Friday, February 11, 2005

the wanton pleasure of idle wondering

I fly to Auckland for the day tomorrow (Saturday), catching a 6:30 am flight, returning at 8:30 pm. I am part of the Virtual Theology Colloquium 2005;

Purpose: to gather a group of Trans-Tasman scholars to explore and discuss themes related to doing theology in the context of an electronic world: the implications for these disciplines of the cultural and epistemological changes being brought by electronic media (hypertext, digital technologies, electronic publishing, mobile telephony and the internet) and their cultural formations and applications.

I have titled my paper – P2P theology: the potential of everyday practices, as enscribed in virtual internet communities

I am presenting some research analysing attempts at community on the internet, specifically open source theology, blogs and grid blogs, assessing their potential in enabling a P2P theology. In so doing I am arguing that theology today is best viewed not in terms of historical beliefs, but in everyday practices.

Part of this week has been in preparation, and it has reminded me again of how much I enjoy research. So much of my life has an essential praxis; a preparing to preach or teach or write or speak at a seminar. While invariably much of my research does end up as praxis, there is something profoundly re-creative – excessive, wanton even – about taking time to follow the research muse and chase down questions for the sheer sake of idle wondering.

Posted by steve at 08:11 PM

10 Comments

  1. Hmmm. Co-creating novelty, perhaps?

    Comment by StephenG — February 11, 2005 @ 10:57 pm

  2. “Trans-Tasman Scholars”

    now there’s phrase you won’t hear every day 🙂

    And yeah, research is a lot of fun, pulling the different threads to see where they lead, then tying it all together at the end. Especially if beer is involved somewhere.

    Cheers!

    Comment by dave paisley — February 12, 2005 @ 6:19 am

  3. Trans-Tasman scholars. It’s not an oxymoron is it Dave? Just kidding.

    Comment by Liz — February 12, 2005 @ 5:40 pm

  4. Trans-Tasman scholars. It’s not an oxymoron is it Dave? Just kidding.

    Comment by Liz — February 12, 2005 @ 5:40 pm

  5. Steve,

    Just a question – are you teaching that course at the bible college in Auckland? cause if there’s any space left, i’ll enroll…

    Comment by Jon L — February 12, 2005 @ 6:39 pm

  6. I want to be a Trans-Tasman scholar! I know I’m just a yank, but couldn’t I be an honorary T-TS?

    Steve, here’s to your idle wondering as you wander about. Thanks again for coming out to the States and spending time with the dreamers at Fuller. It was a pleasure, mate! Don’t stay away too long.

    Comment by Britta K — February 14, 2005 @ 10:30 am

  7. Steve’s part of that even more elite group – “Trans-Cook” scholars. 🙂

    Comment by StephenG — February 14, 2005 @ 12:54 pm

  8. almost, Stephen, to be even more elite – “Trans-Aoraki” 🙂

    Comment by steve — February 15, 2005 @ 7:50 am

  9. Sound an interesting topic – any chance of getting a copy of the paper?

    Gordon

    Comment by Gordon — February 15, 2005 @ 2:19 pm

  10. Gordon, it will come out in the research journal “Colloquim” in due course.

    Comment by steve — February 15, 2005 @ 10:12 pm

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