Reading Philosophy in Christian Communities: Part 2—On The Importance of Philosophy for Seminary Education Posted on February 25, 2014 by J. Aaron SimmonsIn the first post in this series, I argued that invitational dialogue is the most promising way for Christian communities (whether ecclesial or academic) to appropriate philosophical inquiry. In this post, I will turn my attention to seminary education in particular and argue that reading philosophy should be an important aspect of such ministerial training….
Reading Philosophy in Christian Communities: Part 1—On Appropriating Philosophical Inquiry Posted on February 14, 2014 by J. Aaron SimmonsI went to college at an evangelical Christian liberal-arts institution. When I was an undergraduate, there was no philosophy major at my school and no professional philosopher on the faculty (this situation has, gratefully, changed since then). In fact, there was only one introduction to philosophy course offered and it was taught by a theologian. My professor was incredible and I credit him, nearly entirely, with my own choice to become a philosopher. Toward the end of the course, however, I told my professor that philosophy had hooked me and I wanted to go further in studying it. As we were finishing up our conversation that day, I asked him why the institution did not have a philosophy major since it seemed to be so deeply relevant to thinking well about religious life. He smiled and said: “Because the administration is scared of turning our students into atheists.” Though I expect he was being ironic, his comment struck me deeply that day and it has continued to trouble me ever since…
Bodies, Place, and Role-Playing…Oh My. Posted on January 14, 2014 by Timothy SnyderIf there is one thing that really gets theologians and scholars of religions going, its a good text. Many of us spend much of our scholarly lives immersed in them, whether it be biblical texts of the voluminous writings of the historians and systematic theologians. Practices of reading and writing are so ubiquitous in theological and religious studies that scholars must often speak in “textual” language, even when such language meets its limitations. . . .
Teaching the Bible in Texas: An Archive Possessed? Posted on December 19, 2013 by Gregory CuéllarThree things are sacred in Texas, its history, the Bible, and football. Here the Alamo is a pilgrimage site, and High school football is almost equal in importance to Sunday church attendance. This past summer, I integrated Texas History and the Bible in a dream elective course titled, “A Borderlands Reading of Deuteronomistic History.” Central to the course was a reading of Joshua to 2 Kings side by side with Texas borderlands history from the late nineteenth century through the early decades of the twentieth century. The primary topics of discussion were the intersecting themes of empire, conquest, exile, family, gender, and violence….
The Art of Questioning the Text Posted on September 4, 2013 by Ralph KleinWhen we read any text—The Bible, a novel, the newspaper—we readers raise questions. What was the issue that caused this text to be written? How is this issue resolved in the text? Do we find this resolution satisfactory? Whose point of view is recognized in the text? Whose point of view is ignored? Do we face similar issues? What would it take for our similar issues to be resolved? When the text is from the Bible, our questions take on some urgency….