Feeling like a bit of a tool

I am the type of person who really hates the "purpose driven life" fads. Basically, when a bunch of people say we believe . . . and its because this book told us so, I tend to scoff. Yet I find myself doing that...I guess that is really at the heart of what most educators do, they just read better books. Its a rare thing when you have someone who thinks independantly from the current mileu. I strive to be that person, but I still find myself saying, "you know what NT Wright says about this......."

A better understanding

This post is a response to one of the comments that was made to my first post. I appreciate bringing my idea into question and I felt the proper response needed In response to two comments. Two Jacki/Rob...I question the method by which you come to the conclusions concerning heaven. For starters: 1. Ouranos is used something like 200 odd times in the NT and you cant really derive a hard and fast meaning from it, at least I would question the methodology that wants to take ouranos at every instance as being something to the intangible dwelling of the divine. 2.Sheol plays pretty heavily in Hebrew thought process, I grant that at some point in the process Hebrew people probably concieved of some sort of inbetween, heaven like stage, but it is FAR too much of generalization to say that the WHOLE OT has a cohesive view of what might consider to be the after life. You look at Job and some of the Psalms, not alot of glowing reports about the after life. Generally it has been my intention to bring some interesting ideas to the table that i have been researching, but I want to avoid just rehashing someone elses thoughts. As far as I can see Heaven is the dwelling of God and there is no sense in which heaven is coming to earth as much as the kingdom of God is coming to earth. the kingdom of God and heaven are two very different ideas, but in general Christian notions they have just been mushed together to create something akin to a big lot in the sky where God does his thing and just recieve lot after lot of believers to add to the group. As far as the realisation of Christs resurection and assention, Wright argues that are "presence with him" is meant to be held as a metaphorical notion. We take part in his victory and there will come a time where, not the assention, but we will recieve the thrones. My pain and my heart in this is that I believe the popular Dante-esq notion of heaven has lead the church astray from having a stronger eschatology. I used to not get the whole idea and i have realized more and mroe that that is a big part of what the Christian life is about. God has inaugurated the kingdom, its not here yet, but its coming.

Feeling good about my Christianty

I really enjoy studying the history of Christianty. It just makes me feel good knowing that the faith that I have has been pretty consistent over the past 2000 years (consistent being a somewhat relative term). I just like the fact that early Christians believed Jesus was the son of God and was resurected and they had a belief in the supremecy of God. I am also grateful for the discussions that define the minuta of things, but I like knowing that the first people probably wouldnt feel totally out to lunch having a chat with me. I would have to speak latin mind you, but once we got over that hurrdle I think that would be cool. I like the idea about relationship, but relationship with history just means so much more. Its like a relationship with a parent vs relationship with a random person. History makes it more intense...good times

Soul or no soul

So I was reading...still more about the whole resurection idea...there was this notion within Judaism at points that human beings were just 1 and had no soul. I guess its kind of hard to discuss the exitence of something that is entirely metaphysical, but I pondered the question and kind of enjoyed the excersize. What are the ramifications of people not having a soul? This doesnt necessarily mean that there is no resurection, nor does it mean there isnt a heaven or any of that, it just means it looks different. The intermediate state that people are held in between death and resurection exists by virtue of the greatness of God. You know, say one thing for them, but Yahwists (the original Jews, long story for more info consult your local bible college) really had a vision for God in the big picture. I admit any idea that attributes greater power to God and less to people is something I dig, but its just interesting to think of how that effects the reading of scripture as well as theology, popular views and just a ton of little things here nad there. I also like simpler answers because they tend to have the longevity that I associate with wisdom. So do humans have a soul? Are we just flesh? Are we even more yet? Just something i was thinking about today.....

Thoughts about resurection

So here is what I have been thinking about.....basically I think the moderns church focus on heaven has systematically been missing the bigger picture...I have been reading a book called "Resurection of the son of God" by NT Wright and it has just stimulated this thought process. So I mean historically, if you think about it, the west has really really been influenced by Greek thinking. If you read such individuals as Rick Warren who essentially describe what we do on Earth as practice for heaven there is a sense in which Christians seem to have this notion to despense with the flesh so that the spirit could be free. This is Greek thinking, straight up. It makes it seems that there is a sense in which you are just doing an in between activity before we get to heaven where eternity will go down. See what i have always found confusing is that "heaven" doesnt really seem present in scripture (not like the popular notion). Admitedly Heaven is a pretty borad topic. The word ouranos (greek word for heaven) appears 255 times not counting variations of the word. That leaves some questions for a consistent use of the imagery or at least it does to me. There seems to me to be far more specific emphasis placed on resurection than on "Heaven." Revelations likes the image of rresurection. This seems to be far more consistent with the culture that this was written in...I dont know, I get resurection. I dont get the whole heaven thing. I dont want to sit on a cloud playing a harp or if CS Lewis has his way walking around in a big field.... I am not attempting to aspound anything specific, these are more just ramblings to sort of help me process my ideas since i have been out of school for sometime.

Here we go.....

Before I begin let me just lay out some ground rules.



1. I have a Masters in Theology so you figure out what the content is gonna be on? Yah you gussed it, all things religious (mostly from a Christian standpoint). If your not down with that, click the back button on your browser and go back to face book because thats just how it goes.



2. Dont be a jerk. This blog isnt a democracy so if I think you are being condescending or overtly mean to people who are just saying what they think in response. I will make it a point to delete your posting. These are just thoughts and the hope is that we can all think together. Dont think you are going to save any misguided soul or do some great work. Consider this going for an intellectual jog. Not too serious, very casual.



3. I have internet for a month so that is about how long this blog will go on for...just so were clear.



-I am hopeful there could be some meaningful conversation.



So lets rock