Over the last twenty years, I have delved into deeper, more ancient understandings of the Christian journey, wandering in and out of an eclectic mainstream of traditions while steering firmly from my own tribal barque. The cross-cultural backwaters of orthodoxy, medieval contemplative mystics, holistic Celtic fervour, spiritual direction, the beauty of some sacred textual translationsContinue reading “Lenten Voices: Synchronicity”
Tag Archives: theology
Place and Time: Peterson’s Pastoral Imagination
Some of the most evocative reading I’ve engaged over the Christmas/New Year break has been from Eugene Peterson’s The Pastor: a memoir . The development of what he has famously described as “pastoral imagination” is to the fore throughout the telling of his autobiographical pilgrimage. His opening section, Topos and Kairos, I found immediately compelling. TheContinue reading “Place and Time: Peterson’s Pastoral Imagination”
Angel wrestling – which hold is best?
How to wrestle an angel – Eureka Street. I love both these poems – especially the second one. In my humble opinion, theology is better expressed through poetry than propositional debate. It takes us to that place in human experience that is beyond, but not dismissive of rational thought. We should read more poetry. MaybeContinue reading “Angel wrestling – which hold is best?”
When knowing works backwards…
I like this quote from writer John Shea: We need an understanding of God that blows our mind. …St Anselm created the ontological argument for God to remedy the ennui of monks. Without going into detail, the ontological argument states God is that than which nothing greater can be thought. If you carry out thisContinue reading “When knowing works backwards…”
Book Review – The Shack
Author: William P Young, Windblown Media, 2007 After more than thirty years of trying to come to grips with an adequate articulation of an intellectual understanding of the Trinity, this book has finally convinced me that it can’t be done! No wonder the biblical writers avoided anything like the “T” word with its propensity forContinue reading “Book Review – The Shack”
Bonhoeffer, Zimbabwe and the Prodigal Son
In recent times I have often used the illustration of a rope with its many strands to urge the contemplation of how the seemingly unrelated issues with which we wrestle can provide a unifying strength. This last week has seen me attempting to come to grips with Bonhoeffer’s approach to ethics, a challenge to participateContinue reading “Bonhoeffer, Zimbabwe and the Prodigal Son”
Thinking Christology now and then – another symposium reflection
Again, I only caught a part of this presentation. Stephen Curkpatrick never fails to give me a bone to take away and gnaw. Stephen has a particular gift with terminology that can, at the same time, irritate and open up fresh pathways of conceptual understanding. The gist of his presentation was to compare and assessContinue reading “Thinking Christology now and then – another symposium reflection”
Pope Benedict XVI – that speech
Much has been written in the media concerning an excerpt from Pope Benedict XVI’s recent speech at Regensburg which cited a medieval Byzantine emperor’s less than favourable view of the Islamic practice of “conversion by the sword.” I don’t propose to discuss this, but merely to point a very thoughtful treatment by Gil Baillie ofContinue reading “Pope Benedict XVI – that speech”
Riding the Apocalypse with Bob
According to artist, Robert Brittain, the last book in the Bible is best understood as a visual and visceral experience. The Apocalypse, or the Revelation of John, comprises a vision revealed to the early church pioneer while a prisoner on the Mediterranean island of Patmos around AD90. Last Sunday at the Church of Christ WembleyContinue reading “Riding the Apocalypse with Bob”
Coffe Cup Quote
Someone sent this quote found on the side of their coffee mug: “It’s tragic that extremists co-opt the notion of God, and that hipsters and artists reject spirituality out of hand. I don’t have a fixed idea of God. But I feel that it’s us — the messed-up, the half-crazy, the burning, the questing —Continue reading “Coffe Cup Quote”
Wondering Pilgrim 