The public theologian should engage American discourse by offering a narrative of hope employing three fruitful terms: Recognition, Redirection, and Renewal. Read more
The public theologian should engage American discourse by offering a narrative of hope employing three fruitful terms: Recognition, Redirection, and Renewal. Read more
"Public theology is a theological-philosophical endeavor to provide a broader frame of reference to facilitate the responsibility of the church and theological ethics for social, political, economic, and cultural issues. It investigates public issues, developing conceptual clarity and providing social-ethical guidance of religious conviction and response to them" Read more
The prophet Isaiah foretold the coming of the Prince of Peace, the Lord of Lords, and the King of Kings. The messenger angel, Gabriel, announced to Mary and Joseph that the child of the Most High would soon be born. The three Wise Men of the East had already boarded their camels and were on the way to site of that birth. So, I ask: why didn’t anybody phone ahead to the Bethlehem Holiday Inn and reserve a room? “Christmas... Read more
The Public Theology of Kang Phee Seng in Hong Kong Patheos PT 5010 One Country, Two Systems. Really? It appears that the once shining jewel–the democratic and cosmopolitan international city of Hong Kong–is being smudged by communist totalitarianism. “The pro-democracy movement has been crushed and its biggest advocates and fighters jailed, silenced, or sent fleeing overseas,” according to The Guardian. What’s a public theologian to do amidst the Hong Kong turmoil? Meet the courageous Kang Phee Seng... Read more
Short Prayers? What about Incarnation? Why do we celebrate Christmas? Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. Philippians 2:5-7 Our son Paul was born on the south side of Chicago. Our daughter Kathy Kim was born in South Korea. They became brother and sister through... Read more
The Drumbeat African Public Theology of Mwaambi G Mbûûi PT 5016 A distinctively African public theology that rises out of a specifically African context? Let’s ask: what does public theology look like when pursued in an African context by Africans? The non-African world can thank Sunday Bobai Agang along with Diaon A. Forster and H. Jurgens Hendriks for editing and publishing the dramatic collection of essays, African Public Theology (Carlisle UK: Langham Publishing, Hippo Books, 2020). (Photo: Mwaambi G Mbûûi)... Read more
God of creation, who brought us and our world into existence, please continue to create; and give us the eyes to see the beauty of this creation as well as the one yet to come. Read more
Short prayers! Really? Yes, prayers should be short. At least this is what Jesus says. When introducing what has become known as “The Lord’s Prayer,” Jesus remarks NRS Matthew 6:7 “When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” Empty phrases packaged in many... Read more
The Public Theology of Katie Day Patheos PT 5003 Meet Katie Day. “Public theology is both a matter of reflection and action,” she declares. Prayer + Action = Progressive Christianity. “Prayer, as Rabbi Abraham Heschel and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr advocated, is that which we do on our knees and on our feet. I believe the Church and interfaith community is continually called into difficult conversations and sustained work for justice and peace despite formidable challenges.” The Rev. Dr.... Read more
I've been sonar sounding sin's depths for some decades now. Yes, there's a level of intractable mystery connected with sin. Yet, it is worth a sustained pursuit to understand sin and grace theologically. This post is the sixth in the series: (1) Sin 1: Sin? Really? (2) Sin 2: Sin as Self-Justification; (3) Sin 3: the Visible Scapegoat: (4) Sin 4: the Invisible Scapegoat; (5) Sin 5: Sin Boldly! and now (6) Sin 6: Sin and Grace. Read more
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