Showing papers in "Theology in 2016"
TL;DR: In this paper, a study illustrates how among experienced preachers sensing types and intuitive types approach the problem in different ways, and illustrates how the problem is different for different types of preachers.
Abstract: Accounts of healings like the one reported concerning Bartimaeus present a challenge for preachers on Disability Awareness Sunday. This study illustrates how among experienced preachers sensing types and intuitive types approach the problem in different ways.
20 citations
TL;DR: The famous five ways to demonstrate the existence of God, which Aquinas presents at the outset of his magisterial Summa Theologiae, represent one of the most revisited and researched topics in th...
Abstract: The famous ‘five ways’ to demonstrate the existence of God, which Aquinas presents at the outset of his magisterial Summa Theologiae, represent one of the most revisited and researched topics in th...
7 citations
5 citations
5 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors argue that these "life-centred" funerals have an implicit theology, like Christian funerals, but in different ways, they invite judgement, myth and hope.
Abstract: Funerals led by a celebrant not representing a faith community are rapidly increasing in England. This article argues that these ‘life-centred’ funerals have an implicit theology; like Christian funerals, but in different ways, they invite judgement, myth and hope. How should churches respond to this competition? Imitation is problematic, because the ‘life-centred’ approach is far more than a mere technique to be bolted on to the Christian funeral. The article concludes by sketching some unique resources churches have that cannot be matched by the new breed of celebrants.
5 citations
TL;DR: The authors argued that contemporary culture often regards ugliness as being more authentic than beauty and argued that "Ugliness is an elusive concept and has been little discussed in theological aesthetics".
Abstract: Ugliness is an elusive concept and has been little discussed in theological aesthetics. This article argues that contemporary culture often regards ugliness as being more authentic than beauty and ...
3 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors consider an aspect of the recent and welcome introduction into the mainstream of the Church’s life of the concept of "discipleship" as something to help guide the lives of Christian people.
Abstract: This essay considers an aspect of the recent and welcome introduction into the mainstream of the Church’s life of the concept of ‘discipleship’ as something to help guide the lives of Christian peo...
3 citations
TL;DR: In the extraordinary historical event of the incarnation of God's Word, Mary plays a unique role for humanity in its relationship with God and, this role affects every aspect of Christian faith and...
Abstract: In the extraordinary historical event of the incarnation of God’s Word, Mary plays a unique role for humanity in its relationship with God and, this role affects every aspect of Christian faith and...
3 citations
TL;DR: The Anglican Caroline Divines of the seventeenth century, and in particular the writings of Bishop Jeremy Taylor (1613-67), should not be misunderstood as anachroni....
Abstract: This article, which focuses upon the Anglican Caroline Divines of the seventeenth century, and in particular the writings of Bishop Jeremy Taylor (1613–67), should not be misunderstood as anachroni...
3 citations
3 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a memorial stained glass at a Cambridgeshire parish church displays a retributive, quasi-Deuteronomic theology of war, consistent with contemporary ecclesiastical attitudes.
Abstract: Memorial stained glass at a Cambridgeshire parish church displays a retributive, quasi-Deuteronomic theology of war. Consistent with contemporary ecclesiastical attitudes, martial images depict ‘ap...
TL;DR: The Christian quest for wisdom in relation to marriage and family is necessarily ongoing, not least in response to significant changes in human patterns of intimacy in modern and postmodern times as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: The Christian quest for wisdom in relation to marriage and family is necessarily ongoing, not least in response to significant changes in human patterns of intimacy in modern and postmodern times. ...
TL;DR: The authors argue that universities should be involved in addressing complex challenges in society, including by helping society and graduates seek the good, and, some argue, God, in the midst of those challenges.
Abstract: Universities help shape individuals and societies. Contemporary Anglican theologians argue the shaping universities are involved in should be towards the common good, including by creating graduates as citizens. That is well within the mainstream of what universities have traditionally been about. It is also consistent with what other commentators are currently saying. Present higher education policy focuses on universities serving the economy and enabling social mobility. Both those are important, but society faces other and complex challenges which universities should be involved in addressing, including by helping society and graduates seek the good, and, some argue, God, in the midst of those challenges. If universities do not rise to such challenges, they will fail their students and society.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors argue that both Stanley Hauerwas and Rowan Williams write for a Church that lives under the judgement of God, and argue for the necessity of holding them together.
Abstract: This article suggests that both Stanley Hauerwas and Rowan Williams write for a Church that lives under the judgement of God. For Hauerwas this entails presenting the Church with a demanding call, and for Williams it means presenting it with a difficult question. I argue that their discourse is thus intentionally lopsided, but as such neither voice is sustainable on its own. By considering the notion of ‘the stranger’ I then explore how such a call and question are worked out, and argue for the necessity of holding them together.
TL;DR: The latest book by Bob Jackson (Director of the Centre for Church Growth at St John's Nottingham) is a stimulating and encouraging book as mentioned in this paper, which advocates wise and immensely practical advice, the fruit of many years of experience.
Abstract: This latest book by Bob Jackson (Director of the Centre for Church Growth at St John’s Nottingham) is a stimulating and encouraging book. For years the unrelenting message garnered from available statistics is that the Church of England is in a seemingly irreversible decline. Bob Jackson, armed with many and varied statistics, argues that that is no longer the case. In many dioceses and in many different contexts, there is plenty of evidence of growth – for example, many cathedrals are seeing growth, new churches and congregations are being planted and bearing fruit. For this particular reviewer, any book that sets out to encourage, stimulate and argue for church growth immediately gets a huge tick, but there is so much more to the book than that. The author continually advocates wise and immensely practical advice, the fruit of many years of experience, at the end of many of the chapters such as handling change, encouraging dioceses to grow, how to bring back families, children and young people. Of the various initiatives that seem to be bearing fruit in recent years, the author highlights the success of Fresh Expressions and ‘Messy Church’ in particular, which he claims is, ‘The biggest single churchgoing growth phenomenon in this country since the rise of Sunday schools and Methodism at the end of the eighteenth century’ (p. 175). Scattered throughout the book are occasional nuggets that are eminently quotable:
TL;DR: In this article, the meaning of priestly ministry is explored in the context of flexible and flexible and previous discussion of the role of the priest's role in the formation process and the life of a priest.
Abstract: Drawing on autobiographical material, a small-scale qualitative survey and previous discussion, this article seeks to explore the meaning of priestly ministry today. In the context of flexible and ...
TL;DR: In this paper, the eunuch is defined as a person who falls outside the gender binary of male and female, and the inclusion of this person in baptism points to a more inclusive stance in today's church.
Abstract: In Acts 8 Philip baptizes an Ethiopian eunuch. In this article I note that the eunuch is someone who falls outside the gender binary of male and female. Although our gender questions are different to first-century ones, can the inclusion offered to the eunuch in baptism point us to a more inclusive stance in today’s church? Can this story speak to those who challenge gender binaries particularly intersex and transgender individuals, and can that challenge the Church to think beyond such binaries?
TL;DR: This is one of the most terrifying and problematic parts of just one Gospel; it has a life of its own in culture and we are faced with the question of what place it may have within a Christian traditi...
Abstract: This is one of the most terrifying and problematic parts of just one Gospel; it has a life of its own in culture. We are faced with the question of what place it may have within a Christian traditi...
TL;DR: The Church Growth Research Programme reported a significant link between the psychological type profile of the senior cleric and patterns of church growth and decline as mentioned in this paper, and examined the implications of this finding from the perspectives of personality psychology, Christian theology and church practice.
Abstract: The Church Growth Research Programme reported a significant link between the psychological type profile of the senior cleric and patterns of church growth and decline. The present article examines the implications of this finding from the perspectives of personality psychology, Christian theology and church practice.
TL;DR: The interpretation of Matthew 7.6 as discussed by the authors deals with the notion of "casting pearls before swine" in the context of the casting of pearls in a vase, and the interpretation offered here is similar to ours.
Abstract: Every commentator struggles with the interpretation of Matthew 7.6, because the tantalizing image of ‘casting pearls before swine’ is so enigmatic. The interpretation offered here deals with the pu...
TL;DR: The influence of O'Donovan's arguments concerning sexual dimorphism and openness to procreation on the Church of England's case for the heterosexual exclusivity of marriage was highlighted in this paper.
Abstract: Behind the Church of England’s public statements on marriage, such as Men and Women in Marriage, lies the thought of ethicist Oliver O’Donovan. This article highlights the influence of O’Donovan’s arguments concerning ‘sexual dimorphism’ (male/female physiological opposition) and ‘openness to procreation’ upon the Church’s case for the heterosexual exclusivity of marriage, by showing how they fill in the gaps in the reasoning of Men and Women in Marriage. These arguments, however, are ideologically conservative, fail to meet O’Donovan’s own standard for the admissibility of natural claims and do not convince that sexual opposition is an essential requirement for fidelity, permanent mutuality or openness to procreation – the Church of England’s three goods of marriage.
TL;DR: In this paper, Marlow lies about the dying words of the fiancee's villainous lover, Kurtz, and relates what her tearful questioning shows him she longs to...
Abstract: At the conclusion of Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, Marlow lies about the dying words of the grieving fiancee’s villainous lover, Kurtz. He relates what her tearful questioning shows him she longs to ...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors consider and assess the recent call by a number of prominent churchmen and religious leaders, including the former Archbishop, Lord Williams, for a study of Humanism.
Abstract: The aim of this article is to consider and assess the recent call by a number of prominent churchmen and religious leaders, including the former Archbishop, Lord Williams, for a study of Humanism t...
TL;DR: The authors draw a parallel between music and theology as performance activities, through an examination of the role of "text" in each discipline, and of their inherent commitments to improvising in music.
Abstract: This paper aims to draw a parallel between music and theology as performance activities, through an examination of the role of ‘text’ in each discipline, and of their inherent commitments to improv...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors explore how the LORD forbade Jeremiah to pray on behalf of the people in 7.16, 11.14 and 14.11 of the book of Jeremiah.
Abstract: A unique feature of the book of Jeremiah is God’s thrice repeated ban on intercession. In 7.16, 11.14 and 14.11, God forbids Jeremiah to pray on behalf of the people. In this article I explore how ...