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Continue reading →: How to Understand Islamic ArtSeeking to understand Islam, not just on a theological level, but on multiple levels, I have developed an interest in exploring the art and aesthetics of Islam as well, considering what Christians could learn from Muslims and what Muslims could learn from Christians. Nada Shabout makes the following observations in “Understanding Islamic Aesthetics“:…
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Continue reading →: Amusing Ourselves To Death in ChurchA choice comment from “Amusing Ourselves To Death” by Neil Postman. “The spectacle we find in true religions has as its purpose enchantment, not entertainment … Enchantment is the means through which we may gain access to sacredness. Entertainment is the means through which we distance ourselves from it.”
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Continue reading →: What is distinctive about Australian art?As an Australian interested in exploring more contextual expressions of Christianity, I feel an obvious question I must ask is: does Australian art have its own distinct character, and if so, what defines it? I don’t have a definitive answer yet, but I’ve noticed that many sources point to an…
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Continue reading →: 3 Practical Scenarios Raised By Same Sex AttractionIn his thought provoking article on “Evangelical Churches and Same Sex Attraction“, Nigel Chapman raised a three practical scenarios for Christian leaders to consider: Three Practical Scenarios The pastoral and missional problems raised by same sex attraction and orientation, and exemplified in the many negative outcomes for same sex oriented people in…
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Continue reading →: Transcendence of the SelfCan self-transcendence be achieved through self-effort? Surley self-effort is an expression of that self which needs transcending! Would not the surer way to self-transcendence be self-surrender to the transcendent? The paradox is this: truly transcencent effort is selfless, not concerned for the self!
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Continue reading →: Was it sinful for Abraham to have more than one wife?Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar; so she said to Abram, “The Lord has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her.” Abram agreed to what Sarai said. (Genesis…
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Continue reading →: Imagining Jesus as High Priest“Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest.” (Hebrews 3:1) The motif of Jesus as high priest is common enough in Christian theology but not so common in Christian art. In looking for…
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Continue reading →: Wahhabism: A Concern for both Christians and MuslimsI recently commented to some Muslims that it “sounds like the Wahhabis are a thorn in the side of Islam the same way Westboro Batpist and other hate movements are a thorn in the side of Christianity.” One replied, “Imagine what it would be like if Westboro had several trillion…
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Continue reading →: Polkinghorn on the perfection of God“God’s perfection lies in an ever-appropriate relationship to changing creation, rather than in an absolute divine immutability.” (John Polkinghorne – Science and Trinity)
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Continue reading →: More on Missional SpiritualityIn my last post on missional spirituality I outlined (1) my understanding of the Australian context, (2) where I see some shortfalls in the Christian response, and (3) some pointers for moving forward. In this post I would like to expand a bit more on the third point. Missional Spirituality is…
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