Is there No Escape Of Individualism in Theology and Praxis?

September 2, 2009

Just a few observations from the last assessment gathering. They’re not trying to make life harder on us, instead, we should think of these meetings as vital for ones development. I’m not buying it. The intention or motive might be genuine but the framework and approach is just flat out misplaced, which is- at least [...]

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Tom Wright on GNOSTICISM

August 31, 2009

Oh yeah, when this man speaks, don’t ya just wanna listen. I do.

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Terms Thrown Around: Many Don’t Have A Clue!

July 29, 2009

If we continue to use a word that we find in the New Testament in a sense which the New Testament itself doesn’t support, that is our responsibility. But if we then seek support for our ideas by consulting a passage where the word occurs, we are locking ourselves in to misunderstanding the text in [...]

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Reading Without Understanding is…

July 27, 2009

If I could collect a dollar for every time I was told to read my bible during my youth group years, I’d be a wealthy young man. This cannot be stressed enough. I understand most people don’t think or care about theology as much as I do. Let’s not kid ourselves, most folks don’t think [...]

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What’s on Tap?

July 23, 2009

Here’s some good reads, links and what I’ve been reading and thinking about. First, check this out article by N.T Wright called “The Americans Know This Will End in Schism.” Wright, takes a traditional stances on marriage but with a different approach, and tough questions on the notion of “justice’ or what exactly is just? [...]

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Systematic Theology is Symptomatic?

July 20, 2009

Systematic Symptomatic Theology … emphasis on the “literal sense” of scripture, not in the sense of “taking everything literally” but in the sense of “discovering what the writers meant” as opposed to engagin in free-floating speculation.” “… the “literal sense” means the sense originally intended; thus, ascertaining the “literal sense” of a parable involves recognizing [...]

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History Of Interpreting Parables [Basic Principles]

July 15, 2009

History of Interpretation •    Pre-Jülicher: the primary manner of interpretation was allegorization Each detail of the story is given an allegorical interpretation. The most famous of these is Augustine’s interpretation of the Good Samaritan. The problem is that frequently the main point of the parable is lost in a sea of details.1 •    Jülicher: each [...]

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The Ugly Face of Fundamentalism: After Thoughts

July 9, 2009

The whole Bible from Genesis to Revelation is culturally conditioned. It is all written in the language of particular times, and evokes the cultures in which it came to birth.” “… We come to them (referring to other letters in the Bible) as we have come to the whole Bible, looking for particular answers to [...]

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What 5 Years of Academic Biblical Studies Taught Me

July 8, 2009

Honestly, let’s be realistic about this. There’s no way I could convey this knowledge and experience, and do justice to a critical process of development and change in my life, in such a short moment of time. It’s unreal, when I think about and attempt to write about these years (still ongoing by the way). [...]

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Observations on Culture, Christianity in the West [+ Tips on Interpretation]

July 4, 2009

Christianity does itself a radical disservice when it appeals away from history, when it says what matters is not what happened but ‘what it means for me.”1 Sitting at coffee shops can bring plenty of opportunities to meet new folks, enjoy neat discussions and quite frankly, drive you nuts. Hearing other people’s thought-lines isn’t necessarily [...]

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A New, Personal Home For Miguel Wickert

June 24, 2009

Welcome to MiguelWickert.com! This is exciting and should be interesting because I now have control over my name (domain name- better me than something else). And now, I have free space away from my other sites for personal reactions and observations about any intriguing happenings life may bring. While writing at Simplyblog about blogging tips, [...]

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