Theology technically means the study of God. Wikipedia expands it out to "the systematic study of the nature of the divine and, more broadly, of religious belief." That's fine, but I prefer to define theology as "humanity's pursuit both of knowledge of, and communion with, God." As someone who believes the meaning of life is connection--with God, with other people, and with the … [Read more...] about Beatnik Christianity Understands Theology As Humanity’s Pursuit of God
Wisdom
Beatnik Christianity Harmonizes the Scientific Method with The Way of Jesus
Science and scientism are often conflated, so let’s differentiate them. Science is "a systematic endeavor that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe." Scientism is "the opinion that science and the scientific method are the best or only way to render truth about the world and reality." Science is a methodology for … [Read more...] about Beatnik Christianity Harmonizes the Scientific Method with The Way of Jesus
Beatnik Christianity Expects Jesus Followers to Grow and Develop
Show me a person who's virtually unchanged over a 20-year period and I'll show you someone who's terribly boring and likely suffering from trauma-induced stagnation. It's an entirely natural psychological process of human growth and development for people to have experiences that influence their worldviews, personalities, relationships, interests, and values. Therein lies a lot … [Read more...] about Beatnik Christianity Expects Jesus Followers to Grow and Develop
Beatnik Christianity Merges House Church Community with High Church Worship
Over the last two decades, I've felt a steady pull towards the house church movement. My soul longs for its slow pace, warmth of hospitality, depth of community, and conscious removal of all the bureaucratic crap that usually dominates church life. I've quietly read books by its leading authors. Not gonna lie, there are times when I feel like Frank Viola and Neil Cole are … [Read more...] about Beatnik Christianity Merges House Church Community with High Church Worship
Beatnik Christianity Contends That the Greatest Heresy Is the Failure to Love
Down through the centuries has come a Latin phrase that's full of wisdom: In necessariis unitas, in dubiis libertas, in omnibus caritas. Translated into English it reads, "In necessary things, unity; in doubtful things, liberty; and all things, charity." I first came across this in an intro. course to historical theology. It immediately became a central plank of my ecumenical … [Read more...] about Beatnik Christianity Contends That the Greatest Heresy Is the Failure to Love
