Within the field of theology, exegesis is where the interpreter extracts meaning from the biblical text in light of its literary and cultural-historical contexts. This is good. The opposite is eisegesis, which is where the interpreter imbues the text with a meaning foreign to its original contexts. This is bad. For instance, in Matthew 6 Jesus says you cannot serve both God and … [Read more...] about Beatnik Christianity Syncs the Rigorous Study of Theology and Culture
Tribalism
Beatnik Christianity Appreciates Pluralism
Pluralism does not mean all opinions are created equally. Pluralism does not mean all religious belief systems are different paths to the same ultimate destination. Pluralism does not mean a postmodern morass of factual irrelevancy and feeling supremacy. Pluralism does not mean it's inappropriate to say, "I disagree." Jesus followers have been enculturated to immediately think … [Read more...] about Beatnik Christianity Appreciates Pluralism
Beatnik Christianity Refuses to Participate in Conservatism vs. Progressivism
N.T. Wright once observed, "From where many of us in the UK sit, American politics is hopelessly polarized. All kinds of issues get bundled up into two great heaps. The rest of the world, today and across the centuries, simply doesn’t see things in this horribly oversimplified way." Totally agree, but it's worse than that. It's this all-encompassing hodgepodge of politics, … [Read more...] about Beatnik Christianity Refuses to Participate in Conservatism vs. Progressivism
Beatnik Christianity Engages in Vigorous Good Faith Dialogue
The New York Times columnist David Brookes has noticed Western society's pivot away from "eulogy virtues" to "résumé virtues." Sadly, Christian culture has followed the secular lead on this one. Church tradition contains a wealth of insight about character formation, but few talk about that anymore. All we seem to care about anymore is the immediate and the practical. I've … [Read more...] about Beatnik Christianity Engages in Vigorous Good Faith Dialogue
Beatnik Christianity Unshackles the Liberal Arts Education
Over the centuries, much has been said and written about Christian humanism and, along with it, the immense value of a liberal arts education that's grounded in a Christian worldview. It's an indescribably rich source for spiritual formation. It's my conviction that Jesus followers of all ages should be encouraged to study diverse fields like theology, philosophy, history, … [Read more...] about Beatnik Christianity Unshackles the Liberal Arts Education
