Desire: A Missing Link In Our Theology
What happens when right beliefs don’t lead to right behavior? Using New Testament language, we might simply call this “hypocrisy.” In my previous essay, I addressed the problems with separating theology (doctrine) from ethics (practice). Because these two belong together biblically, effectively divorcing them renders Christianity incoherent. They flow in and out of one another. Once we accept this, it is only reasonable to ask, “Why...
When Theology Gets Practical
One of the bestselling books of the 1990s was Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus. In it, author John Gray attempted to help couples better understand their differences so that their relationships might improve. But by no means was this project original to Dr. Gray. We often gain understanding by comparison and contrast: men and women, darkness and light, the objective and the subjective, and countless other relationships. There...
The Politics of Fairness
Essay by Matthew Steven Bracey and W. Jackson Watts “[W]e are in the midst of a financial crisis the likes of which we haven’t seen since the Great Depression.” These words were famously stated by business tycoon George Soros after the recent economic recession [1]. In its aftermath, many Americans found themselves without jobs and without money. Since then, a conversation has emerged in our nation concerning the economic disparities...
Why Food Matters—An Interview with Dr. Norman Wirzba, Author of Food & Faith: A Theology of Eating
I spent the 2010-2011 academic year working on a Master of Theology degree at Duke Divinity School. While this was a challenging experience in and of itself, having my program and thesis overseen and directed by Norman Wirzba made it an even greater privilege. Since 2008, Professor Wirzba has served as a professor of Theology, Ecology, and Rural Life at Duke Divinity School. He earned his doctorate from Loyola University in Chicago in...
Change Versus Tradition: Must We Choose?
“We’ve never done it that way before.” All of us have heard this expression before. Whether at home, work, or church, this sentiment characterizes many, while irking others. It often functions as a conversation-stopper. After all, if past precedent is the final arbiter of all future decisions, progress ceases. But because unique situations do arise in the course of life, it is often unclear as to how the past informs the present....
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