2010 January

Can progressive theologians talk about God’s Future?

January 28, 2010 by Tripp Fuller 4 Comments

Karl Barth, the most influential theologian of the 20th century, said that all Christian theology is eschatology. The Apostle Paul is pretty serious, though flexible, about God’s future for the world. Jesus had a hard time NOT talking about the present-yet-coming Kin-dom of God. SO what happens when I asked some of the top progressive theologians ‘what does God’s future mean for our present?’

Here are Tony Jones, Harvey Cox, Dwight Hopkins, Glen Stassen, Donna Bowman, Delwin Brown, and Douglas Meeks

HT: Transforming Theology

Filed Under: thinking

Bart Ehrman’s “Jesus Interrupted” is coming to paperback….

January 27, 2010 by Tripp Fuller 1 Comment

…so if you have listened to the podcast with him and Tony Jones and thought about getting the book you can now get it for 10 bucks.

Filed Under: engaging

Adam Walker Cleaveland on Theology After Google

January 25, 2010 by Tripp Fuller 3 Comments

Theology After Google: Leveraging New Technologies and Networks for Transformative Ministry

We invite you to join us March 10-12, 2010 in Claremont, Calif., for a first-of-its-kind national conference, “Theology After Google.” Thanks to a generous grant from the Ford Foundation, we are able to keep registration costs low, as in 99 bucks.

Who is coming?

Tony Jones, Spencer Burke, John Franke, Helene Slessarev-Jamir, Adam Walker Cleaveland Bob Cornwall, Dwight Friesen , Jon Irvine, Glen Stassen, Philip Clayton, Ryan Parker, Bruce Epperly, Barry Taylor

Why “theology after Google”?

Progressive Christian theologians have some vitally important things to say, things that both the church and society desperately need to hear. The trouble is, we tend to deliver our message using technologies that date back to Gutenberg: books, academic articles, sermons, and so forth. We aren’t making effective use of the new technologies, social media, and social networking. When it comes to effective communication of message, the Religious Right is running circles around us.

Hence the urgent need for a conference to empower pastors, laypeople, and the up-and-coming theologians of the next generation to do “theology after Google,” theology for a Google-shaped world. Thanks to the Ford funding, we’ve been able to assemble a stellar team of cultural creatives and experts in the new modes of communication.

Why should you come?

Over the three days you will…

Discover the impacts of our Google-world on theology
Gain new tools for your church and ministry
Attend break out sessions around your interest (ex. youth ministry or creative artist)
Get to hang out with the presenters (and compete in a Corn-Hole Bean-bag tournament)
Enjoy the 70 and Sunny SoCal weather
You want to answer the question, ‘Is your theology googlicious?’ with a resounding YES!

For more info and to register visit Transforming Theology.

Filed Under: conversations, emergent, engaging, media, pomo

Scientists and Religious Folk on Global Warming

January 23, 2010 by Chad Crawford Leave a Comment

This isn’t about an actual confrontation between the two communities, or a discussion on whether they can coexist. For that, check out Stanley Fish’s review of Barbara Herrnstein Smith’s “Natural Reflections.’ I just want to share a chart that shows a significant gap between the two on a specific issue.

One day over lunch my coworker and I were again talking about percentages of global warming deniers. I brought up the poll I shared before on here of different religious groups, and he shared one about scientists in general and climate experts in particular.

Later he made a mashup of the two and sent it to me. It’s interesting to look at, because of the gap between even progressive religious groups and the scientists. The first time I shared the poll, I emphasized the gap between evangelicals and mainliners. But when you look at the same chart and include the scientific community, the previous point seems rather moot (as well as the race gap).

While we were listening to a conference call about recent polling done on what message gets a favorable response when it comes to energy legislation, we wondered what the results would be when only people of faith were asked.

Which message is more likely to lead you, as a person of faith, to support strong climate legislation?

It would make corporations pay to pollute.

It will create millions of new jobs here at home.

It’s critical for ending our dependence on oil and will increase national security.

It’s all about the polar bears.

It protects people in vulnerable communities who have contributed the least to global warming.

Filed Under: engaging

What Would Google Do? When a theology class reads it

January 21, 2010 by Tripp Fuller 8 Comments

Jeff Jarvis has done us all a favor. ‘What Would Google Do?‘ is a gift (well one you pay for). Through an engaging, informative, and flat out fun style he takes on his journey to reverse-engineer the company that defines ‘getting it’ today, Google.

This is the first book we are reading\blogging through in the theology after google class (and conference you can come to!!!). As part of the class at Claremont I am kicking off the blog discussion of the book and the other class members, along with any of you readers, will be discussing the ideas in the book over the week. The book itself is organized into two parts. In section one Jarvis lays out the results of his investigation in a series of rules that illuminate the shape and nature of a Googlely organization. For example, in his chapter on the New Relationship he charges us to ‘give people control and we will use it’ and part of the New Economy is being ‘post-scarcity.’ By moving between lucid descriptions and well framed stories the reader not only comes to understand these new Google Rules and the world they describe but begins to dream with them. That is one challenge for the class (and anyone else who wants to play along). Dream with a couple rules and then share your dream of transformation for your own church OR the Church. In class I just may throw the WWGD slide show up on the screen and get you all to start using it like you were making a presentation to a group of denomination heads at the National Council of Churches…hmmm that would be fun!!!

In part two of the book Jarvis takes the rules and puts them to work in a variety of industries. I have to say that as he moved through chapters I would have expected like the music industry to Detroit and health care, I kept being amazed at how pertinent his collection of Google Rules continued to be. At the end of section two he discusses ‘God’ for a minute, but I know there is much more going on in the church to report on and rip on. At the beginning of the section he says ‘there are two ways to attack the problems of these industries: to reform the incumbents or to destroy them.’ I want to know which you believe is true about your own community of faith. How would you outline an additional chapter on the church in America? What stories, examples, etc would you link to as examples of a Googlely feast? What lessons do we have to learn from other industries that Jarvis tells? I hope you are thinking about a cool blog entry now!

At the very end of the book Jarvis closes with a reflection on ‘Generation G,‘ those who grew up digital. It is radically impacting our relationships, privacy, connectedness, problem solving, expectations, etc, etc, etc. How do you respond to the questions he raises? What to they mean theologically? Anthropologically? Ecclesiologically? Where would you begin a conversation on these issues philosophically? What new ethical questions will your kids need answers for that we haven’t even started talking about?

If you haven’t read the book get it or just dive in to one of the many links and videos below. I will update the post over the week to link to the other bloggers who join in

Jarvis’ 5 tips for a Googlier you
Google’s 10 Things We Know to be True
Jarvis gets the church as ‘network of niches’ from Chuck here and then blogged it in ‘What Would God Do’ (A Post the Theology After Google class should read!!) Maybe you could blog an answer like Ron Smith?
Pastor Stu asks a great question in response to Jarvis, ‘Is your church a Google or Yahoo church?’
How Googley is your Church? Now you have a question for the next Deacons’ meeting.
Bill Thompson’s review is great
Next Week Mike Morrell and Steve Knight will be coming to our class (via skype), so check out their blogs.
PS….CLASS….when your professor publishes an article online that has the same name as your class you should read it, blog it, tweet it, share it, and comment on it. You know, in the words of Jarvis, give Philip some Google-juice!!

What Would Google Do, Book Summary

View more documents from Steven Zwerink.

UPDATE: Here’s the link Jarvis mentioned about his time with Augsburg Fortress press.

Filed Under: books, emergent, media, pomo, thinking

A Fish Trying to Learn to Breathe Air: This Too Shall Pass

January 20, 2010 by Chad Crawford 2 Comments

The statement below is from the band OK Go to their fans about why their YouTube videos, which made them famous before they had a record label, are no longer allowed to be embedded on other websites. It boils down to ads on YouTube that don’t earn money when videos are embedded. Damian Kulash, the lead singer, OK Goes on to comment on the state of the music industry as a whole.

Let’s take a wider view for a second. What we’re really talking about here is the shift in the way we think about music. We’re stuck between two worlds: the world of ten years ago, where music was privately owned in discreet little chunks (CDs), and a new one that seems to be emerging, where music is universally publicly accessible. The thing is, only one of these worlds has a (somewhat) stable system in place for funding music and all of its associated nuts-and-bolts logistics, and, even if it were possible, none of us would willingly return to that world. Aside from the smug assholes who ran labels, who’d want a system where a handful of corporate overlords shove crap down our throats? All the same, if music is going to be more than a hobby, someone, literally, has to pay the piper. So we’ve got this ridiculous situation where the machinery of the old system is frantically trying to contort and reshape and rewire itself to run without actually selling music. It’s like a car trying to figure out how to run without gas, or a fish trying to learn to breath air.

Without reaching too much, I can’t help but notice parallels between institutional Christianity and the music industry. Christianity like the music industry is stuck between two worlds. The old worked for a long time and then everything changed before it had a chance to contort and reshape itself, so it’s barely surviving. As the rapid period of changes took place, like any other dying animal, both went through the same stages: first, ignoring it was happening, then fighting the changes head on, then reluctantly accepting the changes and trying to survive in the new world, like a fish trying to learn to breathe air.

What are your thoughts? Have we already mastered the period of learning to breathe air, poised to move on to something else, all the other demands of land-dwelling? Are there other similarities between what is happening with the music industry and Christianity? With regard to how ministers were paid before and trying to figure out how to continue to pay them now? Before, people paid for music and now fewer people do. And people used to give to their churches, and now fewer people are. Artists get paid by record labels who often have too much control over them. On the other hand, ministers are largely supported by a small group of people within a congregation who give a lot, who sometimes have too much power over their ministers. What else?

If nothing else you might like the new OK Go song, which the band uploaded to Vimeo so it can be embedded.

OK Go, This Too Shall Pass from OK Go on Vimeo.

Filed Under: thinking

A Spiral, Not a Pendulum: The Massachusetts Special Election

January 19, 2010 by Chad Crawford 4 Comments

While I wouldn’t say I’m pleased with the result of today’s special election in Massachusetts, I choose to look optimistically toward the future. When I was in high school, I had an English lit teacher who taught that American politics is a pendulum that swings back and forth between conservative and liberal power. It certainly seems that way. Looking only at a recent narrow loss (or victory, depending on one’s affiliation), the country lately seems incredibly polarized. But through my study of American history, I’ve become aware that our society more closely resembles a spiral rather than a pendulum. The spiral, though it circles around from a more liberal power concentration to conservative and then back again, continues to move toward equality, justice, and a shared responsibility for the well-being of every citizen and the rest of the world.

That doesn’t mean I’m becoming complacent. I’m always going to continue to work hard for progress, and as a follower of Jesus, the salvation of every human being, and the flourishing of all creation. But the benefit of this realization means I no longer have to view the result of each election as the triumph of good over evil, or evil over good, but as a continuation of a process that has gone on since our government was created. The founders set the bar high, dreaming of unity, liberty, justice, and the welfare of all. Perhaps, of all of these, unity is the loftiest ideal. Here’s the crazy part: I’m thinking e pluribus unum isn’t just a dream. We’re spiraling toward that reality…in slow-mo.

In the immortal words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.”

Filed Under: engaging

Cruisin’ Santa Monica with Brian McLaren & Spencer Burke

January 19, 2010 by Tripp Fuller 1 Comment

Brian McLaren and Spencer Burke have a great discussion about his upcoming book ‘A New Kind of Christianity.’ Enjoy!

Filed Under: books, emergent, engaging, media

Calling all Deacons!!! Come to the ‘Theology After Google’ event.

January 19, 2010 by Tripp Fuller Leave a Comment

Deacons, Friends, Ministers, Church Leaders, Theologians, or Just cool people who like God and use the internet. I am part of putting on this super sweet conference at Claremont March 10-12 and I would love for you to think about coming. For three days you will think about theology, the church, technology, communication, and all sorts of googlicious things with a sweet group of people. Who? Tony Jones, Spencer Burke, John Franke, Helene Slessarev-Jamir, Adam Walker Cleveland, Bob Cornwall, Dwight Friesen , Jon Irvine, Glen Stassen, Philip Clayton, Ryan Parker, Bruce Epperly, Barry Taylor BAM! Ohh and there are a couple more we are in the process of confirming, so click on over to the web page and sign up.

Did I mention it is only 99 bucks and there will be break out sessions for youth ministers, pastors, Christian educators, artists, and web peeps? That means you should use your ‘development’ money to come to this awesome and cheap conference. Ohhh and it is in LA.

Tony Jones says come…

Spencer Burke says come….

Filed Under: emergent, living, media

Twitter-gestions for the Theology After Google

January 19, 2010 by Tripp Fuller 3 Comments

This is the first day of the ‘Theology After Google’ class and yesterday I asked on Twitter what video I should use to get the conversation moving. I promised I would share them with the class and figured y’all might enjoy them. So without further ado, here’s the Twitter-gestions…..