:28 -0000

Thanks for the plug.

Re: Theology Round-Up February

CWtheology — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 17:21:38 -0000

Sorry about that. Link is updated and fixed.