Homebrewed Christianity» St. Augustine http://homebrewedchristianity.com Equipping grassroots theologians for creative thinking, engaging, and living. Thu, 24 May 2012 03:25:23 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 2008-2012 podcast@homebrewedchristianity.com (Tripp & Chad) podcast@homebrewedchristianity.com (Tripp & Chad) 1440 http://homebrewedchristianity.com/wp-content/uploads/hbc.gif Homebrewed Christianity http://homebrewedchristianity.com 144 144 We are emergent Christian ministers who love being theology nerds. In each episode we talk to a theologian, philosopher, or Biblical scholar about the big questions of faith, doubt, ethics, and culture. It is our conviction that there is too much tasteless 'cheap light beer' Christianity in the world. Our goal is to get the best theological ingredients from the church's professional nerds into your iPod so you can brew your own faith. homebrewedchristianity.com emergent, theology, emerging, church Tripp & Chad Tripp & Chad podcast@homebrewedchristianity.com no no St. Augustine chimes in on the Burris appointment http://homebrewedchristianity.com/2009/01/11/st-augustine-chimes-in-on-the-burris-appointment/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=st-augustine-chimes-in-on-the-burris-appointment http://homebrewedchristianity.com/2009/01/11/st-augustine-chimes-in-on-the-burris-appointment/#comments Sun, 11 Jan 2009 21:30:51 +0000 Chad Crawford http://homebrewedchristianity.com/?p=651 There was a column in the NYT the other day by Stanley Fish comparing the controversy surrounding the Burris appointment to the Donatist Controversy. While the government is not a religious institution, I believe if St. Augustine were an influential person in today’s American politics, his judgment would be that Burris should be seated, barring any legal bombshells. Augustine’s position on the Donatist Controversy was that authority is ex opere operato: from the work having been worked, rather than the worker. So a person’s authority is derived from the legitimacy of the institution itself, and not the qualities of the person. Augustine did not believe the church was made up of only saints.

The Donatists in the Senate are starting to see the same wisdom. If Burris is denied his seat, the Burris Controversy could set a precedent for arguing against the legitimacy of any appointment. How clean does one’s record have to be to appoint someone? And how far does one have to travel down the line of succession to have sufficiently verified one’s credentials?

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