Of Theology's Resurgence

A snippet of this article, taken from The Curator:

Theology is returning to the intellectual scene, says John Milbank, professor of religion, politics and ethics at the University of Nottingham. "That's why people like Richard Dawkins are so frightened, and why we're getting a more militant atheism."

He rattles off a list of renowned philosophers - Alasdair MacIntyre, Charles Taylor, Antonio Negri, Alain Badiou and Quentin Meillassoux - who are currently writing about Christianity. In The Monstrosity of Christ: Paradox or Dialectic?, due for publication next month, Milbank debates with Slavoj Zizek, Marxist theorist and international director of the Birkbeck Institute for the Humanities, about secularism, politics and the meaning of Christianity. The pair will also cross swords at an Institute of Contemporary Arts debate in mid-June.

"Forty years ago it would have been very unusual for a theologian to be in a public debate with a major intellectual. It's a sign of a shift," Milbank says. "Even Marxists take religion seriously. It's only the Anglo-Saxon left liberals that don't."

So then, I while the rising militant anti-Christian movement can be very annoying and disheartening, it can actually be considered a good thing. In my opinion, one reason that it is occurring is because American Christianity is finally emerging from a generational lapse in clinging to good theology.

Finally, it seems, the up-and-coming generation has actually lept from their parents faith to own it as their own, and in doing so has lept to solid theological footing, or at least the pursuit of such.

One Handed Worship

I’ve been living out of sanity
I’ve been splitting hairs and blurring lines
I am a house that is divided
In my heart and in my mind.

While my jury is still out on the overall quality of the new Jars of Clay album, The Long Fall Back to Earth, I found this song, "Two Hands," particularly intriguing.

Once again, like they did with "Dead Man (Carry Me)" on their last album, the first verse slapped me right in the face with my own reality. I mean, not too long ago, I myself said that I was not living sanely. The next portion of the song points to a lot of mine and many people's problem:

I use one hand to pull closer
The other to push you away
If I had two hands doing the same thing
Lifted high, lifted high!

Ah! What if I had two hands doing the same things? Instead of raising one to heaven and with the other sowing seeds of sin or exalting an unworthy idol or feeding my petty insatiable pleasures, what would the power of my life be? Jesus himself said "No one can serve two masters," and while money may not be the distraction for everyone, the concept holds true.

Think about it: no professional baseball player breaks records by batting one-handed. And Beethoven may have been deaf, but he sure as heck didn't write all that bangin' music with one hand.

No one who has the ability to put two hands worth of effort into something is celebrated or considered wise for only using one.

Do we really then want God's name to be glorified? Do I think he's worthy of worship? We will nominally raise one hand in exultation and with the other we point fingers, kill, steal, jerk-off, or grasp for whatever fleeting fortune we can claim in our few years upon this earth.

When someone really wants something, they use two hands in an attempt to obtain it. Do we desire God to be praised? The logical answer would appear to be a resounding "No."

I have a broken disposition
I’m a liar who thirsts for the truth
And while I ache for faith to hold me
I need to feel the scars and see the proof.

Such is our condition; every human is a hypocrite, to what degree is the key. We are all liars, thieves, murderers, adulterers, idolaters, and God has placed in us his image bearers an inherent desire for the truth, a desire for something in which to rest our faith.

Now, I believe, not nearly as firmly as it merits, that God's word has given us a very grace-filled opportunity to "feels the scars and see the proof." I think that, additionally,

If we just keep digging we can reach the foundation
Of our souls
And if we just keep cutting all the chains from our hearts
We’ll lose control.

And losing control is just about the best thing that can happen to us. I am realizing more and more that following Christ is less about literally doing what he did and more about getting my own dang self out of the way and letting him do what he did in me.

How to do that fully, I do not know yet and I doubt any follower will ever fully grasp, but I am here and I am determined to continue to discover how to do it more and more.

And it feels like giving in
It feels like starting over
It feels like waking up, and you know it’s coming
It feels like a brand new day
Open your eyes.

So think, as I am thinking: what do I use my other hand for beside lifting it high to God, the only one worthy of it being raised to? And how can I turn myself towards two handed worship?

A Few Summer Conference Quotes

Two by Joel:

"Balls obey T.J." [while playing putt-putt]

"I smell the bread, but it's not in my mouth!" [at the seafood restaurant]

And one by me:

"Holy Sh*t! Oh. Sorry."
[exclaimed while our group was sitting on the beach, upon seeing the multitude of stars visible in the night sky]

There were more, I'm sure, but I don't remember them now.

Also, I plan on posting my notes from the five large group sessions.

Of Twitter

I am halfway considering joining Twitter. I have become somewhat opposed to seemingly nonsensical technological fads, as is evidenced in my now two-month absence from Facebook.

Again, as with Facebook, Twitter has attracted my attention because of the possibilities it presents. For me, I had a lot of fun coming up with witty, poetic, or deep status updates¹ and Twitter would be an excellent avenue to continue to do this.

In addition to that, it would a halfway decent way to keep up with some of my favorite bands, authors, etc., including but not limited to Prodigal Jon, Derek Webb's new CD, and C28. Not to mention some of my friends as well.

My concessions include the following:

1. It could easily become as engrossing as Facebook was.
2. Blogging in and of itself has become somewhat tedious² and tweeting could easily add to the hassle.
3. It could become, just as Facebook or blogging, a crutch to prevent the necessity of actual communication.
4. I've existed perfectly fine without its intrusion into my life so far, so why start now?

We'll see how it turns out. Any thoughts on Twitter and whether it's a legitimate venture?

¹ You have no idea how many lines for poems originated in this manner

² I currently have 101 items from my various subscriptions in Google Reader that I need to read.

Star Trek

Let me begin by saying that I thought the movie was epic, and extremely well done. I'm tempted to just end my review right there, but I'm sure you all are just dying to read what else I have to say about it.

I think the video I posted really sums up a great deal of why the movie was so excellent. Now, I must admit I only have a nominal knowledge of the original Star Trek canon, but based on what I do know, I think that J.J. Abrams did an admirable job of adhering to the core of what has given the Star Trek series such a cult following.

While hardcore Trekkies may be opposed to a twist in the movie that occurs roughly halfway through, as I was myself originally disinclined to it, but it is my opinion that it was skillfully done. Many modern plot diversions from the source material's canon are done superfluously and poorly, but this one movie were that is not the case.

I think at its heart, Star Trek is about taking the feel of the old pirate and exploration movie and stories, where an entire crew works together on an adventure, and translating it into a sci-fi, futuristic space arena.

Personally that was the one of the things that always drew me to the series: the idea that from the bridge a handful of individuals controlled this massive ship, piloting and fighting an equally massive enemy, just like an old 16th century galleon.

All in all, if you do not consider yourself a Trekkie or a Star Trek fan, you can still find a great deal to enjoy in this film. Intense and well-choreographed action sequences and space battles make for a very entertaining watch.

Those, coupled with artistically masterful transitions and cinematography in general, not to mention a pretty decent musical score cooperated for an entertaining and competent piece of work.

Finally, I'd like to address the acting. All I can say is well done: the casting was spot on! I loved seeing the Heroes villain Zachary Quinto as Spock [not to mention Leonard Nimoy], and I also enjoyed Kirk, McCoy, Chekov, and Sulu, and of course, Simon Pegg [of Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz fame] as Scotty.

It was very entertaining to here familiar lines blurted out, from "Damn it man, I'm a doctor, not a physicist!" to "I'm givin' 'er all she's got, captain!" That, and there was quite a bit of humor interspersed throughout the story.

In short, you should go see this film if you already have not. While it is too early in the year to call it the best, I will easily rank it among the best movies of 2009.

Also, I may post another review of it in a more literarily analtyical manner.

Of Weddings

This weekend I'm going to a wedding of two dear friends, which I am absolutely stoked about. I really do love weddings, in a woman sort of way. That is, I highly anticipate witnessing two people pledge themselves in covenantal selfless love for each other. I can really can dig it to the max. I'm mixing my slang terms now, aren't I?

I first realized my love for weddings December of '07 when my friends Ashley and Petey got married and I legitimately man-cried¹ when they were pronounced man and wife. Last semester's series at RUF was another boost in my inclination for weddings, as Jeff repeatedly spoke of selfless, covenantal love, of which the Father's love for us and Christ's marriage to the church is the prime example.

I find myself yearning for the example to demonstrate that type of selfless, covenantal love² to a specific female recipient, that is, my wife. That, and the speaker at RUF's summer conference talking about looking for PWs³ simply feeds the flame for that desire.

To myself, I would reply with two things: One, how can someone who so often and easily flirts around like it's going out of style even consider himself close to ready for marriage? Two, why can you not demonstrate selfless, covenantal love to all those around you, especially your Christian sisters?

Dang, I'm a tough person to argue with.

¹ This consists of the appearance of tears only slightly visible and the pressing of the fist to the lips to mask any hint of emotion.

² How many daggum times am I going to use that phrase in this post!?! I guess the answer is four.

³ Potential Wives, for those of you that don't know the good ole Christian slang. Actually the speaker was the first one I had ever heard use it.

The Onion & Star Trek

I'm planning on doing a more full review of the movie later, but for now, this should suffice.



Ah, the Onion. They just cut straight to the heart of the matter. I really did enjoy the movie though.

Par For the Course

I am very tired of the ups and downs of my spiritual walk. It is no news flash that very often I am doing well spiritually for three or so weeks, and then gradually plummet into spiritual waywardness, and subsequent apathy and depression.

I was told that this may be "par for the course" for my spiritual life. That is, that this may be the norm and I could just have to hunker down and fight it out, work through it; because my spiritual lows are countered by my spiritual heights which are a blessing to me and others.

The thing is, if this is how it's going to be for the rest of my life, then I don't want it. At least not right now. Maybe sometime in the future God may illustrate to me how I can do it, how I can perpetually rely on him, or how it is worth it, but right now, I do not see that.

Frankly, I don't feel like trying anymore. I'm so tired, so worn out, and I don't see any foreseeable change or help. I would like to just give it up and go do whatever.

However, that is not an option. My source of purpose, my meaning, my existence is found in my faith alone. There is no other reason that makes any sense. I would love to adopt some sort of epicurean hedonistic lifestyle, but that would be horribly wasteful and I would know it, which means that I would not, as a competent individual, be able to do that.

So right now I'm stuck between wanting just to throw in the towel and knowing full well that there's no such option.

Posting Frequency

I've found that the poorer I'm doing spiritually or in general, the less good things I have to say on this blog. That is, when I post only once a week, chances are that during that week I wasn't doing well.

It makes sense: if I'm not pursuing God, then why would I have a bunch of stuff to say about him?

That being said, if I don't post in five or so days, I'm probably not doing so hot...so check up on me.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine

**Some mild spoilers**

First of all, I'll list my problems with the movie. There's only three:

1) Cop-out computer animation. About half of Wolverine's claws were computer generated, and it sincerely detracted from the reality of the movie, it just bothered me.

2) Blatant and unnecessary disrespect of the source material. Really, Deadpool=Weapon XI!? And an amalgam of a bunch of different powers!? That was lame. Wade Wilson at the beginning was amazing, just like his character in the comics. But then they horribly wasted him.

3) Not enough of Gambit. Seriously, he's the character everyone's be shouting for since the first movie. While what they did have was good, they could have given him a much better role, and done more with his character. It is difficult to foresee anything happening to him between this movie and the first X-Men movie.

Other than that, the movie was excellent. The action was very well done, something that comic movie fans and action movie fans alike can get into.

It was really cool to get to know James instead of the mild a-hole Logan. It was interesting for me to see that from the beginning, he was much more reserved than his brother, much less inclined to violence. Especially because later on in the series he comes across as the most apathetic, even though his actions eventually show otherwise.

It makes one wonder: can you really ever escape your nature, even though you endure a veritable crucible of physical and mental transformation? In spite of the great pain his past was filled with, Wolverine still demonstrated himself to be the positive outcome of it.

Even though he lost virtually all of his memory, he is still tightly bound (mentally) to what happened to him, and maintains, to a certain degree, his character on the other side of a complete loss of identity.

I may write about this some more later, but right now, it's bed time.