I love the idea of experimental. This idea is resistance in itself against the blind allegiance and compliance to doctrinal structures. It is funny to me that we made such a big deal of something that wasn’t supposed to be. I think of the disciples walking on the road to Emaus, they were theologizing. It was in there talking of God with one another that the stranger showed up and revealed himself as Jesus at the very end.
Joel, I love to see you beginning to explore the concept of power in theological education. I love that you are doing this grounded in your own story. The ideas of self-sufficiency, mastery, and a quest for control in theological education all need more exploration and reflection, not just theoretically, but in the light of lived, embodied experience. Thank you for opening that door.
I tend to think about theology as experimental like an advanced sociology--there can be no resistance in an experiment because all we have are our theories and assumptions that are foolish to hold on to too tightly. Most of our "pretty thoughts about God," are unverifiable in their beauty. Theologizing is the street level application of the things of God dealing with volatility and rivalry of every kind. It's not usually very pretty but it is, at least, verifiable and functional on a level that many of our theories about God are not and can never be.
I love the idea of experimental. This idea is resistance in itself against the blind allegiance and compliance to doctrinal structures. It is funny to me that we made such a big deal of something that wasn’t supposed to be. I think of the disciples walking on the road to Emaus, they were theologizing. It was in there talking of God with one another that the stranger showed up and revealed himself as Jesus at the very end.
Joel, I love to see you beginning to explore the concept of power in theological education. I love that you are doing this grounded in your own story. The ideas of self-sufficiency, mastery, and a quest for control in theological education all need more exploration and reflection, not just theoretically, but in the light of lived, embodied experience. Thank you for opening that door.
I tend to think about theology as experimental like an advanced sociology--there can be no resistance in an experiment because all we have are our theories and assumptions that are foolish to hold on to too tightly. Most of our "pretty thoughts about God," are unverifiable in their beauty. Theologizing is the street level application of the things of God dealing with volatility and rivalry of every kind. It's not usually very pretty but it is, at least, verifiable and functional on a level that many of our theories about God are not and can never be.