Zombies Empire Bible & Theology: TNT April 22

Hi Tripp, Thanks so much for the last 15 minutes or so of the podcast! You organized much of your thinking around some of Lord's Prayer. I organize much of my thelogg/praxis around "do not blame the meat for rotting, blame the lack of salt" (paraphrase of Matt. 5:13) and "love of money is (still and ever more clearly) the root of all evil." So here I am Tripp, an influential member of mankind's largest and most global profession of engineering (because I agitating about the persistent and signifcant defiriencies in the scope and implemenation of `code of ethics for engineers'- the secular `creed' of my profession) and the federal civil service (because I am agitating about persistent and significant deficiiencies in the interpretation and application the "merit system principles," its foundational values), in year 2012 where we each recount, at some length, the "victims of our own success" problems mankind collectively faces. So, where is God's will in it? What is your prophetic voice of what mankind needs to do, with Christians, via their work and witness (including much `sufferring for righteousness' sake" as part of being "salt and light" ), in the vanguard to reach year 2100 with desirable societies? Take it to next level with some specificity, please.

One mo' thing: Thanks for the nod to the CHP! :D

Listened to this podcast on the way to work this morning. The most interesting part was the discussion of "niche" theologies versus "the grown-up table." I likewise struggle with the tension between the concept of an academic discipline and the histories of power that inform such concepts. On one hand, an ideology that denies the validity of "Theology" as opposed to "Feminist Theology" or "Black Theology" really has given up the framework in which one can meaningfully complain that the seats at the "Theology Table" are denied them. After all, if there is only "European-American Theology," and folks from that table can't practice "Black Theology," then a complaint that "Black Theology" people should be invited to the "European-American Theology" table seems like a nonsensical request. Okay. I just confused myself there. Let me try again: I prefer to think of Black Theology and Chinese Theology and Base-Community Theology and other such endeavors as part of a larger, chaotic-but-intelligible-in-retrospect picture called Theology. I think that there are good reasons within that big picture called Theology to invite difference, but I don't think that there's any easy a priori way to distinguish between co-optation and dialectical engagement. Like theology taken more broadly, such things are always intelligible in retrospect but seldom predictable. In other words, it's conversations like this one that make me glad I'm over in the English department, where one can do theology without worrying nearly as much about such things. :)

TF, glad you enjoyed it, haven't read that one yet but After Life was a provocative read and you might want to give a listen to: http://backdoorbroadcasting.net/2011/01/eugene-thacker-divine-darkness/ and see if he wouldn't be a good guest hereabouts.

@dmf enjoyed the Eugene Thacker interview. the thesis is pretty interesting. have you read the book?

Hey Tripp and Bo, Just got this sent to me. Talk about the imperial spectacle - looks like they are bringing out a hunger games barbie. http://www.patheos.com/blogs/tinseltalk/2012/04/barbie-just-got-tough-katniss-from-hunger-games-gets-her-own-doll/

sorry about the filter, here is the intro from that site: Eugene Thacker talks to Anne Strainchamps about his book, "In the Dust of This Planet: Horror of Philosophy, Volume 1." In his book, Thacker argues that our world is increasingly unthinkable and that the horror genre can help us, since horror and philosophy have a lot in common.

Just listened to the podcast. That was #$%^ awesome!! Thanks guys - you rock!

http://ttbook.org/book/halloween-horror-and-philosophy-eugene-thacker-0

Both of the explanations for the human predicament are simply explanations. They presuppose the reality of a God, though. If our sinfulness is relationship, it still fails to make God known to us. He still created us broken. If God is sovereign of all and knows all, why isn't He responsibly for anything? And if He is, then, well why shouldn't He clean up the mess? Why not scrap the whole thing and start over, which scripture implies that God does. Why then should God be worthy of attention, if He is so prone to mistakes like we are?

hey Bo, I appreciate that there is a difference that makes a difference between a sort of marxist-like politics of say C.West (to be fair to him he has a sense pf the tragic that doesn't make it into his advocacy work with Smiley) and that of most mainline protestants (or even the more magical positive-thinkers like Osteen and the rest of Oprah's crew) who have a kind of neo-liberal gospel of prosperity, but the underlying logic/anthropology is the same that thru our adaptive capacities we can overcome our all too human natures/limitations to create a kind of earthly paradise, to be in right relation with creation. It would be interesting to know if C.West has some sense of life apart from this mortal coil, does anyone know if he addresses this?

TF, sounds like the "prophetic"/critical theology is just the "therapeutic" on a larger scale of social engineering and not really a different logic, and not so modern but more a part of a long history of adaptation to life on earth that doesn't really yet take finitude/mortality seriously. What would it mean to think theology with the knowledge that life on earth is a time-limited affair be it by solar death or otherwise? in other news: http://www.newappsblog.com/2012/04/very-nice-gutting-ny-times-piece-on-the-sermon-on-the-mount.html#more