{"id":35400,"date":"2024-01-31T18:02:31","date_gmt":"2024-02-01T02:02:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/?p=35400"},"modified":"2024-01-31T18:10:37","modified_gmt":"2024-02-01T02:10:37","slug":"wisdom-of-ancient-words","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wisdom-of-ancient-words\/","title":{"rendered":"Wisdom from Ancient Words"},"content":{"rendered":"

It was said of Author Matthew R. Petrusek,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWithin the Church, Petrusek takes a \u201cback to basic\u201d approach to catechesis in an effort to recover an orthodox, pastorally-nimble yet intellectually-robust approach to faith formation and evangelization, using Scripture, the Catechism, and the great minds of the Church\u2019s tradition as a foundation. His ultimate goal is to present the Church\u2019s theological and moral doctrines with as much clarity as possible, believing that great ideas, if allowed to speak freely, will naturally draw people in.\u201d [1]<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

As I read the book,<\/span> Evangelization and Ideology:\u00a0 How to Understand and Respond to the Political Culture<\/span><\/i>, I was profoundly impacted by the \u201cback to basic\u201d approach that seemed to lift off the page as Dr. Petrusek described foundations for debate, locating sources of political disagreement, the anatomy of ideology and the mention of several current ideologies, as well as practical advice for evangelists within the culture.\u00a0 <\/span>Initially, the book aims to demonstrate that employing effective tools in political discourse can persuade individuals to embrace a morally sound conception of the common good. This conception establishes a moral political framework, enhancing the likelihood of fostering a civil environment conducive to both individual and communal flourishing within the constraints of an imperfect world. [2]\u00a0 One of the tools that Petrusek offers considers the anatomy of an argument.\u00a0 Illustrated in the text are two maps, one of the concentric circles which spelled out each of the \u201c-ologies\u201d.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

The tool for moral dialogue that I found most helpful is the conceptual map, showing a conceptual hierarchy, that includes questions in each domain of inquiry.\u00a0 In this illustration, a reader can understand how the concepts are interdependent on one another.\u00a0 Remove a person\u2019s ontological belief and the anthropological piece of a person\u2019s understanding collapses.\u00a0 The layers of the hierarchy are interdependent and do not exist in a void.\u00a0 As Petrusek states, \u201cif you were to pull out one of the \u201cfloors,\u201d everything above it would collapse while everything below it would stay intact.\u201d [3]\u00a0 The visual can assist a person in understanding the anatomy of an argument, through isolating the argument being made, breaking it into parts, and critically examining each component individually and in relation to the other components. [4].\u00a0 Simply put, the fundamental question when evaluating any issue, be it political, moral, epistemological, anthropological, ontological, or theological, is <\/span>What is truth and on what grounds do I believe it to be true?<\/span><\/i> [5]<\/span><\/p>\n

Some of the ideological statements or attitudes that are tossed around in culture, either expressed openly or through questions, that I would love to do a deep dive (maybe dissection) into using Petrusek\u2019s conceptual hierarchy map include. . .\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You do you. . .<\/span><\/p>\n

Your truth is your truth. . .<\/span><\/p>\n

Where is the non-binary bathroom?. . . (from a Kindergartener)<\/span><\/p>\n

I don\u2019t feel like a girl, so I. . .<\/span><\/p>\n

I don\u2019t feel like a boy, so I. . .<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s an embryo, not a human. . .<\/span><\/p>\n

That doesn\u2019t make me feel happy, so I. . .<\/span><\/p>\n

I define who I am.<\/span><\/p>\n

Love the sinner, hate the sin.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

History is a tale of oppression, not a source of contemporary wisdom.<\/span><\/p>\n

Being a biological human is a scientific fact.\u00a0 To be a person is an ethical concept, defined by what we value.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

My values are subjective choices, not grounded in facts.<\/span><\/p>\n

The value of a person\u2019s life depends on their ability to exercise autonomy and control.<\/span><\/p>\n

Church is for my consumption. . . \u201cI didn\u2019t get anything out of church today.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019m \u201cshopping\u201d for a church with a coffee shop, band, and entertaining pastor.<\/span><\/p>\n

I have the right to. . .\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There are many more ideological slogans, mantras, and phrases tossed around. Petrusek\u2019s two maps may be a helpful tool for cutting through the noise of political conflict and diagnosing the source of the dispute, putting the natural process of moral reasoning into a helpful visual form.\u00a0 In my research on how to promote the development a deeply rooted faith amongst young adults, the number one factor over and over, interview after interview, has been relationships with a mentor who they can engage in conversations with about these and other moral issues.\u00a0 They desire to have Christian mentors who will engage in conversations of moral reasoning, directly rooted in the Scriptures.\u00a0 They desire to know the Truth.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As I think about all the layers of thought and moral reasoning, I find comfort in the Proverbs as they cause me to reflect on wisdom, from the third chapter. [6]<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy child, don\u2019t reject the Lord\u2019s discipline, and don\u2019t be upset when he corrects you.\u00a0 For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.\u201d (verses 11-12)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoyful is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding.\u00a0 For wisdom is more profitable than silver, and her wages are better than gold.\u00a0 Wisdom is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.\u201d (verses 13-15)<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u201cWisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her; happy are those who hold her tightly.\u201d (verse 18)<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u201cMy child, don\u2019t lose sight of common sense and discernment.\u00a0 Hang on to them, for they will refresh your soul.\u00a0 They are like jewels on a necklace.\u00a0 They keep you safe on your way and your feet will not stumble.\u00a0 You can go to bed without fear;\u00a0 you will lie down and sleep soundly.\u00a0 You need not be afraid of sudden disaster or the destruction that comes upon the wicked, for the Lord is your security.\u00a0 He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap.\u201d (verses 21-26)<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

How can these ancient words influence our search for wisdom, and the cultivation of it within us, as we desire to love God and love others better each and every day?<\/span><\/p>\n

[1] <\/span>https:\/\/catholicspeakers.com\/profiles\/dr-matthew-petrusek<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

[2] <\/span>Matthew R. Petrusek, <\/span>Evangelization and Ideology: How to Understand and Respond to the\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Political Culture<\/span><\/i> (Park Ridge, IL: Word on Fire Institute, 2023).<\/span>13<\/span><\/p>\n

[3] Ibid, 59.<\/span><\/p>\n

[4] Ibid, 31.<\/span><\/p>\n

[5] Ibid, 51.<\/span><\/p>\n

[6] Proverbs 3:11-26, New Living Translation<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It was said of Author Matthew R. Petrusek,\u00a0 \u201cWithin the Church, Petrusek takes a \u201cback to basic\u201d approach to catechesis in an effort to recover an orthodox, pastorally-nimble yet intellectually-robust approach to faith formation and evangelization, using Scripture, the Catechism, and the great minds of the Church\u2019s tradition as a foundation. His ultimate goal is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":168,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2310],"tags":[2489,2997],"class_list":["post-35400","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-doctor-of-leadership-3","tag-dlgp02","tag-petrusek","cohort-dlgp02"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35400","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/168"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35400"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35400\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":35403,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35400\/revisions\/35403"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35400"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=35400"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=35400"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}