Reading: Bevans [Translation]

When I first think of the word translation, in response to the translation model of contextual theology as explained by Bevans, personally think of the Greek and Hebrew translations of the Bible. Also know as, the primary reason I am in the MAT program instead of a MDiv student. I'll be honest, larning new languages scare me a little. I barely passed German in High School and didn't have to take a language during my undergrad over 10 years ago because I was able to test out of some math classes.


So when Bevans speaks of the translation method, I can relate from my experiences coordinating Sunday services where I took biblical text and created new and experiential ways the church goer could experience and understand the text, but beyond that not much in the way of languages. Basically, I can translate the English text to a current cultural setting better than most. But if you asked me the Greek root of eschatology, I'd be lost.

Reflection: Week 4 [Wednesday]

Marxism by nature being an anti-capitalistic movement is interesting when reflecting on my previous post relating to Radiohead taking on the music industry. After hearing more about Marxism in today's class, Radiohead's move against the music industry is more of a reworking of the old call to the workers of the world to unite and reclaim the means of production, which is definitely a contemporary Marxist idea.

Reading: Barker [Identity]

It seems to me that ones identity is formed by a self-realization in subjectivity. I guess you have to make a term for everything, but "subjectivity" is a term that seems to be a waste of space since one can find their identity in their talents, community, or actions. A soldier returning from war may not view themselves as a "hero" per say, but to many that is exactly what they are. The individual may not experience themselves this way, but the reality is that from an outside perspective is objective rather than subjective.

So maybe it is a matter of perspective rather than experience. Either way, personally I have found my identity within myself. One of my favorite lyrics is by Sting, who sings, "Be yourself, no matter what they say." Whoever yourself may be, and however you find yourself, be true to yourself. Unless you'd rather live a lie. In that case, you are just a tool. The truth hurts.

Reading: Barker [Postmodernism]

We live in a postmodern world. Models continually are born out of this current age of information and knowledge, just as postmodernism emerged from modernity. With so many avenues of media coming in, the individual in today's society can easily forever become lost in an endless sea of aesthetic commercial culture, devoid of meaning behind a collage of symbols.

The danger is that faith and belief in something greater can fall to the wayside of interaction. One of the easiest examples we see is in the newer adolescent and teenage generations growing up who would rather play video games all day then play outside and... BAM! We now have fat kids [not] running around.

Reflection: Week 4 [Monday]

The Emerging Church is something that I have been a part of for the past 7 years from helping start a church plant in West Seattle that grew to about 150 attendees to seeing the limitations of the model evolve out of a lingering postmodern mindset.

The church I had a pleasure of being involved in was called Doxa Church and we had a church building that was given to a group of a couple dozen of us that were meeting in the basement at the very beginning. From that group, Doxa Church grew out of an emerging church model embracing the arts and music while continuing to root itself into the DNA of the community of West Seattle. [Pictured here is the coffee shop that later was created in the same basement Doxa grew out of]

In the Spring of 2006, the Elders decided to merge into the larger Mars Hill Church congregation and share the [admittedly generous space] large facilities with 500+ of their members that were commuting from West Seattle about 20-30 minutes to Ballard [a section of Seattle just Northwest of Downtown]. This caused many of the attendees to leave, included my family and small group of about 20+ individuals. In retrospect, the decision is a good one for God in allowing 500+ believers to worship in a building directly in their community where they live. But the differences of beliefs of Mars Hill versus Doxa were extreme for most [the biggest three differences being the archaic role of women in the family, aversion against women in ministry, and aggression towards gays & lesbians] and the events still harbor deep wounds for many, including myself, that may never fully heal.

The healing continues in my life. And I pray to continue to learn from my experiences. In the past months, I have felt called to write about peoples lives and how the Church has wounded them through doctrine, traditions, and beliefs that alienate people instead of loving them for their differences.

So if anyone has story they'd like to share, please let me know. I'd love to talk about it over a hot cocoa or cold soda.

Response: Harmony's Blog [Week 3]

Harmony made a strong point this week when she noticed that Bevans made a point to state that God is not necessarily a male but in the church people tend to use the metaphor “father.” She continued in observation that some Fuller faculty fail to use gender inclusive language when speaking in class. I have seen the same behavior and applaud Harmony for calling out those responsible. Some may say its a small thing and doesn't really matter. But each little step towards gender equality is important, especially in a field like the Church where many still hold onto archaic doctrine formed out of cultural bias.

I started my Fuller experience up at the Northwest campus and found the faculty there to follow the gender inclusive line fairly well overall, to the point where some professors would mention when your paper had a "father" or "mankind" that needed to be fixed.

Although the models theory that Bevans is presenting here does go into detail about how individuals can be shaped by there past and further emphasizes the need to study our models of theology and philosophical underpinnings. So basically the particular faculty guilty of not following rules are just following what they have learned.

Reading: Cobb [Theology]

It's interesting that Cobb focuses on Tillich in his study of theology and culture. The first research paper that I wrote as a student at Fuller 8 years ago was on Paul Tillich. Professor Charlie Scalise turned me onto Tillich since his views on popular culture and embracing the objects of popular culture were near my own interests in forming a new way to look at church, ala the emerging church model.

Paul Tillich had an interesting take of systematic theology that uses different language to observe the physical world around him. Words like "being," "ultimate concern," "self-alienation" are not the typical conventional religious language, and for me it was a breath of fresh air into the long-winded musings of other theologians.

It does take a while to get your head around his thinking, but once you do, the genius of Tillich’s method is that it creates meaning. Everything becomes relevant. The system is based on experience. It is not the product of cool reflection; it is about getting involved in the world and in the revelation. Through Tillich, theology is a way of life, not a body of information. There are no limits whatsoever to what theology can be or what can be theology.

Reading: Bevans [Models]

Bevans' main point in Chapter 3 is the importance of models are metaphors and they often only make sense when another model is used. It is interesting to look back on your education and growth in and around the Church and realize how my personal beliefs and faith has risen like a phoenix out of the ashes of the model or denomination I was brought up in.

But that is as far as I'd like to go on the subject, whereas Bevans apparently would like to drive the point home until I fall asleep reading. Very well, Bevans. I shall accept your chal... Zzzzzz...

Reflection: Week 3 [Wednesday]

Fuellenbach's idea of believers being agents of transformation is a superb one. What do you believe in? "Oh, I'm an agent of change." Watch out, now! Love it. I always wanted to be a secret agent. Jason Bourne style... except without guns... unless you are a president with a Machiavellian agenda in the Middle East. [Sigh.] Too bad a vote for Hillary really isn't a vote for Bill to get back in White House as the President instead of First Gentleman.

Reading: Barker [New World]

It's ironic that on a day where the US Government cut interest rates 75 points that we come to the chapter in Barker about capitalism and the rise of the western economy. With our country headed towards a likely recession [thanks to the Bush administrations overall fiscal irresponsibility], we are reminded of a post-industrial society that lead to shifts in the economy and culture towards postmodern consumption and accelerated globalization. Todays move by the US Federal Reserve was the largest single cut since August 1982.

And on an even sadder note, I'd like to lower the Left Coast Culture flag to half-mast today as actor Heath Ledger was found dead today from an apparent overdose [Ed: as of the writing of this post, an autopsy has not been completed]. It's disappointing to see anyone die young, but Ledger passing away is especially disturbing after seeing his career turn a corner from barely-watchable chick and teen flicks to heady drama and more challenging roles.

Death has been on my mind the past couple of months for a variety of personal reasons. Last night I was watching old clips on YouTube and came across Jimmy V on the ESPY Awards in 1993, speaking just before his death and delivering one of the greatest speeches ever. Cancer is such an ugly disease and he brought much needed attention to the importance of research.

Reading: Barker [Biology]

My favorite quote of the chapter is on page 123 where Barker claims, "Reductionism is a dirty word in cultural studies." Not a well placed F-bomb or ars... but reductionism. Hilarious. I didn't think I'd laugh reading this book. But you got me, Barker. You got me.

Reflecting on biology and evolution is pretty easy this quarter since one of my other classes is exploring the nature of humanity. Joel Green is teaching the class, NS589: The Human Person in New Testament Perspective, and we are focusing on the multivalent witness of the New Testament, understood theologically within its literary and cultural worlds and in relation to contemporary science. By identifying thoughtful ways in which the natural sciences contribute to our theological understanding of the human person, it has been a challenging journey into the study of science and faith. You could say most of the material covered in NS589 is over most of our heads, but studying the physiology of the mind, body and soul is incredibly interesting nonetheless. Personally, I never knew a corpus callosum could be so enthralling.

Reflection: Martin Luther King Jr.

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who knew it takes time for attitudes to change, would not have been surprised that nearly two decades after his death were required to make his birthday a legal holiday. His birthday, Jan. 15, is a national holiday, celebrated on the third Monday of January, created in 1985. "It doesn't really matter with me now," he declared the night before his assassination, "because I've been to the mountaintop ... and I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land."

I love MLK day; a day for embracing the change of our nation and the civil rights movement. If you have a minute, take time to listen to the famous speech delivered in 1963 to more than 200,000 civil-rights marchers at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. If you don't want to listen to those two excerpts from his most memorable soliloquy, you can view it in PDF format here. Every year I listen to at least one speech from Dr. King just to keep the dream alive. Even if it's only in my mind.

It was nice to have the day off of school today to celebrate the life and freedom of a people and culture that was ignored and taken advantage of for centuries. That being said, our country and civil rights has come a long way. It's hard to believe that less than 40 years ago, America had separate drinking fountains for whites and blacks and "colored balconies" in movie theaters. So as we remember the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr., let us recognize the full depth of his faith and vision — not just the antiseptic version that has now become part of our official culture.

Response: Brian's Blog [Week 2]

Brian's thoughts this past week on whether or not Jesus would be involved in culture in the highly visible media outlet or a counter culture setting is an very interesting one. Personally, when I think about how Jesus would act in today's culture, I always think of the Jesus who lives in South Park. For better or worse. Okay, it's definitely worse with South Park most of the time.

The South Park Jesus has a cable access show and every one in a while takes on characters the likes of Satan or Santa in some episodes. Okay, maybe it's not the "artfully done iconic rebellion" Brian was thinking of in his blog post, but you have to admit it's rebellious in it's own shape and form. But regardless of the medium, I tend to agree that Jesus wouldn't stay close to the vest, appear on Leno, or do things by the book. Besides... in my mind, Jesus is more of a Letterman guy anyways.

Reading: Cobb [Studies]

Antonio Gramsci's twist on Marxism called "hegemony" is a refreshing turn in the history of cultural studies we have been reading up to this point. I agree that the dominant groups in society do have persuasive influences, and further side with Gramsci that the working class does have a choice in the matter. John Storey's example of Bob Marley's is a perfect one, with the Rastafarian's music standing against the same capitalist moneymakers in the music industry, while the same industry, labels, and promoters are profiting from the continued sales of Marley's albums.

We might have seen a significant hallmark in the music industry just this past year, with Radiohead's groundbreaking self-release via the World Wide Web this past Fall. Radiohead provided a download and asked the user to make her/his own price for the "purchase" of their entire new release. What is interesting is that 60% of people who downloaded the album, downloaded it for free. That being said, the album was then released on January 1st through TBD Records, a sublabel of ATO Records, and opened No. 1 on the week's music charts with sales of 122,000 copies. It's a start. But in the future, it'll take more artists with additional innovations to stick it to The Man and make a noticeable dent in the formidable force of the record industry.

Reflection: Week 2 [Wednesday: Bonus]

In regards to question posed in class of how Jesus would respond to the the good versus bad in relation to culture, the most important thing is how industrialization and the emergence of technology has made the world a much smaller place than during JC's day. The fact that most everyone in the world knows who Michael Jordan or Michael Jackson is points towards the machine that industrialization has turned into. Entertainment is king. And it's that low culture that is not necessarily the best humanity has to offer, but it's the most popular. Literally, culture is the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Reflection: Week 2 [Wednesday]

Ryan mentioned the Merchants of Cool during his lecture today. It's a great little documentary that shows how the corporate culture has now become a corporate vulture. You can watch it at the link above in small streaming segments from the filmmakers website, or watch the entire film at this link here.

How do you become an expert in contemporary culture, society or culture in general? How do these guys like Arnold, Leavis, Hogart, Williams and Hall rise to a point where people are looking to them for the definition of what part of culture is good and what part is bad? An overview of where culture has moved to and from in industrialization, working-class culture, and mass-produced culture is interesting -- but it further begs the question of why I should listen to these guys?

The idea that anything mass-produced destroys local cultures is the most solid one that seems to come from a objective context that is looking at the outcomes and statistics of particular cultures, versus a the anthropologists and sociologists listed above who seemingly study from a subjective standpoint.

Reading: Barker [Language]

The relationship between language and culture seems very basic on the surface and how societies communicate and find meaning in things. But when one looks at the social connotations of "dress codes," for example, it is fascinating to break down that what is socially acceptable in one context is completely unacceptable in another. And that meaning is derived from the cultural practices of different sects and subgroups within individual societies. For example, one could blend in as "normal" in suspenders, overalls, and boots in a farming community, while wearing the same clothes in a downtown nightclub just wouldn't fly... and wouldn't get you past the doorman.

Reading: Barker [Ideology]

The definition of culture... you rear your ugly head again. From the Brits Williams, Hogart, and Hall, to the haters in Leavis and Arnold, who attempt to distinguish between the good and the bad, the high and low. High brow, anyone? Sound like "tea time" for cultural snobs to me. Or more like the Fox News of the modern era. By pinning distinctions around a certain opinion of what has aesthetic quality and what does not, the judgments of few become objective cultural criticism for the many.

Of course, if we leave the meaning of culture to the masses, the consumer driven capitalist corporate animal of popular culture emerges, as previously mentioned within this here blog. And in popular culture, Kenny G is considered a jazz great. So it turns out I might be an elitist after all.

Reading: Bevans [Issues]

Bevans' last point was the most interesting to me in his admittance that the word contextualization is the best way of describing aspects of context such as social location and particular experience, including the history, innuendo, and realities of older terminology of the same ilk including inculturation, indigenization, or incarnation of the gospel. That words can have a depth of history, both positive and negative, that may influence ones reaction towards a term is a significant element we cannot ignore.

Main Entry: cor·po·rate

Pronunciation: \ˈkor-p(ə-)rət\

Function: adjective

1. Formed into a corporation; incorporated: the corporate companies of industrial America.
2. Of or relating to a corporation: corporate assets; corporate culture.
3. United or combined into one body; collective: made a corporate effort to finish the job.
4. Of or relating to a corporative government or political system.

Personally, the word corporate is a popular term being thrown about in today's postmodern and/or emerging church. The church today uses the term corporate according to third definition of a "united or combined into one body; collective"... but for someone like me who worked in the industrial business section climbing the "corporate ladder," the word carries an unwanted weight. Now obviously we can't go around tiptoeing around wrods all day. But it bears repeating. Wait... unless that someone you are speaking to survived a bear attack...

Reflection: Week 2 [Monday]

I'm not going to brag... but our small group's definition of culture was clearly the best. Or maybe it's my perception that it was the best definition. [Eh, Group #4? Ya, I'm talking to you!] Nevertheless, our group [Denise, Harmony, Michael, Randy, and myself] came up with Culture: "A conscious or unconscious fluid dynamic of art, behavior, ideology, and signs developing organically within and characterizing a given society or subgroup."

It is interesting when thinking about the universal aesthetics of a current cultural canon and what would be considered the best and brightest pieces of art of our times. I'm afraid that popular culture would proclaim American Idol, MTV's Real World, or The Apprentice as the most influential media reflection of current cultural society. Personally, I'd lean towards the iPhone, U2 & the World Wide Web as greater cultural signposts. But people love to hear Simon bitch out a horrible singer and hear the Donald mutter, "You're fired!" [Sigh... I hate America.]

Response: Michael Huang's Blog [Week 1]

You had me at Pedro. Michael Huang's observation on his January 9th blog post caught my eye for more reasons than the Pedro The Lion reference. Yes, I find myself at time like one of the Bob's on Office Space saying, "I celebrate his entire collection," about Pedro's music. But I too echo Michael's questions about "witnessing" and believe that your life is the best witness you can have rather than preaching the Good News to your friends and family. Sometimes just following the wise words of Matthew McConaughey's Wooderson [McConaughey's best and most famous role, probably due to the distinct possibility that he's not acting and just playing himself in the film] in Dazed and Confused is a much nobler path:

"The older you get the more rules they are going to try and get you to follow. You just gotta keep on livin man! L-I-V-I-N!"


The reason I am drawn to Pedro The Lion is because David Bazan is a Christian believer that stays out of the Christian music scene, instead choosing to play his music to the popular culture at large. It's a testament both to his struggle with the institutional systems of church and his believe that his faith is better served in song outside the corporate structure of Christian labels. I've had the blessing of being able to commune with David and other Seattle musicians through old roommates in the local Seattle music "scene." The musicians that choose to be musicians in popular music over the Christian music scene have my utmost respect, for they are in effect "witnessing" through their lives to many more people than you or I can on a daily basis. From David Bazan to Rosie Thomas to Sufjan Stevens to The Pale Pacific, musicians of faith struggling with the same life questions that we struggle with in lyrical harmony is a wonderful thing.

Reading: Cobb [Popular]

Kelton Cobb takes a wonderful angle in the introduction and first chapter of The Blackwell Guide to Theology and Popular Culture. Within the book, Cobb observes culture through the artists, thinkers and writers of our time. From Chuck Palahniuk's Fight Club to M. Night Shyamalan's Signs, Cobb beautifully blends current cultural phenomenons in poignant and critical analysis.

What is interesting is that each creative piece being observed, whether it be film or literature, is examining life, faith and the soul. Each is attempting to finding the "Why?" behind our human existence. If you have ever taken care of a adolescent child you have experience the seemingly echoing "Why?" questions about everything from why dogs can't talk to why the sky is blue. After reading the beginning of Cobb, I am reminded we apparently never stop questioning.

Reading: Bevans [Contextual]

Bevans believes that Evangelii Nuntiandi, Paul VI sums up contextual theology the best when he says that evangelism must speak to every aspect of human life. I'd agree with them to a degree, since when viewing the human experience today in all of it's glory and trouble, can be both a edifying and harrowing experience. If we study the theology in relation to history and it's particular context to why it was written, we place our own human experience into Scripture. It's human nature to reflect oneself into what one is involved in.

Revelation plays a huge part in this concept of theology. I do believe the Spirit is involved in translating the Word of God into a living Word, something that can speak into individual lives and meet them where they are and for what they need. We cannot limit the power of God or the Spirit at work in our lives and in Scripture. To say that one understands how God or the Spirit works is a huge stretch and a dangerous path to take. Read Job again and you see the cosmic struggle that is bigger than anything the human mind can imagine.

Reading: Barker [Problems]

Barker continues in Chapter 2 by exploring the central problems of cultural studies and introducing a "therapeutic redefinition" tactic used to dissolve problems with a "new way of seeing." For example, the potential problems of language can be dissolved by viewing them as "truth[s]," that are, "culturally and historically specific and changeable." An amazing piece of wordplay... but couldn't one use this tactic towards any truth and skew it towards her/his advantage?

That being said, I do agree that studying culture is important. Furthermore, we must embrace our culture and it's idiosyncrasies, in order to be able to engage both the Great Commandment and the Great Commission outlined in the Word of God. So when Barker elaborates that cultural studies engages in the rhetoric of populism, it's an important thought, not only because the populous is who we are called to be disciples to, but it's important to understand the people in an information age that still values a postmodern thought where we both have and require multiple viewpoints or truths by which to interpret a complex heterogeneous human existence.

Basically, we need to listen, interpret, and teach truth in new ways by engaging today's cultural values and lifestyles. Now who's the wordsmith.

Reflection: Week 1 [Wednesday]

Today is my birthday. Really. Just wanted to mention it in case someone wanted to buy me a soda or something. Alright... let's move on.

Something that Professor Bolger mentioned during Monday's class stuck with me until today. He quoted a teacher of his who claimed [I'm paraphrasing] that sports have replaced faith in today's culture. In one group of friends back home in Seattle, this thought is spot on.


We have each sworn allegiance to an NFL franchise, adopted a Barclay's English Premier League club, gather weekly to play video games of various sports and even have fantasy leagues to feed our sports addictions now. As if real sports weren't enough. Of course, I'm not without guilt myself, sporting a Seahawks jersey on Sunday's, an admitted scouse aligned with Liverpool FC, and multiple time fantasy league champion in fantasy baseball, basketball and football.

It is both fitting and scandalous that Sundays are now seen as most people's favorite day of the week. Not because they have an opportunity to worship God in a community of believers... but because of the weekly match-ups in modern cathedrals called stadiums.

Reading: Barker [Intro]

The definition of culture cited in Barker's Cultural Studies: Theory & Practice is "the actual grounded terrain of practices, representations, languages and customs of any specific society." Obviously the central theme of Barker's theory is analyzing culture of the developed world and not one revolved around an agricultural third-world ancient society.

But when thinking about culture and progress and where society has come in comparison to a culture that doesn't know about the concepts of capitalism, feminism and materialism explained here -- it's a wonder how we've come to this point. We've moved past the modern age, through the postmodern age, and into the information age all within the last few centuries.

But have we "developed" all that much in our thinking about epistemology? With the dawning of the new information age that is changing daily in our midst, I believe it's crucial that our generation develop it's own voices of authority to guide us in a time of change & movement towards a smaller world. Furthermore, it's my hope that we as seminarians can develop our own original answers to questions of truth & knowledge and continue our assault on higher learning even further beyond the truth & knowledge regurgitated, copied and reshaped countless times since a true original like that of Augustine. Either that, or we regress into a gifted student ignoring the signs right in front of us. Your choice.

Reflection: Week 1 [Monday]

How do you blog on a class where a syllabus was read and the class introduced? Do you regurgitate the course description or do you wax poetic about your love for God and his infinite power to meet others in today's cultural context? How about neither.

Professor Bolger mentioned Lesslie Newbigin as an example of a modern day missionary who sought to clarify the key issues of faith against his experiences in India. I have previously read Newbigin's The Gospel in a Pluralist Society and can say that later watching a video of Newbigin speak was more powerful and provided more depth of knowledge to me than the 250 pages of literature. Don't get me wrong, Newbigin's book is very well written. But this example further speaks to the postmodern medium of film and how sometimes has a greater reach in today's culture.