By: Jason Kennedy on February 2, 2017
Mark Noll’s Scandal of the Evangelical Mind is an attempt to describe the dearth of intellectualism in the modern evangelical church. Leaning on Bebbington, Noll describes Evangelical as those who believe in conversion, Biblicism, activism, and crucicentrism (p.8). Noll does not go much further, but seems to lump all evangelicals together when he states his…
By: Jim Sabella on February 2, 2017
Summary The self-regulating market is often billed as the means of reaching utopia on earth. It is said that the market, if left to adjust itself, will solve labor, hunger, property, social issues, and the balance of power. According to Polanyi, this is a fallacy. “Such an institution could not exist for any length of…
By: Mary Walker on February 2, 2017
Socialism has been embraced by many as they look around and see the poverty and injustice in the culture. Who will take the responsibility for that? In his book, The Great Transformation, Karl Polanyi taught that democratic movements of the people along with restraints on big business would bring about the free society envisioned by…
By: Claire Appiah on February 2, 2017
Mark Noll wrote this book in 1994, at a time when the global landscape had quite a different appearance, tone, and structure. But, he presents a timeless thesis in this book which is still relevant and challenging for readers today. This book is centered on what the author considers the scandalous “life of the mind”…
By: Rose Anding on February 2, 2017
Introduction As the times change, so does the approach and avenues of attracting followers to different religions.[1] Christianity is and remains one of the oldest religions, and attracts the largest following, in the world. However, the ever-changing human lifestyle of the secular world threatens the maintenance and spread of Christian evangelical beliefs globally.[2] To…
By: Katy Drage Lines on February 1, 2017
I recognize from the outset that I am stepping far outside of my comfort zone to discuss economics and economic social history. Yet the foundational understanding for how goods are perceived and exchanged is inextricably intertwined with other aspects of our daily life—religion, politics, philosophy, etc. How, then, do we attempt to understand Karl Polanyi’s…
By: Lynda Gittens on February 1, 2017
GREAT TRANSFORMATION by POLANYI Transformation – We all experience change. The world has experienced change. We communicate, dress, worship, and shop differently from the nineteenth century due to technology. Polanyi focused in his book on the challenges of politics and economics on society from the nineteenth-century through the twentieth century according to reviewer Anne Mayhew.…
By: Kristin Hamilton on February 1, 2017
A free market society is good for everyone, right? In it, everyone has the same opportunity to succeed and make something of themselves. Or as my high school economics teacher put it, “Capitalism and free markets allow us to succeed or fail on our own efforts and merits.” That statement made total sense to a…
By: Jennifer Dean-Hill on February 1, 2017
When progress comes at the price of people and their well-being, we are all in danger of not living with security, freedom, and respect. My mind wandered back to my education on the Industrial Revolution in America, when Polanyi said, “pauperism and progress are inseparable”(Kindle, 2875). To this day, it still disturbs me the price…
By: Pablo Morales on January 28, 2017
When Sofia, my first daughter was born, Baylor hospital showed us the latest technology they had implemented in their new facilities. The room had an HD camera connected to the Internet. With a simple private code we could connect through video with anybody around the world who wanted to see us. A year later, a…
By: Garfield Harvey on January 27, 2017
It is time that we at least entertain the idea that communication technology is the new nervous system. Entertaining such a thought is merely helping Christians respond with theological discernment to our culture that continues to evolve technologically. We often use the term “Old School” loosely to define those unwilling to conform to the new…
By: Chip Stapleton on January 27, 2017
As I was reading about contextual theology in our assigned works by Steven Garner and Stephen Bevans, I kept thinking about the ad campaign from Reese’s peanut butter cups. The ad (a picture from the commercial is on the left) was (in the most 80’s way possible) incredibly cheesy as it had two people, one…
By: Geoff Lee on January 27, 2017
Models of Contextual Theology This book deals with the three theological sources (loci theologici) of tradition, Scripture and culture and how these interact with each other in the formation of our theology. It offers us six models of contextual theology, each of which places different weight or emphasis on the three respective sources. It…
By: Kristin Hamilton on January 27, 2017
So this week I finally figured out my problem (okay, ONE of my problems)! In theological discussions, I have been expecting others to view theology contextually and, more to the point, to contextualize theology along the same model or lens which I use. I have to be honest, the idea that theology must always be…
By: Christal Jenkins Tanks on January 26, 2017
“Keeping it 100!” has become a very modern day phrase. It means keep it honest and speak the truth. In our society today there is a need and a longing for the Truth. As I read the article and reading for this week, I felt as though I was connected with my own personal narrative.…
By: Kevin Norwood on January 26, 2017
In 2011, I had an opportunity as a youth pastor to do something extraordinary. I could provide a complete Bible school education on an electronic device called a Kindle. I have raised money for all kinds of things, sound systems, computers, buses, a bicycle, a Land Rover (that cost a pretty penny) and…
By: Phil Goldsberry on January 26, 2017
Introduction By nature, I am a techy! I was mesmerized the first time I saw a computer (I think it was a Commodore or a TRS-80). But I remember asking, “What does it do?” The only project that the guy knew was to run paper through a dot-matrix printer and make banners with it. Boring,…
By: Aaron Peterson on January 26, 2017
One day when Jesus was teaching in an over crowded home a network of guys forced Jesus to friend them by using technology to lower a member of their network down through the roof. Seeing the faith of this network, Jesus treated them like neighbors and full of justice, mercy, and humility, Jesus healed the…
By: Marc Andresen on January 26, 2017
For several months I have been contemplating the question, “Is individualism killing America?” This question arises from studying various cultures for our D Min essays. It has become clear that America is very individualistic, while many world cultures are collectivistic, wherein the community matters more than the individual. As I read Networked Theology: Negotiating Faith…
By: Stu Cocanougher on January 26, 2017
As someone who coordinates cross-cultural partnerships for our church, including the leading of mission trips and providing support to missionaries, I have spent a lot of time thinking about the practical ramifications of contextual theology, especially as it relates to evangelism. This week’s readings by Stephen Garner and Stephen Bevans have given me great insight…
