#practical theology

[infinitysisters]

“People are reluctant to pass over from the notion of an abstract and negative deity to the living God. I do not wonder. Here lies the deepest tap-root of Pantheism and of the objection to traditional imagery. It was hated not, at bottom, because it pictured Him as a man but because it pictured Him as king, or even as warrior.

The Pantheist’s God does nothing, demands nothing. He is there if you wish for Him, like a book on a shelf. He will not pursue you. There is no danger that at any time heaven and earth should flee away at His glance. If He were the truth, then we could really say that all the Christian images-of kingship were a historical accident of which our religion ought to be cleansed.

It is with a shock that we discover them to be indispensable. You have had a shock like that before, in connection with smaller matters –when the line pulls at your hand, when something breathes beside you in the darkness. So here; the shock comes at the precise moment when the thrill of life is communicated to us along the clue we have been following. It is always shocking to meet life where we thought we were alone. “Look out! ” we cry, “it’s alive.”

And therefore this is the very point at which so many draw back–I would have done so myself if I could–and proceed no further with Christianity.

An “impersonal God” -well and good. A subjective God of beauty, truth and goodness, inside our own heads –better still. A formless life-force surging through us, a vast power which we can tap –best of all. But God Himself, alive, pulling at the other end of the cord, perhaps approaching at an infinite speed, the hunter, king, husband-that is quite another matter.

There comes a moment when the children who have been playing at burglars hush suddenly: was that a real footstep in the hall? There comes a moment when people who have been dabbling in religion (“Man’s search for God”!) suddenly draw back. Supposing we really found Him? We never meant it to come to that! Worse still, supposing He had found us?”

- C.S. Lewis, Miracles

#c s lewis #god #pantheism #theism #practical theology #god is alive #relationship as religion #the real thing #beyond mere mental assent #beyond mere doctrine #seek him #He is realer than you are #spiritual growth #spirit is more solid than matter #expand your soul #open your mind #faith #reality and truth are much much larger than our knowledge #Christianity #miracles #it’s alive #oh nooo #get out of your coffin #don’t stay dead #invitation to become alive #Pinocchio becomes a real being #playing seek and hide

[dumas1969]

So Great a Salvation

Hebrews 2.1-9 How will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? Paul has already made the case that the Son is greater…that Jesus is greater than anyone or anything. He fulfills what the OT anticipated. Every promise, prophecy, picture, symbol…you name it and Jesus fulfills it. Even the salvation that the OT pointed to finds its fulfillment in Jesus. So what is this so great a salvation?…

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#Bible #biblical worldview #discipleship #Evangelism #Faith #Hebrews #Hebrews 2 #Hebrews 2.1-9 #hope #Jesus #Jesus is greater #live and love like Jesus #love #New Testament #Paul #practical theology #Religion and spirituality #Salvation #Torah Road

[chrisschallertideaengine]

The Professor: The FDA, Incentives, and Trust

The Professor rants about the FDA, how inevitable it is, why, and whether it does any good.

The Professor tapped his glasses on the desk. The students looked up from their homework. “If there was no FDA, there would be a call for one.” He chewed his lip and frowned. A student raised their hand. “I’ll bite. Why?”He huffed and stood up. “Loathe myself as I might for saying this about any governmental bureau, because it is a good idea. Having a body independent of business with the…

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#economics #game theory #Government #practical theology #The Professor

[prokopetz]

Deity who's unacquainted with concept of evolution creating a world with, like, twelve different kinds of creatures, thinking "yes, that's a good number – nice and symmetrical", then going on vacation for a couple million years and being very upset at what's waiting for them when they get back.

#concepts #theology #evolution #worldbuilding #they keep throwing extinction events at the world in an effort to get a clean slate and start over #life just keeps getting weirder in response #they're practically at their wits' end #and that's a lot of wits to be at the end of

[slave-of-the-lord-jesus-christ]

Thomas Brooks (1608-1680) Introduces Practical Theology at A Puritan's Mind

#youtube #Thomas Brooks #Practical Theology #A Puritan's Mind #christianity #christian blo #christian

[questioningai]

#deep thoughts #deep thinking #truth #third eye #subconscious #soulmates #understanding #beyond religion #true peace #true words #practical theology

[locustheologicus]

The answer, for me, is a resounding yes! Not only can theologians exist outside of academia, we need to place ourselves into the larger practical world beyond the University.

Recently, I was asked by my CEO, "So you're a theologian?" He had read an article from a colleague at St. John's University where I was mentioned and identified as a local theologian. I think my CEO found this category a bit humorous. Outside of academia, theologians are often seen as a bit lofty and perhaps not grounded in practical employment and ministry. I chuckled at his inquiry and affirmed that yes, I have been deemed a theologian and will wear it as a badge of honor. Truth of the matter is that I do identify in this way. I have been taught that we are all theologians in one sense or another. Practical theology teaches us this. If theology is "faith seeking understanding," then to some extent, to be human is to be theological.

Especially in the fields of ministry, I think it is good for many of these places to consider employing staff who have a theological background; a resident theologian, as it were. This calls to mind the movie "Crimson Tide" where the submarine captain (played by Gene Hackman) shares his thought on the extensive curriculum vitae that his EO (played by Denzel Washington) has and with regards to the use of nuclear weapons tells him: "All I had to know is how to push it -- they'd tell me when. They seem to want you to know why." This is how I see the resident theologian in the service of a particular ministry. They are the ones who are able to discern the mission for the organization and know the why of what is done.

Following up with this article, I think those of us who enter the theological disciplines should be open to entering the theological diaspora. Not only because the academic world is changing (for the worst, I believe) but also because the larger world of ministry and secular employment needs us to integrate their service as a context for theologizing. If we truly believe that the theological state is natural for all humanity, then it becomes incumbent of us theologians to demonstrate this by expanding the theological context. That is perhaps the reason I entered the field of ministry and intentionally chose a D.Min rather than a PhD. program.

I will definitely second the author's two suggestions at the end of his article. Our peers who remain in academia should do what they can in integrating the diaspora theologians by granting them access to the scholarly publications and conferences. The art of theological reflection is, after all, a two-way street. We need the contribution of the scholarly, but in the same way, our academic counterparts could thrive from the richness of our ministerial experience.

#crimson tide #practical theology #theologian #dmin

[marmarthunder]

Why do we hide from God?

The Garden Song performed by Bob Bennett inspired this article about why we hide from God.

Image by John Hain from Pixabay  This morning I listened to a song called The Garden Song performed by Bob Bennett. It got to the heart of this question: Why do we hide from God? It said we feel naked and ashamed. We can be deceived by the lie that darkness speaks to our spirits that there is no release from the torment to our souls. But the truth is that we are clothed by the love of Christ. We…

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#God #guilt #hiding #practical theology #shame #sin

[spiceoflife-stuff]

Why do we hide from God?

The Garden Song by Bob Bennett inspired this piece about why we hide from God.

Image by John Hain from Pixabay  This morning I listened to a song called The Garden Song performed by Bob Bennett. It got to the heart of this question: Why do we hide from God? It said we feel naked and ashamed. We can be deceived by the lie that darkness speaks to our spirits that there is no release from the torment to our souls. But the truth is that we are clothed by the love of Christ. We…

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#God #guilt #hiding #practical theology #shame

[repenserleglise]

De l’objectivité métaphysique à la subjectivité existentialiste : prendre acte de l’évolution de notre conception de la réalité

De l’objectivité métaphysique à la subjectivité existentialiste : prendre acte de l’évolution de notre conception de la réalité

Après avoir écrits plusieurs articles sur cette thématique de l’articulation de la vie dans l’Esprit et de la pratique des sacrements, voici qu’elle prend depuis peu une profondeur que je ne soupçonnais pas, mais qui me donnait raison, non pas tant sur mes positions (c’est à vous lecteurs de me dire si tant est que certains oseraient une pensée personnelle sur ce blog, ce qui est rare malgré sa…

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#Esprit saint #philosophie #practical theology #psychologie #sacrements #Théologie #Théologie pratique

[dumas1969]

Who's the Greatest?

Philippians 2.1-11 Paul challenges the Philippians to pursue “we” not “me” by putting away selfishness and empty conceit and with humility of mind looking out for one another. Unity doesn’t just happen. It’s something that we have to pursue. Just like our own “knowing God more”, our walk down Torah Road. It takes intentionality. It takes practice. We will fail at it, but it’s not just about…

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#Bible #biblical worldview #discipleship #Evangelism #Faith #God-Man #Gospel #hope #humility #Jesus #live and love like Jesus #love #New Testament #Paul #Philippians #Philippians 2 #Philippians 2.1-11 #practical theology #Religion and spirituality #Torah Road #unity

[chrisschallertideaengine]

Practical Theology:

Another 'Christian' meme inspires me to write.

I… I can’t. Alright, here goes. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, And into his courts with praise: Be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; And his truth endureth to all generations. Psalm 100 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing…

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#christian living #Christianity #church #Evangelism #outreach #practical theology

[saintmachina]

I don't talk about Constanta's (A DOWRY OF BLOOD) faith much but it's a cornerstone of the text and I will never regret making an unapologetic vampire an unrepentant Catholic. She lives balanced on the knife's edge between good and evil, day and night, darkness and light, and she never once considers herself a contradiction.

Because no matter what state my belief is in, no matter if there are times when I cannot hold space for my own faith much less the faith of others, she can keep that candle burning. She believes even on days when I find it hard to.

#INCREDIBLY intimate and vulnerable post I can practically hear my industry friends furiously texting me to log off #but I mean this #a dowry of blood #obligatory disclaimer that I am not catholic and not trying to co-opt that for myself but Constanta is #I am an Episcopalian at present #theology #thoughts

[thegreenleavesofspring]

.

#So I'm putting all this in tags because I'd prefer it not get out into wider Tumblr. I pondered even posting it but I think some of y'all #are following the drama and/or praying for my family so I figured I'd post an update. Just pretend there are commas and it's all readable. #Got a hearing date today. February 6th. Now I need to get affidavits and medical records. Not much to do in the way of affidavits because #either he made sure no one saw anything or I made sure. (Shame is a heckuva thing.) I really need the medical records from the assault. #Can't get them because I am currently without ID. I am currently without ID because I have had a beginner's permit for ~10 years now and #those have to be renewed in-person every year. Can't get to DMV to get it renewed because... no car. Can't use Uber because you have to #provide your own car seats and where am I going to put three car seats while I'm at the DMV? Can't use bus because... bus lines. #...it's stressful. #Also I'm still not sure about the theology of all this but it's also impossible not to see the Hand of God in freeing me and the boys from #this man so either God will help me work out the theology of it later or I'll ask Him when I get to Heaven. #Practically speaking I will not ever permit him and the boys unsupervised contact again if I can help it because he WILL neglect them #at best and physically hurt them for his own amusement and/or beat them up because of his temper at worst. #...anyway any and all prayers are appreciated.

[magickfromscratch]

If response rates are any indication, what people most NEED, spiritually is:

1. To be told the gods love them

2. That they are safe

3. That they are enough

4. That they are valuable

5. That they are OK

So if you are clergy, maybe write that down. Whatever hifalutin initiatory mystical darkness bullshit can wait. You parishioners need comfort.

#paganblr #polytheistic theology #gods #goddesses #practice #priesthood #spirituality