Friday, July 23, 2004
a burger at my theological table
I am teaching a course this semester called Gospel in a post-christian society. I really enjoy it, sitting with a group of people, looking at contemporary Western culture as a mission field.
I have taught this course 3 times now, and in 3 different ways.
1 – History of ideas: a look over time, a survey with nods to Descartes, Humes, Pascal, Wittengstein, etc.
2 – Philosophy: a look at key thinkers, usually postmodern thinkers, Derrida, Nancy, etc.
3 – Socio-cultural: a look at McDonalds and e-culture and movies.
So yesterday I brought a hamburger into class and we began to explore our culture. In a world in which processes of efficiency, calculability, predictability and control are driving forces, what does this mean for the way we are human and the way we do church? All of a sudden, the nature of gospel becomes a whole bigger. All of a sudden, mission is more than saving souls, but becomes a deep analysis of what it might mean to be counter-cultural.
As I said, I love the course and the stimulation.
)
And i love the stimulation of you sharing your journey, creativity, experience, and learning…THANKS
Comment by Paul Fromont — July 23, 2004 @ 8:40 am
GPCS is/was my all time favourite course at BCNZ. Not only intellectually stimulating but often extremely practical. Also one of those courses that by its very nature lends itself to “mixed-mode” delivery, experimentation and in-depth class participation.
Comment by Stephen — July 23, 2004 @ 1:10 pm
your classes sound very interesting. i took a class in seminary titled “genx and the gospel” which was similar to ones you described.
now, on a different topic, I just spent 3 three days at a conference with Stanley Hauerwas and all his friends (the ekklesia project) where the term ‘counter-culture’ (or contrast-culture) frequently comes up. I lead a workshop trying to link the emerging church conversation and the ekklesia project (which has an anabaptist focus), to see what each could learn from the other. And one thing that I came up with is that we should stop use the term ‘counter-cultural’ because it relies to heavily on spatial notions that are unhelpful.
now of course I’m sure you have a well thought usage for it, and you were the merely the first in the blogosphere to use since i’ve finished at the conference so I had to say something, but what do you think? are you happy with the term?
Comment by Geoff Holsclaw — July 24, 2004 @ 7:03 am
steve, i just posted the notes if you have time to see what I’m getting at.
but I really do wish I could sneak in and be part of your class.
Comment by Geoff Holsclaw — July 24, 2004 @ 7:20 am