September 03, 2008
The becoming of something new!
Like Jason Clark and Mike Clawson, I am excited about the new season that is upon me. For the first time in quite some time, I have stepped back into an official classroom. While it has been quite a cross-cultural experience moving back to the US, stepping back into the classroom has been another experience all together. Yet, it has been thrilling as well.
So, in light of my excitement about the new season and all the books (some good and some daunting) I'm going to get to read, I want to share some of the stuff on my reading lists. Or, as Jase alluded to them, a few of my traveling companions for the next few months:
J. Collins, Introduction to the Hebrew Bible. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2004.
Also, a couple of new magazine subscriptions I am enjoying these days are: The Economist and Fast Company. Both great sources of information for me.
Finally, I wanted to share with you a poem we read together as our "opening ritual" in my Process-Relational Theology class taught by Dr. Mary Elizabeth Moore. It's already been a great course, and we've only met once;) It was written my Dr. Moore, so I quote it here as hers:
Meditating on New Beginnings
I do not know who I am today
I am traveling fast and do not know the way;
I don't know the buildings and everyday stuff,
Nor what is important and what is fluff;
But I know I am venturing with the hand of grace,
I will be a new person in this new place.
I have entered a strange and familiar land
With hopes of new beginnings written in the sand,
But I find no sand at all-only Georgia clay;
I carve my hopes on the clay today.
In time, my hopes will bake into the earth-
Indelible marks on this land of joy and mirth;
My hopes will sink deeply into the soil
Seeking encouragement for their toil.
My hopes are stronger, bolder than I could dream;
They push the old wine skins, bursting the seams;
They grow through the cracks of old hopes grown dim,
They send fresh shoots, bright green and thin.
They carry the promise of friendships abounding-
Shared visions that soar,
shared lives that are grounding.
In the midst of a life that is strangely askew,
I still love the old and embrace the new.
Both travel with me as I follow new visions,
Built on the old ones and begging revision.
My lifelong yearning is to make a contribution
To the love that can grow in the midst of dissolution-
In a sea of hurt, to find beauty and life,
In a sea of possibility, to swim toward the light,
To make a small contribution to the repair of the world-
Feeding seeds of life as the seek to unfurl-
Seeds sending roots toward just peace and harmony,
Seeds dwelling in soils of tragedy and comedy,
Seeds reaching their tendrils to the margins and the center
With hopes of inclusive community rendered,
Seeds sending shoots through horrors and sadness,
Crying out and scorning all that is madness,
Seeking a way beyond violence or depression,
A way that leads to reconciliation-
Reconciliation with people and the earth,
Reconciliation with God who gives new birth.
On this day of new beginnings, may it so be! Amen.
-------------
have a great new beginning today..it is different than before...
joshua c
Posted by joshuacase at 10:10 PM | Comments (2)
July 15, 2008
Staying Alive & The Fidelity of Betrayal
Well, I am still alive after the majority of my time here with Laura's family. It has been a rich time of not merely getting to know family better, but of celebrating the life of our return with Laura. I do love my wife!
In other news, on Wednesday, Pete will hold a book launch for his newest book The Fidelity of Betrayal in Belfast.
If you haven't already ordered your copy, please please please get out there and check out the book. It is another fine piece of work!
Also, in case you didn't catch the taster on the podcast, you can check out our interview with Pete here. Its good fun, and a great interview. Make sure you listen.
I fly tomorrow to Tuscaloosa where I will finish preparations for a golf tournament this weekend with my grand father. We're playing together as a team and, well, I'm excited to get to spend this time with him!
Stay tuned...
jc
Posted by joshuacase at 02:18 PM | Comments (0)
April 09, 2008
Life between Anglican Spirituality, Modernity, and Church in the Age to Come
Recently, I have been introduced into a whole new group of bloggers, writers, thinkers and practitioners.
A couple of these people are Paul Fromont and Maggi Dawn. Below is an essay written by Fromont in response to Maggi Dawn's essay in the book Anglicanism: The Answer to Modernity.
Maggi Dawn, adding her voice to the mix of seven other Cambridge University deans or chaplains, has crafted a significant essay entitled - 'I Am the Truth': Text, Hermeneutics and the Person of Christ. Whilst not available on-line it can be found in the 2003 published book: Anglicanism: The Answer to Modernity (ed. Duncan Dormor, Jack McDonald and Jeremy Caddick, published by Continuum).
Dawn, writing this essay on hermeneutics - one would imagine during 2002 / 2003 - hopes that as a religion 'of the book,' Christianity will maintain 'confidence in its holy Scriptures,' and that rather than taking up defensive positions to protect the Christian tradition 'against the ingress of new and apparently dangerous ideas,' will choose instead to regard our Christian tradition as one that is living and growing. Dawn's hope is that we will adopt a position in which we 'focus our vision, not short-sightedly on the tradition' as it has been handed to us, 'but on the living God whom text and tradition convey (emphasis, mine).'
She encourages us to dare 'to step towards God on the shifting ground of intellectual enquiry,' and one could also add, upon the shifting ground of significant discontinuous cultural change. Dawn writes that 'for Christian hermeneutics to remain truly Christian, we must avoid treating [the] text [of Scripture] as a means of preserving a historical religion in terminal decline, and instead expect it to voice the living truth of Christ.' This is an important statement, one that for this reader highlights the necessary and important linkage between the serious practice of Christian hermeneutics, in which we engage with the living voice of Christ, and any talk of reforming and/or renovating historical models and ways of being church. How we both hear and enter into dialogue with Christian Scripture seems vitally important to how we are in turn the faithful people of God in our various contemporary contexts.
We must resist these positions for Descartes warns that they lead only to death. While we still have space to think and dream, we must still believe that change is possible. And while we still believe that it is both possible and necessary, we must urgently apply ourselves to the key question that springs immediately from it: how does change occur? It is a question that has taxed the minds of philosophers, politicians, scientists and sociologists for as long as thinking has been recorded.
In what will prove both timely and prophetic, given the great pressure currently being bought to bear on her denomination and academy, Dawn reminds us that 'it is essential for the survival of each that we maintain the advance of Christian theology as a joint endeavour. Academic theology that loses its connection to a confessional faith becomes self-consciously exclusive; Church theology, if it loses a rigorous approach to difficult questions championed by the Academy, will find its theology gradually reduced and simplified until it can no longer approach the searching questions of life in the world it inhabits (emphasis, mine).'
Writing about the Anglican Church's 'three-cornered foundation - an equal appeal to Scripture, to tradition and to reason' Dawn notes that a 'dependence on Scripture keeps our faith rooted in the faith of ancient Israel and in the story of Jesus Christ. The dependence upon tradition gives [the Church] continuity - a steady and measured development, in step with, but not eclipsed by that of the culture it is a part of. Its dependence upon reason - it's commitment to make the faith make sense in the light of human thought - prevents it from becoming a religious ghetto: the commitment to reason is a commitment to interact with the thoughts, ideas, and cultural development of [the] world we inhabit.' Further, 'the commitment to reason and to tradition means that our tradition must always be subjected to historical analysis.' Our 'commitment to tradition and to Scripture means that new ways of reading - new hermeneutical theories - are embraced, but always with an eye to the continuity of the faith we profess.' Finally, 'the commitment to both Scripture and reason means that we have to account for our hermeneutical method: we cannot simply say 'the Bible says'; we need to account for our interpretation, and its application to the life of the Church in its present setting (emphasis, mine).'
I hope you enjoy it. And I look even more forward to blogging about this subject in the months, weeks, and years to come.
at home in the world...
joshua
Much in this essay resonates with an equally significant earlier essay written by Dawn (You have to change to stay the same' - published in 1997 by SPCK in their book The Post-Evangelical Debate). Some will no doubt also read much in 'I Am the Truth' that resonates with the very recently published Windsor Report, particularly with its opening two sections, and certainly from within the sub-sections that reflect on 'the authority of scripture' and 'Scripture and interpretation.' Here, for me, are three good examples taken from the aforementioned report; they are illustrative of the kind of helpful resonances to be found in Dawn's essay:
Virtually all Christians agree on the necessity for theological development, including radical innovation, and on the fact that the Holy Spirit enables the church to undertake such development…
Healthy theological development normally takes place within the missionary imperative to articulate the faith afresh in different cultures…
A mention of scripture today can sometimes seem actually divisive, so aware are we of the bewildering range of available interpretative strategies and results. This is tragic, since, as with the Spirit who inspired scripture, we should expect that the Bible would be a means of unity, not division. In fact, our shared reading of scripture across boundaries of culture, region and tradition ought to be the central feature of our common life, guiding us together into an appropriately rich and diverse unity by leading us forward from entrenched positions into fresh appreciation of the riches of the gospel as articulated in the scriptures.
Dawn's essay is divided into six broad sections:
1. Introduction.
2. The Church, the Academy and the Written Word.
3. The Church, the Academy and the Anglican Tradition.
4. Coleridge: Romantic Inspiration for Postmodern Hermeneutics.
5. Dynamism and 'Voice' in Text.
6. Conclusion: Christian Hermeneutics is about Development, not Defensiveness.
Perhaps of most interest for Anglican and non-Anglican hermeneutical conversations will be sections 3, 4, and 5. These sections whilst drawing from Dawn's doctoral work have a more general audience in mind. Samuel Taylor Coleridge, through Dawn's interaction with him and our so-called postmodern or late-modern western context, proves to be a 'prophetic,' lively, and engaging conversation partner.
Dawn's longstanding "conversation" with Coleridge mines some important insights. Not least of which are his ideas developed in the posthumously edited and published Confessions of an Inquiring Spirit. In this work he addresses 'directly the problem of treating the Bible as a special or unique text;' doing so, he proposes, renders the text lifeless and voiceless. Coleridge's solution to this problem is to develop what he calls 'a dynamic view of the Biblical text,' challenging in the process the notion that the 'written word' was merely a container - a neutral means of conveying ideas' or doctrines.
'For Coleridge, the text had, in some sense, a life of its own - the text became part of the meaning of what was conveyed…How the text is presented has everything to do with the meaning it conveys, and this invests a dynamic quality to it.' Coleridge, Dawn notes, treated texts, including the Biblical text, 'as if it has some power for growth and creativity residing in it.' Further, she adds, for Coleridge, 'the written word has the capacity to "live" and speak, but it can be petrified into silence through a non-dynamic view of Scripture.' Coleridge's perspective is useful given the current prevalence of much naive fundamentalist and conservative thought that sees Christian Scripture as having been dictated word-for-word by God, its writers and their contexts having no part in the compositional process, and its meaning now unchangingly fixed, set as it were "in stone."
As Dawn notes, 'the opening up of a hermeneutic approach to Scripture allows the words the freedom to be interpreted, and in a sense, "written" by the reader.' Instead of 'a static view of text [which] restricts the possibility of [the] text to allow for the personal revelation of God,' Coleridge's hermeneutic 'enlivens the text - enables it to be the means through which God speaks again and again.' This hermeneutic approach recognises 'a dynamic relationship between the author, the text and the reader.' It recognises also 'that the role of God's Spirit is not to dictate the text, but to interact with human minds in the writing, the translating and the reading of the biblical texts. It restores a "voice" to the text, enabling it once again to embody God's voice.'
Dawn importantly recognises 'that the 'Word of God' is not primarily expressed in the words of Scripture, but in the incarnation of Christ. For the Word of God is not primarily the written word, but the Living Word - Christ himself.' With this view, Dawn adds her voice to that of Anglican Bishop of Durham, Tom Wright, who has pithily written, 'the Word became flesh and the church has turned it back into words.'
At its heart then, Dawn's essay is both a call to serious Christian hermeneutical practice and an important plea to the Church that Christian hermeneutics should be about development, not defensiveness.' She emboldens us to agree.
While not setting out to provide practical guidelines as to how we might interpret and "read" Scripture (or for that matter, how Scripture might read us!), this essay, together with Dawn's earlier one, mentioned above, helpfully frames and points toward a number of practical hermeneutical questions many so-called mainline, evangelical, alt-worship, emerging, and missional church congregations are grappling with. Questions that might include, develop, and/or expand on the following starters:
If, as Dawn writes, 'since medieval times…reading has gradually changed, to become predominantly a solitary, silent and visual activity…' how are we practically, at the level of congregation, to "read" Scripture in ways that are communal, that are more than just a 'silent and visual activity'? How can we seriously and creatively allow Scripture to be 'heard' and engaged with in ways that encourage our communal life, ministry and mission to be Scripture shaped and nourished?
Dawn notes that 'while theology faculties wrestle with [the problems of doing theology at the turn of the twenty-first century] the Church, week by week, is dealing with another set of problems also produced by cultural shift.' One such problem is how, at a congregational level, we might practically engage (given low levels of biblical & theological literacy) in a vigorous hermeneutical conversation, such that Scripture and tradition are seriously heard, communally discussed, sifted, evaluated and beautifully woven into every dimension of what it means to be church in our various contexts?
There is much in Dawn's essay to reflect upon, discuss, and explore. Dawn's is a heartfelt, passionate little essay that deserves to be read more widely than the Anglican tradition out of which it emerges. The invitation to enter into dialogue with the text of Scripture and the Living Word, Jesus Christ himself, will prove to be a vital and necessary one for any congregation that takes seriously its vocation to be, through the work of the Spirit, what the Windsor report refers to 'as an anticipatory sign of God's healing and restorative future for the world.' I warmly commend Maggi's voice to that end.
Posted by joshuacase at 09:04 PM
March 30, 2008
Children of Men...again!
(Trailer)
Last night I watched the movie Children of Men again. Every time I watch it, something new comes to me about the film and about the way the movie speaks so graphically with wisdom about the folly and tragedy of our age.
One of the things which I discovered on the DVD after this watch however, was a short film done by director Alfonso Cuarón entitled "The Possibility of Hope". It was hidden with the extras. In it he has numerous philosophers, scientists and futurists giving commentary on the film. One of the most notable voices, at least to me, was Slavoj Zizek. Throughout the years, my friend Peter Rollins and others over at the church and postmodern culture have engaged with Zizek's teaching and thoughts. So for me, it was a fun find.
Below is part one. There are two more parts online: Part Two, Part Three.
I have also blogged about Children of Men here and here.
To quote Zizek from part three, "The magic is to turn a desperate situation into a new beginning."
have hope?
joshua
Posted by joshuacase at 12:16 PM | Comments (0)
June 01, 2007
Shema Community's EngaGE
This Sunday at Shema, we are looking at our passion to 'Inspire'. We'll be looking at the story of Daniel, taking a 'inspired walk' around the city, and thinking about how we can inspire people with an ancient way of life in Christ.
We're definately looking forward to it. It's been good to process it together as a team the last week.
Watch for more here.
jc
Posted by joshuacase at 10:48 AM | Comments (2)
May 07, 2007
'Christian' in all sorts, colors, and practices
I've been thinking lately about what it means to be a christian and maybe even more so what it means to see the world as Christian. And while this blog isn't about to be an exhaustive, i hope it stirs up some conversation about the diversity in what it might look like to be a christian in the world, or maybe even, how we can see people and activity in the world as Christian.
I must admit, I far too often hear people say, 'to be a christian, you need x" and yet, when i look around the sorts and colors and practices of Christ in the world, they seems to be made incarnate in all kinds of people and activities. And isn't it the spirit of God working in and through people for the redemption of all things that defines 'Christian in the world' and/or even the world as Christ's cosmos?
Three (potential) ways of seeing 'Christian' in the world as I've been thinking:
1. Sacremental- Those communities or persons or activities who would say they practice and participate in regular community that is shaped by the distinct practice of ritual and sacrement springing from the tradition of the church throughout history. These kinds of christians or christian activity mayb e 'high' church (catholic, orthodox, anglican, episcopal) or 'low' church (baptist, methodists, vineyard, etc) but the disticntiveness lay in the practice of sacrement at the center of the community.
2. Sociological- These are newer forms and practioners of the church who would by and large say their primary desire is to be christian in the world 'relevantly'. Many of the shapes that these forms of christian in the world might take will be very different. Theologically and philosophically they may be quite varied on the place of sacrements in community or even the place and appearance of worship in community. However, the activites and beliefs of these people and activites still have the proverbial 'christian flag' waving about them. And while they may not say it, these activites still struggle with how God is working to 'redeem all things'? Is it enough to give bread in Christ's name? Or should we not also make sure they get Jesus too? Or is the even a false dichotomy?
3. Ethical- These would be people who for the most part would not want to be affilitated with Christianity, or are not affiliated with it, and yet find themselves living out the Good News of the Kingdom of God in their culture and context. The Spirit of God in the world compels them forward working for issues of justice, goodness, and change. They practice a different-but-similar value set with those things at the heart of christian goodness; however, this message of hope, justice and peace for all mankind is rooted firmly in the heart of their lives.
It was interesting for me to think about this topic and then read one of Ryan Dueck's posts on 'The Ethical Imagination'. Similiar kinds of processing here in some ways; not to mention he was one of my Seriously Good Conversations from two weeks ago.
What do you think? Does this kind of seeing the world as 'Christian' make sense? Or is it rather about seeing who in the world is not 'Christian'?
jc
Posted by joshuacase at 10:13 AM | Comments (8)
April 25, 2007
A New Shema Series and More
In the next few weeks we'll be starting a new series at Shema which we feel has some pretty important implications for how we do life with others in Geneva.
Lammert has been blogging about them here a little and you can follow the Shema blog as well.
I'd also like to add this song as a bit of a teaser/taster for where we'll be headed. Thanks again to our patron Saint.
please....jc
Posted by joshuacase at 08:00 AM | Comments (0)
April 21, 2007
Seriously good conversations...
Here are a few from the last week....
Nicholas Fiedler's Another Vlog
Josh Brown's Faith & Science (Part One)
Jason Clark's Heresy is an attitude
Mike Clawson's Is Science More Ethical Than Religion?
Posted by joshuacase at 11:06 PM | Comments (0)
April 20, 2007
In Memory of Kurt Vonnegut
While i was away, Kurt Vonnegut passed away. I need to mourn this. He shaped much of my college experience. One of the best professors I ever had was good friends with him, was shaped by him, is mourning today as well.
If you are not familiar with Vonnegut, I highly suggest his works. Although, if you are not into literature that takes you off a beaten path, don't go for Vonnegut. He'll take you places...good, dark, deep, and back again.
For a first read try Cat's Cradle.
Here is also an article written by Ryan Beiler at God's Politics on Vonnegut entitled: Kurt Vonnegut, 'Christ-Worshipping Agnostic'.
I'm not an evangelical who reads only what affirms my theology, or failing that, tries to pretend that the artists I like somehow conform to my beliefs. (I tire of the endless debates in evangelical circles about whether Bono is a "real" Christian or not - as if meeting certain criteria would make his music or his activism any more or less legitimate.) I prefer to engage artists on their own terms, and allow them to challenge, provoke, and encourage me to hone my own beliefs - even if my faith is the target of their criticism or satire.
Kurt Vonnegut, who passed away last Wednesday at age 84, was and is my favorite author. If I'm honest, it's mostly because he's hilarious. Yes, he uses coarse language. Yes, he seemed to have difficulty with women, both as characters in his books and in his real-life relationships. But his ability to engage a suffering world with humor is what has endeared me most to his work. As he wrote:
Laughs are exactly as honorable as tears. Laughter and tears are both responses to frustration and exhaustion, to the futility of thinking and striving anymore. I myself prefer to laugh, since there is less cleaning up to do afterward - and since I can start thinking and striving again that much sooner.
That quote comes from Vonnegut's book Palm Sunday, from a sermon he delivered on Palm Sunday in 1980. I recently bought this book after some belabored indecision among the decaying stacks in the used book store, really wanting a funny novel for honeymoon reading more than this compilation of essays and biography. But it was the day before my wedding on Palm Sunday Eve, and I couldn't resist the convergence. Perhaps because of these deliberations, the book ended up costing me $256 due to a ticket I received for unwittingly parking in a poorly-marked handicapped zone. In the spirit of Vonnegut, I could only curse and laugh: So it goes.
With his death following only 12 days later, I'm glad now to have the added insight into his life that this book provided, filling in the cracks that before I had only pieced together from the biographical fragments present in his fiction. So, as my new wife and I enjoyed our first Sunday as a married couple at a remote West Virginia cabin, Vonnegut provided our Palm Sunday sermon, which I excerpt for you free of charge:
I am enchanted by the Sermon on the Mount. Being merciful, it seems to me, is the only good idea we have received so far. Perhaps we will get another idea that good by and by - and then we will have two good ideas. What might that second good idea be? I don't know. How could I know? I will make a wild guess that it will come from music somehow. ...
I choose as my text the first eight verses of John 12, which deal not with Palm Sunday but with the night before - with Palm Sunday Eve, with what we might call "Spikenard Saturday." I hope that will be close enough to Palm Sunday to leave you more or less satisfied. ...
Now, as to the verses about Palm Sunday Eve: I choose them because Jesus says something in the eighth verse which many people I have known have taken as proof that Jesus himself occasionally got sick and tired of people who needed mercy all the time. I read from the Revised Standard Bible rather than the King James, because it is easier for me to understand. Also, I will argue afterward that Jesus was only joking, and it is impossible to joke in King James English. The funniest joke in the world, if told in King James English, is doomed to sound like Charlton Heston.
I read: "Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. There they made him supper; Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those at table with him."
"Mary took a pound of costly ointment of pure nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment."
"But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was to betray him) said, 'Why was this ointment not sold for 300 denarii and given to the poor?' This, he said, not that he cared for the poor but because he was a thief, and, as he had the money box, he used to take what was put into it. "
"Jesus said, 'Let her alone, let her keep it for the day of my burial. The poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.'" ...
Whatever it was that Jesus really said to Judas was said in Aramaic, of course - and has come to us through Hebrew and Greek and Latin and archaic English. Maybe he only said something a lot like, "The poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me." Perhaps a little something has been lost in translation. And let us remember, too, that in translations jokes are commonly the first things to go.
I would like to recapture what has been lost. Why? Because I, as a Christ-worshipping agnostic, have seen so much un-Christian impatience with the poor encouraged by the quotation "For the poor always ye have with you."
...
This is too much for that envious hypocrite Judas, who says, trying to be more Catholic than the Pope: "Hey-this is very un-Christian. Instead of wasting that stuff on Your feet, we should have sold it and given the money to the poor people." To which Jesus replies in Aramaic: "Judas, don't worry about it. There will still be plenty of poor people left long after I'm gone."
This is about what Mark Twain or Abraham Lincoln would have said under similar circumstances.
If Jesus did in fact say that, it is a divine black joke, well-suited to the occasion. It says everything about hypocrisy and nothing about the poor. It is a Christian joke, which allows Jesus to remain civil to Judas, but to chide him for his hypocrisy all the same.
"Judas, don't worry about it. There will still be plenty of poor people left long after I'm gone." Shall I re-garble it for you? "The poor you always have with you, but you do not always have Me."
My own translation does no violence to the words in the Bible. I have changed their order some, not merely to make them into the joke the situation calls for but to harmonize them, too, with the Sermon on the Mount. The Sermon on the Mount suggests a mercifulness that can never waver or fade.
This has no doubt been a silly sermon. I am sure you do not mind. People don't come to church for preachments, of course, but to daydream about God.
If you doubt our evangelical creds for reading an agnostic to observe Palm Sunday, you may be alternately reassured that we watched The Passion of the Christ on Good Friday, un-reassured that we watched Life of Brian on Holy Saturday, and were once again sanctified by reading N.T. Wright on Easter as we drove the six hours back to D.C. We've now gone an entire week without sacrilege, and we could use a good laugh.
Posted by joshuacase at 02:08 PM | Comments (3)
March 23, 2007
Shema, Sudan, and Spiritual disciplines
The last few months we have been looking at a couple of very challenging series in Shema. For both Lammert and myself, we have found that these series have really given us (as individuals) and Shema (as a community) an opportunity to really explore what is forming our habits and living theologically.
This Saturday, we will be having an opportunity for those in the broader Shema network to hear stories from Conny Vrieling about her recent trip to the Sudan. There will be a program for children and one for adults.
Also, today, Todd Dallanegra is starting a group for people who want to explore spiritual disciplines. The will be meeting for the next several weeks over lunch in Geneva. To learn more, email Todd.
Posted by joshuacase at 11:15 AM
March 14, 2007
Video Blog Wednesdays
Posted by joshuacase at 09:02 PM
March 05, 2007
Shema Community and Bono...
Shema last night went great. We had a great start to our series on 'The Open Secret'. YOu can see some of what we explored here on the Shema blog. We'll be updating it much more frequently in the coming weeks with thoughts and some reflections on Bible readings.
You'll also see a link to this video. Its a bit long....but dang...its good!
Preach!
Posted by joshuacase at 11:26 PM
March 03, 2007
Seriously good conversations...
I wanted to take a blog as i do often, and highlight a couple of what I am going to start labeling (as if it is necessary) 'seriously good conversations'. They may not seem like conversations that everyone wants to be involved with; however, to me, they are really important conversations which seem to be authentic, redemptive in approach, or/and fresh in their expression.
Today, I want to highlight three:
Paul Mayers' An exclusive inclusive Christ, and subsequently, Restoring my humanity: personal experiences of Jesus as way/truth/life...
Nicholas Fiedler's (A)gnosticism, Part I- Is it even worth thinking about & (A)gnosticism: Part II- What is in a name?
Josh Brown's Reimagining Capitalism Series. I wish had the funds to hire Josh to do headers for all the series i think up...But hey, you can't have everything. But maybe he can do a "seriously good conversations" header for me;)
Read. Listen. Engage.
Posted by joshuacase at 11:00 AM | Comments (0)
March 02, 2007
The Tomb of Jesus' clan..and body?
Soon, there will be a new documentary for people to scream about, laugh at, call into question, and say all kinds of nasty things about. It will be the Da Vinci code on history. The bones and tombs put to film like the Titanic. History brought to life or fictiomentary of epic proportions. It will be, I believe, a further opportunity for people who have often wondered about Christianity to ask, can i follow this Jesus?
There is a pretty good conversation on Jesus Creed going on (or was) and there is also a good article in this week's Newsweek magazine.
There is this article on the BBC, this one on CNN, and this feed from Trailrank to help with finding other articles.
Whether or not these are in fact the bones of Jesus or the tomb of Jesus' 'clan' as is being called is interesting to think about. It doesn't for me effect my choice to try to do life in the Way or community of Jesus. For others it might.
For years and years Christianity has sought to stand by its claims and evidence (that demands a verdict) of not finding the tomb of Jesus (or bones) that he had in fact resurrected (reductionistic, i know). The challenge for Christian community today is as real as ever when it comes to the things that science, archeological findings, and new information can give to us; namely, the challenge is: is the way of Jesus still the Way worth following, still a means to new life, and still worth giving yourself (and family) to no matter what comes to new light. Is that Jesus who communities of faith have followed and that gave shape to what Rodney Stark calls, "The Victory of Reason" still the rabbi worth following?
I pray for those whose fear makes them want to justify their beliefs with facts and exact science of all kinds. Whether these are merely religious or merely scientific beliefs. As Ken Wilber, points out in his book "A Brief History of Everything" (a paraphrase) the real challenge in the world today is to infuse the practice of science with a deep practice of religion, to infuse the practice of religion with a deep practice/appreciation of science.
At some point, we must get beyond the merely literalistic approach to 'word' and allow the Spirit of the Word to be more mysterious and even more worthy of following than we ever imagined. After all, even if..it turns out to be false, is it still worth following?
The comment feature will return this weekend..so plan out your reply, check back this Sunday!
Posted by joshuacase at 11:08 AM | Comments (0)
February 20, 2007
Ideas for Lent
We are officially entering into the Lenten season tomorrow. If you are looking for some ideas, maybe this site is for you. It looks cheesy, but if you live in Europe and sign up for the text messages, who knows. Maybe, just maybe you will get some good ideas. Here is an article from the Telegraph about the site and Lent.
Also, Molleth is writing a bit on her journey into Lent with 30 Days of Nothing. Maybe another idea? Or Skinny Kiwi?
More on Lent tomorrow and what my wife and I will be doing...or not.
peace...jc
ps.
and why not check out Nicholas Fiedler's blog on 'being wrong'? Maybe we could give up being right for Lent? There's a new idea...thanks nicholas!
Posted by joshuacase at 05:08 PM
November 12, 2006
Choosing church, for the church
I've been listening and reading quite a bit lately on "the church" and various people's response to the church's failure to live up to its beliefs. Having come myself from a "mixed-bag" experience of Christ in and out of the institution, I've come to realize that i am not so sure what is most necessary for christianity is a mass exodus of marginalized Christ-following consumers from the institution.
In fact, in some places, i wonder whether or not the ecclesiastical remnant within various cathedrals, buildings, and parishes actually speak to the longevity of the institution, and of God's choosing it within particular contexts globally. The church, as an institution has always existed. Even if it was not called "the church" within ancient christianity. Even if it was called "the city" or "the gathered people". The earliest followers of Christ were deeply devout, extremely institutionalized in their humility, and quite frankly, very formed by their religio-cultural heritage.
A couple of reflections on reclaiming the institution:
The church in France- I could be wrong, but i've heard from several friends living in france and looking to plant new churches, that often this initiative is met with great skepticism. In fact, I've come to hear that starting a "culte" is actually a very difficult systemic thing to do. Options: 1. start a house church and avoid the bureaucratic skeptics, 2. Join the recognized institutional system and take 5-10+ years to bring reformation to the existing reformed and catholic church.
Which do you think most people choose? And why?
A tabernacled community has been God's way of forming people and communities to follow after God. Not just the people, the readings. Not just the rituals, the Spirit. Not just the clergy, the layity.
It seems to me, that what we need is a neo-structural approach. I think its hard to see. I think its hard to find. I think when addressing the rejection of structures we must ask questions about whether or not the structures are out-moded, out-dated, or simply without people passionately infusing the structures with life. Afterall, its not the structures themselves that have life, its that which is brought to them, and mediated out of them by those who choose to engage with them.
I can honestly say that I'm not talking about reclaiming the ways of a mere-institution for the institution's sake; no, I'm actually trying to ask what incarnational Christianity looks like in the church? What can i bring with my passion and with my community to a structure that will out last me and you, and others. What parts of my preferences need to be sacrificed or put aside so that new life is gifted from within the places where there is currently no apparent life, or passion, or joy. And yet, even that sounds judgemental. For i would think that many people today would say, there is no place where there is no life, only the places where it has yet to take up residence.
Maybe its just me? Maybe i just don't want to be assumed to be against the institutions of this world. Good or bad. There are systemic problems globally. The goal should never be "down with the system"! No, I think Jesus actually calls us to something much bigger, something much more radical. Something much more engaging.
Posted by joshuacase at 08:33 PM | Comments (0)
November 03, 2006
Back home and more!
Well I've made it back home to Switzerland where I have rejoined my wife in the habit of day to day living. It's interesting what two weeks away can do. Developing different rhythms, eating habits, and so much more. Yet, it is great to be home where I am able to be in the company of my bride, in the proximity of good friends, and am able to reflect on the journey to the US for a short period.
I'd like to just point you to a couple of interesting places for a moment:
1. Adventures in Mercy- I've been following Molleth for a while now and comment here from time to time. Generally great conversations are happening and I really enjoy Molleth's posture. Do check her and the conversations out. Particularly, she is hosting a conversation entitled: "Women: Beginnings and Endings". Check it out.
2. Scot McKnight- I've posted on Scot before, and think he's ever-posting very interesting things on his blog. In a recent post he asks the question to his friends: Is it a moral hypocrisy to believe in war and against abortion, or to be against war and for abortion? Yep, this is the kind of stuff Scot likes his friends to engage in. Good question!
However, the real reason I wanted to connect you to Scot is that he has just released a paper which i thnk holds some pretty good things in tension and, is pretty well written. If you are at all interested, find it here. Lammert pointed it my way.
By way of introduction, here is a snippet from the orignal pdf available via Wes at Sacred Journey:
There are at least four rivers flowing into Lake Emerging – postmodernity, praxis, postevangelicalism, and politics – and because some gravitate toward one or the other, emerging Christians are as diverse as the universal Church. Some are simply evangelicals with a missional slant, while others are postmodernists with a Christian hangover. To narrow them to an epistemological issue is as inaccurate as narrowing Calvinism to Calvin’s church reforms in Geneva.
Blessings to all....and welcome home...
jc
Posted by joshuacase at 02:36 PM
October 01, 2006
Rain, Shema, and Geneva
It's another raining day in Geneva. It just keeps coming. Yesterday showed a little glimmer of hope with a break in the clouds. Alas, such is the entry into the autumn for us.
We will be having our first Shema gathering of the Autumn tonight. We're starting a three part series (i heard that) on the shema. This one is entitled, "shema to the sound". We'll be exploring shema in oral culture; specifically, the evolution of Christianity through oral culture. We'll also be reflecting on the loss of our own oral culture(s) and the effects of this on the way we choose to be formed by the community around us. Is the loss of a true "oral culture" hurting us in the electronic age? Did we lose something of authentic humanity with the print age? Can we regain what was lost in the electronic age? Just a few thoughts.
Yes, should be an interesting evening; especially in light of meeting as if in oral culture (no electronic media or sound, no electronic lighting (we think), nothing which has been mass prodiced through print). Of course, meeting in the Auditiore de Calvin should make it interesting, as it is the ancient space where Jean Calvin and John Knox taught. Quite a bit of oral-towards-print history about this place!
In our next two meetings in October (15, 29), we'll exploring shema in print (letter) and electronic (image) cultures.
I will let you know how it goes....
jc
Posted by joshuacase at 10:04 AM
September 21, 2006
And Pete continues...
You can follow Pete's continued comments on an Interventionist God and what he describes "creating an agnostic space". He just keeps the thoughts coming.
read if you dare....
jc
Posted by joshuacase at 01:55 PM | Comments (0)
The Adventures of a story teller...and more
Over at Open Source Theology a story teller named Stacy has entered into the conversation. It's kind of interesting to watch as people try to engage with the conversation going on there. The conversation, like many of the ones on this site, is directed towards a conversation about eternity. I've found the conversation interesting, and wanted to highlight it.
You can also check out the conversation entitled: Living in sin/living in love posted by Paul Myers. Another interesting conversation hosted by Jason's site.
Also thought I would use this as another opportunity to plug Andrew Perriman's book, "The Coming of the Son of Man". Andrew hosts the site and much of the conversation at Open Source Theology. The book, even if you end up not agreeing with its content, is well informed, well worth the money, and is in my opinion, an important work for an emerging generation of missional leaders.
still waiting for the dawn...
joshua c
Posted by joshuacase at 01:34 PM | Comments (0)
September 16, 2006
He's done it again...Pete that is...
Well, this is not my friend peter rollins. But it is one of my favorite images that appear when you google Peter Rollins in images. I'm pretty sure pete may not even know who this guy is; however, if you are from the USA and a guy...or a girl who liked to watch WCW wrestling, you'd know it was none other than....Rick Flair. go figure.
Pete however has done it again. I mean, i love to come up with catchy thoughts and phrases. But pete, pete is catchy thoughts and ideas that make one ponder. I mean really, he embodies them. His most recent blog entry title was: "Reflections On An Interventionist God".
If you are interested, and you've had at least two cups of coffee already...and are looking for a less-than-light meal of thoughts, visit Pete's website for more! And I promise,Pete's site will give you you a taste of something that will either make you love the guy, or be scared of the guy. But for me...I love the guy!
If you don't have a copy of his book, BUY IT NOW!!!
peace...
jc
Posted by joshuacase at 11:52 PM | Comments (0)
September 07, 2006
An increasingly interesting conversation...among friends
Recently, a group of friends in the US started a comversation together on christianity and the church. Leslie, Eric, Nick, Josh and Anna have been blogging over the last week about their struggle with the American church's expression of christianity. As much as a struggle with the "church", theirs seems to be a struggle with the way leaders have treated them, practices have been passed down, and bridges have been burned in the name of tradition. From firings, to bait and switch; from the gift of plastic leadership, to the soulful longings for community, this group of friends is processing what i think is found in a question(not to be simplistic or reductionistic): "what in the world do we do when it seems like the Christianity we've always known...and been told looks like "x"...doesn't work in our real lives....or even in those who lead us?"
And, just so they aren't just names or blogs...and we remember they are people, here are photos....because the moment we forget people are behind words..and feelings...and thinking...and healing... is the moment we feel more confident in our capacity to respond with words...and not love...or grace...or time...or process...
Sorry Anna- couldn't find a photo...
Posted by joshuacase at 04:54 PM
August 24, 2006
Dialogue through and through- An Intro
I was responding the other day on Jason Clark's blog and began to realize that there is something about the culture of Geneva that has deeply influenced the way that I am approaching conversation and dialogue with people who are different, deeper, and more diverse than I. As I reflected on this more, I've decided to do a ? Part series on the subject of "dialogue".
Particularly, I know i want to look at: Dialogue through Monolgue, Dialogue Within Christianity, Dialogue and the WWW, and Dialgoue without Motive. In each of these I will look specifically at how I feel dialogue is necessary and how our dialogues can be best practiced (from my perspective) in each of these settings.
All in all, I believe that dialogue which leads to reconstructive connectivity is key. Whether in relationships with friends, foes, critics, or family. At the end of the day, what comes of our world, comes from our collaboration (or not).
Posted by joshuacase at 01:51 PM | Comments (1)
August 22, 2006
Shape or Substance Podcast- Part 1
Well, for better and for worse, the conversation that took place in Tuscaloosa Alabama at the Pour Cafe between Lammert Vrieling , myself, and a room of about 35-40 people is now live. Click on the above flier, and it should take you to a place to down load it. Enjoy, and subcribe to the Nick & Josh podcast to be kept up-to-date on lots of great stuff, excluding parts 2 & 3 of Shape or Substance discussion.
Posted by joshuacase at 04:20 PM | Comments (2)
August 16, 2006
A great read!
I have to confirm the suspicions of my friend Lammert Vrieling about Shane Hipps book. It is a must read!! Shane Hipps' book, "The Hidden Power of Electronic Media" is an amazing read. It does an amazing job at addressing not just how media impacts people with the content it channels, but also how the channels themselves become a subtle, even more dangerous message. The book challenges us to reflect on the words of Marshall McLuhan, one of the ancient voices ever referenced in this work, that "the medium is the message".
I can highly, and will continue to highly recommend this book. Though for many of you, I'm at least a year behind!
Posted by joshuacase at 10:15 PM | Comments (0)
May 19, 2006
Post-Emergent debate rolls on
Well, this is my first post after the long awaited Geneva Emergent conversation. While the conversation was great, from my perspective, it has brought forth a great amount of various discussions.
A few of the panelists, namely Jamie Smith have been hosting some follow up discussions. You can also find what these people have said as well: Jason Clark,Lammert Vrieling,Andrew Jones, and Matt Glock.
It was a treat to have all these people around. I also really enjoyed getting to spend some time talking and thinking out loud with Brian Mclaren and Andrew Perriman. Hopefully more to come soon on these conversations! Also, be sure to check out this website for the podcasts of the event in the next couple weeks!
Posted by joshuacase at 07:55 AM
April 26, 2006
I believe..
I belive in encouraging the contextual practice of mission in various places around the world. I believe that there is something to be said for local people understanding the questions of the local context. I believe also however, that in many places around the world those who have been sent out from their local contexts have a very different view on them (the contexts) as they do life from the outside looking in. Problems in one place have a very different twist than in another. People in different places have different solutions to the same conflicts. Working together or alone may be favored in one place and thought weak in another. And yet, the new perspective can not be changed. This isn't some higher view or even some better view, but is definitely a different view.
So what must one do? An aversion to colonial methodology would keep one from wanting to impose "new knowledge" or "new understanding" on any culture, and yet, when those discovered things are proven to be freeing and liberating, one wants to share the good news of them! But what of the clash? What of the mixed messages?
Recently I've come to see that in the West, its not so much about the baby and bath water being thrown out as it is a process of allowing the experiences of the global church abroad to give shape to the practice of mission locally. Maybe for me this is different than for others; however, I am learning that I must encourage the healthy practice of mission in various contexts using various languages and various tools provided in sucha way that very simply, the good kingdom of God is established! It is in the establishing that the real diversity comes out. In the practice of a glocally-minded missionary communities willing to be shaped by the free market of Christ-birthed ideas and experiences. These are not the ideas and expereinces that are laid out in some sort of a "super highway towards building a better church", but rather in the real "back road" lives of real people trying to love others in the Spirit of Christ.
This is the great challenge of Christianity today: not to build bigger churches filled with more people, but to connect real people with a real creator who love them and is calling them towards participation in planting the good seeds of the good creation they have alsways longed to be a part of. In these spaces, Christ is made known and lives are healed, loved, transformed, and given a purpose greater than what they can do or hope to be!!
Posted by joshuacase at 10:07 AM | Comments (1)
March 20, 2006
Important Books
I was just thinking the other day how have yet to really take an inventory of the books that have been critical to the last season of my life. I truly feel like this has been a unique season for me in my understanding not merely of myself, but of the world around me, and of God.
The following is a list of some books that have been pretty critical to my shaping. Some of them i have agreed with in part, others have articulate who I know I am to be in ways i never dreamt could be articulated! If you read them, keep in mind that we are all in different places, learning different things, attempting to be sources of Good for the world!
In no particular order:
The Story We Find Ourselves In- Brian Mc Laren
The Next Reformation- Karl Rasche
If Grace is True- Gulley & Mulholland
Generous Orthodoxy- Brian McLaren
Reading the Bible Again- Marcus Borg
The Coming of the Son of Man- Andrew Perriman
The Heart of Christianity- Marcus Borg
What Saint Paul Really Said- NT Wright
Make no mistake, there are others; however, I can honestly say that this group, is quite an important group for anyone to read! Agree or disagree, they are good value! I hope you'll pick them up if you haven't already! I hope you'll enjoy a reshaping of sorts as I have.
Posted by joshuacase at 08:41 AM | Comments (2)
January 17, 2006
The memories and dreams of a new kind of Christianity
In his book, "The World is Flat", Thomas Friedman asks the question: "Does your society have more memories than dreams or more dreams and memories?" He later goes on to comment that, "when memories exceed dreams, the end is near."
It is truly amazing to me that no matter which space of life you choose to operate in, the critical roles of memory and dream can not be over looked. Memory, which so often serves the formative function of negative reinforcement in society is very critical to the way we practice life and conduct ourselves in the long haul. Yet memory alone will not allow us to function in a healthy manner in society, family, or individual relationships. It is the power of dreams and visions that allows us to imagine together where we are going and where we have really been. This dreamatic re-imagining allows us to take the now redemtive past and create a different future. A future towards the kind of synergistic celebration of belief and practice that is the way we live.
For me it has become very important to think about the ways in which people throughout the centuries have been about the business of re-creating the world into that which they interpret to be the dreams and ways of God. This important thought has enabled me to not only consider the ways in which people of yesterday dreamt of a new kind of Christianity, but to undersstand that my dreams, visions, hopes and fears are truly nothing all that new. The newness of the kind of Christianity we truly hope to practice is but ever, as my friend Peter Rollins puts it, "a rediscovery."
Cheers to all who have and will try to practice a fresh expression of the Church in the now for sake of the future, in light of the past.
Posted by joshuacase at 12:30 PM | Comments (0)