2011 September

Christian Unity, Mark Driscoll and Progressive problems: TNT week of Sept 29

September 30, 2011 by Bo Sanders 23 Comments

In this week’s installment of the Theology Nerd Throw-down (TNT) we come in with a bunch questions but never get past the first one. “How are we to understand Christian unity with somebody like Mark Driscoll?” Make no mistake though – that one question leads us on a wild tour of the issue. We cover a whole gamut of related topics and issues.

For those unfamiliar with Mark Driscoll here is a YouTube clip: Driscoll on Tolerance

Some of the Books we talk about:

The Churches the Apostles Left Behind by Raymond Brown
The Emergence of the Early Church by Robert Patzia
Unity and Diversity in the New Testament by James D. G. Dunn
The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

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Filed Under: engaging, latest, podcast, thinking, TNT

The Weakness of John Caputo

September 27, 2011 by Bo Sanders 14 Comments

I love John Caputo. I have only read four of his book, but one of those was The Weakness of God – and that is a crowned jewel in my library. If you have not read it, you can just check out chapter 4 of What Would Jesus Deconstruct? where he summarizes it in about 7 pages.

I love when he says things like:

The kingdom of God is the rule of weak forces like patience and forgiveness, which, instead of forcibly exacting payment for offense, release and let go. The kingdom is found whenever war and aggression are met with an offer of peace. The kingdom is a way of living, not in eternity, but in time, a way of living with out why, living for the day, like the lilies the field–figures of weak forces–as opposed to mastering and programming time, calculating the future, containing and managing risk. The kingdom reigns whenever the least and most undesirable our favor all the best and most powerful or put on the defensive. The powerless power of the kingdom prevails when ever the one is preferred to the ninety-nine, whenever one loves one’s enemies and hates one’s father and mother while the world, which believes in power, counsels us to fend off our enemies and keep the circle of kin and kind, of family and friends, fortified and tightly drawn.” - The Weakness of God p. 15

All of this has been on my mind lately because of two upcoming events:

At Soularize (October 18-20 in San Diago) I will get to meet and share the stage with John Caputo at our Homebrewed Christianity live 3-D event.
I have been editing both the Merold Westphal interview where Tripp asks about Wesphal’s good friend & sparring partner John Caputo as well as the Kevin Corcoran (Church in the Present Tense) interview for the following week. Both are not the biggest fans of what Caputo brings to the table.

In part two of the Westphal interview, Westphal asserts that he finds Caputo’s brand of ‘theology’ a bit like “thin soup”. His thinking (starts in minute 21 and goes to minute 28) is that if the promise of the future is just the logical possibility that the future will be better than the present, that is just wishing. What we need, he says, is a more active speech-act performing God.

He then goes on to say that he doesn’t understand why Caputo continues to call himself a Catholic and then takes it even further to ask why he even calls himself religious! What?

Is this where we are at in Christian theology these days? I hear this line of thinking all the time (albeit not often from someone as renowned as Westphal).

I think that the future is a tough thing to be too dogmatic about. I get Panneberg’s proleptic possibility in his eschatology of hope. But that is hope … which, in my mind, is like one degree removed from wishing. So the acceptable options are a) certianty or b) hope, but anything less confident than that is unacceptable?

I know that Westphal’s thinking is based on much bigger issues than just the future, but it is an odd one to focus on in my opinion.

Let me be clear so that we don’t get off topic. I love reading John Caputo. I don’t just mean on philosophy or about other thinkers. I mean when he talks about Christianity – as a Christian.

I find him both intellectually inspiring and spiritual nourishing. So when somebody calls what he brings to the table ‘thin soup’, I am a bit perplexed.

Normally, I am not one to get defensive – so is it enough to simply say that I disagree with the honorable guest of Episode 114 on this one?

Filed Under: books, emergent, engaging, latest, philosophy, post-something, thinking Tagged With: future, John Caputo, Merald Westphal, Onto-theology, theology, Weakness

Support the Podcast by Building a Well

September 26, 2011 by Tripp Fuller 3 Comments

All Ye Podcast Listeners…Deacon Shane Galloway (Twitter) has the perfect chance for you to own your Deaconhood and help get clean water to people who need it. Yes Shane is the uber-awesome Southern twang in the last intro. Listen, read his note, and be moved to give!

What’s up Homebrewed folks? Deacon Shane here with a proposal for ya’ll. Charity: water has a great program called my charity water that makes it easy for you to set up your own campaign to raise money for a well for folks that don’t have access to clean water. I love this organization because they’re set up so that 100% of all donations go to projects and you get to see where your money goes, you get exact GPS coordinates. Your donations are not needed for administrative costs, only to help build wells, which is what I want to help do. I want to help because 1 in 8 people don’t have access to clean water. 4,500 children die every day from water related diseases. Water is the most basic element of life and people shouldn’t have to worry so much about getting it and whether it’s going to kill their children or not.

Here is my campaign. It costs an average of $5,000 to build 1 well. I want to raise enough for 1 well. My charity water gives you 90 days for each campaign. I have until November 5 to finish raising the money. Around May 20 2012 I will run 1 mile for every $50 raised. 100 miles for me = 1 well for about 250 people for 20 years. $20 gets 1 person clean water. $50 helps 3 people and I will dedicate 1 mile to you on the run. Since I love Homebrewed Christianity I am making the offer even sweeter. If I get $500 worth of donations from Homebrewed listeners, I will wear a Homebrewed tee shirt as I cross the finish line (Tripp I need one of these). There will be a party at the finish, probably local newspapers and such as well as donors. If I can get $1000 from HB listeners I will listen to HB podcasts for the last ¼ of the run, whatever it ends up being, imagine a broken mind and body being re-programmed with Homebrewed goodness, will I ever be the same? When you donate you can write a note, just indicate that you are a HB listener so I can keep a tally. Charity: water will send a tax receipt immediately to your e mail. Donate at http://mycharitywater.org/100-4-1. Keep up on face book at 100=1 Shane’s charity: water campaign. Thanks ya’ll

Filed Under: living

Merold Westphal on the Rapture, Rob Bell, John Caputo, & More! pt2: Homebrewed Christianity 119

September 24, 2011 by Bo Sanders 5 Comments

This conversation with living legend Merold Westphal covers everything from the Rapture to Rob Bell, from his friendship with John Caputo to everyone’s favorite theological game: Name Association!

He also introduces us to the ‘Gang of Four’- the Desert Father, the Geneva Calvinists, the American Slaves, and the modern Amish.

Here’s Part One of the Conversation…Here’s a bunch of his books!

The Deacon call in at the beginning can be contacted here :

Consider Helping Build a Well w/ a Deacon Shane Galloway! Pretty Please! Click & Give

* Join us @soularize Oct 18-20

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Filed Under: features, podcast, thinking

Deacons that go Podcasting! #AWESOME

September 22, 2011 by Tripp Fuller 1 Comment

I am really into podcasting. I really love when Homebrewed Christianity Deacons start podcasting. There is nothing like pod-pressing (it’s like peer pressure but different) people into contributing their voice online. Chad and I started podcasting in March 2008. Since then we have managed to get over 12,000 subscribers and have way too much fun being theology nerds. Since then a number of Deacons have started podcasting. That is #awesome

I figured I would share the Deacons that I know are podcasting. If there are more let me know so I can add ya. Podcasting isn’t hard, is pretty cheap, and if you like talking it is very fun. SO count this as your pod-pressue to start a podcast.

PS. If you are NOT a straight white male I would doubly encourage you to start a podcast.

Deacon Podcast Directory

* Becoming: Who We Are (Ohh and I was guest! I did a little intro to Process Theology)

* Something Beautiful Podcast (Both Chad & I have been a guest)

* The Christian Humanists

* Whiskey Preacher Podcast

* Dating God Podcast (one cool Franciscan. Ep 4 is amazing!)

* Losing My Religion

* Theology Hub Podcast (ok Daniel and Mark only got ONE episode but let’s say this is additional pod-pressure for more)

If you are a Deacon interested in podcasting and have some questions or would like some advice let me know. I would love to help you get your voice out.

Filed Under: living

Merold Westphal Smacks Onto-theology and Preaches Hermenutics pt1: Homebrewed Christianity 118

September 22, 2011 by Tripp Fuller 2 Comments

I loved talking to Merold Westphal and I’m pretty sure all the HBC Deacons and theology nerds across the inter-webs are gonna dig this two part conversation. Westphal is a long time philosophy prof from Fordham University and has now reached the status of emeritus. Merold is a top notch philosopher and committed evangelical who thinks deep and wrestles faithfully. He publishes regularly and also has an awesome book for a general audience. This conversation was awesome and long enough we needed to break it up in two parts so be on the look out for part two soon. HERE’S PART TWO OF THE CONVERSATION

Thanks to Tad & Stephen for setting up the interview. Ohh that sweet pic was taken while I was interviewing Merold.

In the episode we discuss…

- Heidegger & The Onto-theological Critique

- Evangelicalism

- Growing up a dispensationalist and ending up a Christian philosopher

- Hegel, the social constitution of the self, & the located nature of ‘reason’

-Necessary Conditions for Christian Theism…God is personal & speaks

- Pseudo Dionysius, Augustine, Aquinas, Feuerbach & negative theology

- Revelation, the Word of God, and Human Receptivity

* This podcast if free…Consider Helping Build a Well w/ a Deacon Shane Galloway! Pretty Please! Click & Give

* Join us @soularize Oct 18-20

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Filed Under: emergent, features, philosophy, pomo

A Hitchhiker’s Guide to Jesus is Coming!

September 21, 2011 by Tripp Fuller 4 Comments

Early October there is going to be some sweet blogging about the historical Jesus and a really awesome new book by Bruce Fisk. In preparation of the blog tour packed full of theology nerds and biblio-bloggers the good people at Baker Academic Press are giving away a HUGE collection of historical Jesus books. Check out the give-away and get ready for some historical Jesus fun soon!

By the way, A Hitchhiker’s Guide to Jesus is a really great book. Perfect for those who are interested in the quest for the historical Jesus, its relation to faith, or experiencing the rare occasion a scholar is brilliant and NOT boring. I’ll blog about it later but for now feel free to order the goodness.

Here’s the blog tour hit list…

Michael Bird (PhD, University of Queensland) Blogs at: Euangelion	Dave Brumley Blogs at: This Pilgrim Land
John Byron (PhD, University of Durham) Blogs at: The Biblical World	Tripp Fuller Blogs at: Homebrewed Christianity
Timothy Gombis (PhD, University of St. Andrews) Blogs at: Faith Improvised	Nancy Janisch Blogs at: Conversation in Faith
Mark Goodacre (DPhil, University of Oxford) Blogs at: NT Blog	Matthew Montonini Blogs at: New Testament Perspectives
Michael Gorman (PhD, Princeton Theological Seminary) Blogs at: Cross Talk – crux probat omnia	Jon Synder Blogs at: Bookleenex
Nijay Gupta (PhD, University of Durham) Blogs at: nijaygupta.wordpress.com	Amy Sondova Blogs at: Backseat Writer
James McGrath (PhD, University of Durham) Blogs at: Exploring Our Matrix	Jacob Sweeney Blogs at: Jacob Sweeney’s Blog
	Joshua Walker Blogs at: Bring the Books

Filed Under: bible stuff, books, latest, thinking

TNT : week of September 15

September 15, 2011 by Bo Sanders 8 Comments

This Theology Nerd Throwdown is sponsored by Claremont School of Theology.

Tripp and Bo take on three topics in the news from a progressive Christian perspective with an eye toward the theological.

1. Did 9/11 really change us? You can read the initial blog here.

2. The crows at the Republican Presidential debates are telling us something. We think that something is bad.

3. Claremont Lincoln University had it’s convocation ceremony this week. That seemed significant in light of story 1 and 2 above.

In this hour-long show these two theology nerds reference several books – including but not limited to :

The Powers the Be by Walter Wink

Simply Christian by N.T. Wright

Theology and the Kingdom by Wolfhart Pannenberg

No Rising Tide by Joerge Rieger

The views expressed are not necessarily those of Claremont School of Theology or Claremont Lincoln University.

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Filed Under: bible stuff, books, church history, engaging, latest, media, news, podcast, politics, thinking, TNT

The Evangelical C.S. Lewis

September 15, 2011 by Bo Sanders 5 Comments

Last month I asked the question “Is anyone evangelical enough anymore” and called C.S. Lewis an honorary patron saint of evangelicals – or something. Some disagreed with this assessment on the grounds that Lewis was not evangelical.

Well, in the latest issue of the online magazine Heretic Press, there is a very interesting article on the subject by Mason Slater [here is his twitter].

“C.S. Lewis has long been beloved by evangelicals.

Like many other evangelicals I grew up hearing quotes from Lewis in sermons, reading his books, and being terrified by the beavers on the BBC version of The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. Christian bookstores happily stock entire shelves of Lewis’ books, and heavyweights like Tim Keller quote him more often than Augustine.

He has in many ways become, in the words of J.I. Packer, ‘the patron saint of evangelicalism’.

All this makes it highly ironic then that if Lewis were alive today your average evangelical would hardly claim him as one of their own.”

You can read the article starting on page 10. It is in magazine format. I know that this won’t interest everybody – but I grew up in a Christian Bookstore culture and C.S. Lewis continues to be a big deal in that camp.

Filed Under: books, church history, engaging, latest, thinking Tagged With: C.S. Lewis, evangelical

LIVE EVENT: Profane Theology with Barry Taylor 9/30

September 14, 2011 by Tripp Fuller 1 Comment

Deacons BEWARE…Friday…September 30th…Los Angeles…Live theological brewing shall commence…Homebrewed Christianity is about to get PROFANE with Barry Taylor!

I am thrilled to invite all the Deacons and LAites to a live HBC house-show & yard party with your favorite British PoMo theological and cultural super star Barry Taylor (check him on the podcast & at Theology After Google). The show will be an hour and a half of interactive theology, inappropriate religious jokes, guitar strumming, Pop Culture commentary, & curse word Bingo (Barry will have to explain…I hear lay people at his church invented it). Pete Rollins may have his Pyro-theology but we got Profane Theology.

If you want a philosophical analysis of how Katy Perry managed to be the second person after Michael Jackson to get 5 number one singles off a single record, then this event is for you. If you want to hear Barry tear up as he discusses the end of the Harry Potter movie series…I can’t promise that BUT if have been asking your self the very perplexing question “how hardcore is Mark Driscoll’s Jesus?” then you really need to be there!

Here’s the deal. $10. Arrive @730pm -> Show 8-930pm -> yard party (including cornhole where Barry will defend his trophy). Deaconess Holly is hosting the event in her home. 5165 Ocean View Blvd. La Canada, CA 91011 (it’s right off the 210 between Burbank & Pasadena) There will be snacks provided & cooler space for you to bring your own beverages of any variety. Cornhole festivities and conversations to follow.

It’s a house show so there is limited seating. Secure your spot & donate $10 HERE: http://tinyurl.com/ProfaneTheology

What’s better on a friday night than profane theology? It’s only $10, no bar tab, poor humor, & adults tossing bags of corn in holes afterward.

Much thanks to Deaconess Holly & our friends at St. Luke’s of-the-Mountains Episcopal Church for helping to sponsor this event!

Ohhh if for some reason you want a fancy bio of Barry Taylor here it is…freshly copied and pasted off the Soularize Event page (where Barry & HBC will be in Oct!!!)

Dr. Barry Taylor is the Associate Rector at All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Beverly Hills, California. He also teaches theology and culture at Fuller Theological Seminary, where he is the Artist-in-Residence for the Brehm Center, and he teaches advertising and design at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, topics that were part of his theological doctoral study program. He writes and plays music, usually with friends, occasionally for money – his songs have shown up in a few movies, and he has composed a couple of soundtracks for largely over-looked films. He has written a few books: A Matrix of Meaning with Craig Detweiler, A Heretic’s Guide to Eternity, with Spencer Burke, as well as his latest, Entertainment Theology.

Filed Under: latest, living, speaking

Christian Unity, Mark Driscoll and Progressive problems: TNT week of Sept 29

The Weakness of John Caputo

Support the Podcast by Building a Well

Merold Westphal on the Rapture, Rob Bell, John Caputo, & More! pt2: Homebrewed Christianity 119

Consider Helping Build a Well w/ a Deacon Shane Galloway! Pretty Please! Click & Give

* Join us @soularize Oct 18-20

Deacons that go Podcasting! #AWESOME

Merold Westphal Smacks Onto-theology and Preaches Hermenutics pt1: Homebrewed Christianity 118

* This podcast if free…Consider Helping Build a Well w/ a Deacon Shane Galloway! Pretty Please! Click & Give

* Join us @soularize Oct 18-20

A Hitchhiker’s Guide to Jesus is Coming!

TNT : week of September 15

The Evangelical C.S. Lewis

LIVE EVENT: Profane Theology with Barry Taylor 9/30

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