A quick reflection for a Saturday afternoon. If you read my blog regularly, you know I often try to answer the “so what” question–why does theology matter for life in the world, and how can it positively contribute to our life together, our shared discourse, and the greater good of the whole cosmos. I have…… Continue reading Anthropocene or Pneumacene?
Author: happylutheran
I am the president at Wartburg Theological Seminary, my beloved alma mater. I am an inveterate optimist, runner, vegetarian, and harp player. I love Mary Oliver and Gerard Manley Hopkins, and like them, I'm continually delighted by all the surprising and wonderful ways God shows up in the world.
Power in the (Menstrual) Blood
The belief that there is “power in the blood” is common to many—dare I say all—Christian traditions. The phrase, particularly prevalent in some traditions’ Lenten hymnody, refers, of course, to the power of Jesus’ blood on the cross: the idea that Jesus’ crucifixion is the source of our salvation. It goes along with images of being “washed”…… Continue reading Power in the (Menstrual) Blood
Little Dog’s Rhapsody in the Night
This is going to be a quick little post, for what it’s worth. I wanted to share the poem with which I began my Reformation sermon on Wednesday:Little Dog’s Rhapsody in the Night, by Mary OliverHe presses his cheek against mine,And makes small, expressive sounds.And when I’m awake, or nearly awakeHe turns upside down, his…… Continue reading Little Dog’s Rhapsody in the Night
"The Most Important Thing…."
I am teaching a course on salvation this fall–Soteriology is the technical theological term–and we’re having such great conversations. On Monday, we discussed the classic text “Cur Deus Homo”–“Why God Became Human,” by Anselm of Canterbury. Anselm’s theory of atonement–variously called penal substitution, blood sacrifice, and satisfaction–has been extraordinarily influential on the Western Church, including…… Continue reading "The Most Important Thing…."
Headscarves and Religious Freedom in Turkey
Given that I was just in Turkey a few weeks ago, I read this article in The New York Times with great interest this morning: http://nyti.ms/19wYaHT. It describes how Turkey has lifted the ban on women wearing the headscarf in state institutions, which was first instituted roughly 90 years ago at the beginning of the…… Continue reading Headscarves and Religious Freedom in Turkey
REAL Islam
It has been somewhat surreal to be at this conference these past few days, while at the same time watching the news coverage of the church bombing in Pakistan and the Nairobi mall shooting. While the world has seen that (false) face of Islam, I have been here, surrounded by thousands of Muslims from all…… Continue reading REAL Islam
In the Company of Women in Istanbul
I am here at a conference in Istanbul on the concept of Prophethood in the Risale-i Nur, an extended commentary on the Qur’an by Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, the most important Turkish Islamic theologian of the modern period. The paper presentations are just starting today (my paper is on how Nursi’s understanding of prophethood can deepen…… Continue reading In the Company of Women in Istanbul
Did Snowden do the Right Thing?
One of the best books of the last fifty years or so–and certainly one of the best about the Nazis and the Holocaust is Hannah Arendt’s Eichmann in Jerusalem: A Report on the Banality of Evil. It details her coverage of his trial [Adolf Eichmann was one of the major organizers of the Holocaust machine],…… Continue reading Did Snowden do the Right Thing?
Thinking about Salvation
So, the semester has started and I taught my first class yesterday: Soteriology [the doctrine of salvation]. This is one of my very favorite classes to teach, because I think the gospel message really can be boiled down to two words: “Jesus saves”–but the problem is that the church hasn’t done a very good job…… Continue reading Thinking about Salvation
Accountability, Poetry, and the Power of Words
Accountability has been in the news this past week, as both President Obama and Secretary of State Kerry have impressed upon the world the need for Syria to be held accountable for their use of chemical weapons. I think they’re right–but that’s neither here nor there; I have been thinking about accountability on a much…… Continue reading Accountability, Poetry, and the Power of Words
Happy Lutheran 