Charles Taylor on Jurgen Habermas

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 5:04 pm By Tony Jones

One brilliant philosopher reflects on another: In other words, for Habermas, ethical deliberation is primarily social, dialogical; it is worked out between agents. Of course, in a secondary way, we can and often do deliberate on our own, but the shape of our ethical world is dialogically elaborated, and this conditions all our moral thinking, even when we want to rebel against the morality of our community. via The Immanent Frame » The philosopher-citizen. Essential Taylor Essential Habermas Read more

Stanley Fish Needs to Discover Netflix

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 5:04 pm By Tony Jones

There is a class of utterances that, when encountered, produces irritation, distress and, in some cases, the desire to kill. You hear or read one of these and your heart sinks. Everyone will have his or her (non)favorites. Mine is a three-word announcement on the TV screen, “To Be Continued,” which says, “I know that you have become invested in this story and are eager to find out how it ends, but you’re going to have to wait for a... Read more

Are Baptists Softening on the Emerging Church?

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 5:04 pm By Tony Jones

This one is: Some critics see the emerging church movement as a heretical compromise with a pluralistic, truth-denying culture. Baptist history might offer an alternative explanation—ecclesiology is more defined by the practices of a Spirit-led community than by assent to the statements of a modern theological meta-narrative. Conversely, the emerging church movement may provide hope for reformation to Baptists ignorant of the difference between modern truths and Truth incarnate. via The Baptist Standard :: The Newsmagazine of Texas Baptists –... Read more

Tips for Clergy Dealing with Press from Sarah Palin's Pastor

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 5:04 pm By Tony Jones

* Never accept an interview without confirming a reporter’s identity and his or her current employer. Just because someone has written for the Associated Press doesn’t mean that he isn’t currently a blogger for PalinIsAWitch.org or something like that. * Help reporters understand that private communications between clergy and the faithful are, in fact, privileged and guarded by the same kinds of laws that shield reporters and their sources. * Keep contact information for community leaders — such as telephone... Read more

My Thoughts about Bobo

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 5:04 pm By Tony Jones

I was honored that the family of Steve “Bobo” Burns asked me to say some words at his memorial service yesterday. He was an amazing guy, as I wrote earlier. Below the jump is what I said about him. (more…) Read more

Books I've Worked On Recently – Part Three

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 5:04 pm By Tony Jones

The last book to mention in this little series is Manifold Witness: The Plurality of Truth (Living Theology) by John Franke. John has been a long-time friend, and a thought leader in the emergent/-ing/missional church movement. John is the professor of missional theology at Biblical Seminary in Pennsylvania, and, it should be noted, an insanely committed Vikings fan. His book is the latest in the “Living Theology” series that Abingdon Press publishes in partnership with Emergent Village, for which I... Read more

Journeys of a Restless Pilgrim Podcast

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 5:04 pm By Tony Jones

Last week, Christian George interviewed me for his podcast, and he’s now posted it at Journeys of a Restless Pilgrim. We had a good chat, and we talked about many subjects, including evangelism, preaching, and homosexuality. It’s about 34 minutes long. Read more

Books I've Worked On Recently – Part Two

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 5:04 pm By Tony Jones

I’ve had the great opportunity in the last couple years to get to know Philip Clayton and his work. Philip, professor of theology at Claremont School of Theology, has been on quite a theological journey himself. He grew up and was educated at Westmont College as an evangelical’s evangelical. He went on to get graduate work in religion, philosophy, and science, and studied under one of the theological giants of the 20th century, Wolfhart Pannenberg. More recently, I think that... Read more

(Un)Defining Evangelicalism

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 5:04 pm By Tony Jones

Back at Beliefnet, I often wondered why the evangelical intelligentsia fought so hard to save that word. The word, “evangelical,” I mean. Well, the young bucks at Patrol Magazine don’t just wonder — they attack! Money quote: The fight to define evangelicalism in its latter days also operates on the mistaken premise that an imagined theological purity or conformance to a “lost” orthodoxy, rather than an emphasis on ethics, spiritual discipline and mystery, will revive the power of the Christian... Read more

Books I've Worked On Recently – Part One

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 5:04 pm By Tony Jones

I’ve had a small hand in a trio of books lately. The first is The Justice Project. Edited by Brian McLaren, Elisa Padilla, and Ashely Bunting Seeber, TJP is a follow up to An Emergent Manifesto of Hope, a book that Doug and I edited a few years ago. TJP cruises along, with about twice as many authors as the Manifesto and essays of about half the length. Notable contributors include Peggy and Bart Campolo, Richard Twiss, Shauna Neiquist, and... Read more