Wrote a new blog post about some questions and musings about Gregory of Nyssa, Anthropocentrism, and Christocentrism. Trying to move beyond the "humanity is the telos of Creation" perspective, while still remaining connected to the teachings of the Fathers.
Also, I have moved my blog to a new platform. No platform perfectly matches what I want, but at least now my family and friends can easily subscribe to it.
Question for @theologidons@academicchatter@theology@scethics@religion@religiousstudies : I am planning my class meeting to talk about Israel, Palestine, Gaza (history, current situation). This is for 30 college first-years in a gen-ed Intro course (bc #AJCU#CatholicCollege#JesuitEducation@Jesuit) I will assign something to tell the history and something to guide them in Difficult Discussions With Care. Ideas? Who's taken this on this term so far? How'd it go? HELP
I wrote a new short blog post about cybernetics, feedback loops, and the prevalence of evil. Basically, I use theories from cybernetics as analogies to talk about evil works in the world. You can read it here: https://write.as/nathaniel-metz/feedback-loops-and-evil
I have been listening to Laufey's new jazz album "Bewitched" non-stop. I am obsessed, and I think it is an artistic masterpiece. I wrote a blog post about it here:
A new book on #US#religion, 'The Great Dechurching', has a survey of “dechurched #evangelicals”, of whom 68% said their #parents played a role in their decision to stop attending #church. The top 5 issues:
There are many fault lines in conservative churches. The rejection of the Sermon on the mount as weak by conservative congregants and young adults quitting.
It’s contrasted by pastors like Ed Trevors or the efforts of Rev Bishop Barber. The latter is organizing to refute hate. I think all people (of faith) should join in.
We really need to a have you no shame moment when the people rise and repudiate hate.
I have to wonder how congregants drifted that way. If they came to the idea from what their pastors said, it’s quite the indictment of the latter. If it’s from social media, it’s an indictment of the community (some might think this sentiment is harsh, but it’s reality), but the megaphone of contempt is well funded. They started with greed is good and then made vilification (false witness) a business model. We’re all living in that world.
@GhostOnTheHalfShell@theologidons@theology as has been pointed out, these parents are often people are in church an hour per week, but watching Fox News and scrolling Facebook for hours more. Many decent pastors have, understandably, given up the struggle
If you’re into sermons and the like, here’s my most recent message. I was speaking on Acts 17:16-34 when Paul spoke at the Areopogus in the city of Athens.