I am regretting not having another week with you all—and these readings! I hope that you keep these in your files for future engagement. What I hope you keep in your minds as you read this week, and in preparation for class, is the question posed in the Nelson essay, “Who is Christ for us…

It’s Passion Week: the perfect time to study atonement theories, eh? (As if I planned this; I did not.) Please take care of yourself as you read these texts. All of them deal with death and suffering in one way or another. I recommend taking breaks between reading each text, as you are able. We…

So many Jesuses, so little time! This week is a great continuation of some of the conversations we’ve been having in class–certainly during our Black Christ week but also with your cultural Jesus presentations. I am excited to see where our conversation leads. You have three assigned readings plus one choose-your-own adventure reading. In class,…

Over the next two weeks we will continue our work toward understanding a “concrete,” “here and now” Christ through studying the incarnation. This first week is largely about gender, next week on culture–though of course there are overlapping/intersectional categories here. As a quick primer, here are some helpful definitions before we enter these readings. All…

This week we’re being introduced to two major thinkers and traditions of the 20th century: Karl Barth* (1886-1968) and the Barthian tradition and James H. Cone (1938-2018) and Black Liberation Theology. *Pronounced “Bart” Are there two more significant theologians of the 20th century?? I am pairing Barth (a Swiss German dude) with the Black Christ…

OK, I’ll admit that it’s a little unfair to include 1,000 years of church history into one week of class, when we spent the first 6 weeks on, like, 200 years of history. But the Middle Ages had debates about angelology and the extent of a “free” will–things that are, no doubt, interesting, but less…

This is our last week spent primarily on heresies. (Is your mind spinning from all the different -isms?) I want you to think back to the metaphor introduced in the Wright text last week of the theological pendulum. These ideas about who Jesus is swing back and forth, back and forth, between emphasizing his divinity…

It’s the big one! If we want to talk about big turning points in Christianity, this certainly makes the list. We might be tempted to think of Christianity as “pure” or “apolitical” before Emperor Constantine commissioned the Council. But, I think after our conversation in class 2 weeks ago, we know better than that. 😉…

Howdy! I hope you enjoy your break this week. For those of you feeling a little overwhelmed this term, I hope you can use this week to work ahead or think toward your final projects. Take the burden off your future selves! If you want to read ahead: If you want to think about your…

When I was a first-year at The Seattle School, I celebrated my 23rd birthday with friends who still did not know me super well. My dear friend Bethany–who now knows me, I think, much better–made me a birthday cake celebrating the few things she DID know about me: I was turning 23, I loved the…