Bryan Berghoef's Blog, page 6
January 18, 2014
To Explain God as Unexplainable
"Quia de deo scire non possumus quid sit, sed quid non sit, non possumus considerare de deo, quomodo sit sed quomodo non sit."
This is St. Thomas Aquinas' introduction to this whole Summa Theologica: "Since we cannot know what God is, but only what God is not, we cannot consider how God is but only how He is not."
At different points in my life, I've been pretty sure that we can know exactly who and what God is. We can define him quite precisely. We can come up with a list of attributes. We c...
This is St. Thomas Aquinas' introduction to this whole Summa Theologica: "Since we cannot know what God is, but only what God is not, we cannot consider how God is but only how He is not."
At different points in my life, I've been pretty sure that we can know exactly who and what God is. We can define him quite precisely. We can come up with a list of attributes. We c...
January 1, 2014
New Year Resolution: Conversation
Guest post by Scot McKnight. Original post can be read here. I share this post because I see much that is in line with my own experiences of good conversations at the pub. Read it and see if you agree.
The question: What are the central characteristics of a genuine conversation in your opinion?
I want to draw your attention to a massive and brilliant study, but for most of us far too specialized to be a book to “blog” our way through. The book is Benedetta Craveri’s The Age of Conversation. H...
The question: What are the central characteristics of a genuine conversation in your opinion?
I want to draw your attention to a massive and brilliant study, but for most of us far too specialized to be a book to “blog” our way through. The book is Benedetta Craveri’s The Age of Conversation. H...
December 30, 2013
Pub Theologian’s Best of 2013
To new and old readers of this blog, to those who I've been able to lift a pint with, and to those gathering everywhere to enjoy a good brew and engage in thoughtful discussion, here's to 2013! It was a good year! Cheers.
YEAR-END GIVEAWAY - I'm giving away a signed copy of Pub Theology along with a $25 gift certificate to your favorite brewery. Entry details below.
Read about my Top Ten Beers, Top Posts of the Year, and more! Continue reading →
YEAR-END GIVEAWAY - I'm giving away a signed copy of Pub Theology along with a $25 gift certificate to your favorite brewery. Entry details below.
Read about my Top Ten Beers, Top Posts of the Year, and more! Continue reading →
December 21, 2013
10 Things You Can’t Do at Christmas While Following Jesus
Guest post by Mark Sandlin: Ah, Christmas! The most wonderful time of the year. A time to gather with family and friends, and, with a smile on our faces, pretend we aren't quietly measuring who received the best present and which relative really, really needs to stop drinking. A time to hang tinsel and baubles from the tree, and time to hangup our hopes of losing that last 10 pounds this year. Such a joyous season!
The real point here is that Christmas is what we make of it. For Christians, h...
The real point here is that Christmas is what we make of it. For Christians, h...
December 13, 2013
Show Up or Else: The So-Called Scandal of the Semi-Churched
Apparently there is a new category for the less-than-faithful-church-goer: not the 'unchurched' or 'de-churched' or 'sick of church' or even the 'nones', no, these new targets of evangelical exuberance are the semi-churched. Which probably describes many of you. Probably even me. Who are the semi-churched? Those who go to church usually, but not always.
Well, the word is out. A pastor in Michigan is on to your scheming, conniving, devilish ways. You'd think a pastor concerned with the kingdom...
Well, the word is out. A pastor in Michigan is on to your scheming, conniving, devilish ways. You'd think a pastor concerned with the kingdom...
December 10, 2013
Improbable Souls: A Poem
Today's post is a poem written by Jack Ricchiuto, inspired by a recent conversation at Pub Theology DC.
A short poem. It came out of a question that emerged for me from last night, somehow: what if God was approached by people who want access to heaven and hell to bring love to those they loved in their lifetime here? Enjoy.
Improbable Souls
Angels dart glances on the rare occasion
Where God sits in speechless reflection
On a new request, never uttered by the
Billions before, the seemingly si...
A short poem. It came out of a question that emerged for me from last night, somehow: what if God was approached by people who want access to heaven and hell to bring love to those they loved in their lifetime here? Enjoy.
Improbable Souls
Angels dart glances on the rare occasion
Where God sits in speechless reflection
On a new request, never uttered by the
Billions before, the seemingly si...
November 21, 2013
CANA Initiative Recap
Had a great week this week joining other instigators at the CANA Initiative gathering, which happened here in Washington, DC. I'd say it was a few days of dreaming what might come out of a network bringing a range of people together who are ready to live into and experience a new kind of faith.
As Philip Clayton put it, sometimes you have to kick up the dust to see where the wind is blowing. Much dust was kicked up, including vital challenges from Anthony Smith and others on the need to expan...
As Philip Clayton put it, sometimes you have to kick up the dust to see where the wind is blowing. Much dust was kicked up, including vital challenges from Anthony Smith and others on the need to expan...
November 16, 2013
Noah and the Violence of God [Trailer included]
A new movie about the story of the Genesis flood is heading to theatres entitled simply: NOAH. Starring Russell Crowe as Noah, of course.
The movie trailer begins with these controversial words:
"At a time when wickedness was great in the world... so too was the response."
A story so familiar: water, animals, a big boat. Perhaps too familiar. Rev. Alan Storey preached a sermon recently that helped us see through to the dark depths of this story. The darkness of humanity, and of a dark respons...
The movie trailer begins with these controversial words:
"At a time when wickedness was great in the world... so too was the response."
A story so familiar: water, animals, a big boat. Perhaps too familiar. Rev. Alan Storey preached a sermon recently that helped us see through to the dark depths of this story. The darkness of humanity, and of a dark respons...
November 8, 2013
Pub Theology Is (not) a Waste of Time
This post originally appeared in HuffPost Religion.
You've read, perhaps, about churches making use of beer to gain traction in connecting with people. NPR put it more starkly in a story recently: "To Stave Off Decline, Churches Attract New Members With Beer." But you're skeptical. And I don't blame you. It sounds like a gimmick. Trying to be trendy. Throwing a few jokes into a stale sermon to appear witty, humorous, relevant. Young. People increasingly like beer. People increasingly don't li...
You've read, perhaps, about churches making use of beer to gain traction in connecting with people. NPR put it more starkly in a story recently: "To Stave Off Decline, Churches Attract New Members With Beer." But you're skeptical. And I don't blame you. It sounds like a gimmick. Trying to be trendy. Throwing a few jokes into a stale sermon to appear witty, humorous, relevant. Young. People increasingly like beer. People increasingly don't li...
October 29, 2013
Christianity Divided by the Cross
A guest post by theologian and scholar Marcus Borg - a fitting addition to our series on Atonement.
(this originally appeared on patheos.com)
American Christians are deeply divided by the cross of Jesus – namely, by how they see the meanings of his death. At the risk of labels and broad generalizations, “conservative” Christians generally believe a “payment” understanding of the cross: Jesus died to pay for our sins so we can be forgiven.
Most “progressive” Christians (at least a majority) ha...
(this originally appeared on patheos.com)
American Christians are deeply divided by the cross of Jesus – namely, by how they see the meanings of his death. At the risk of labels and broad generalizations, “conservative” Christians generally believe a “payment” understanding of the cross: Jesus died to pay for our sins so we can be forgiven.
Most “progressive” Christians (at least a majority) ha...
