Ethics | MINISTRY FROM TWO POLES

Archive for the 'Ethics' Category

Jan

God as Mother – Innocence Lost (Part 5)

Categories: Ethics, Feminist theology, Liberation theology and Sermons & Studies
Tags: bias, biblical authority, Christ, Christian, Church, conflict resolution, Ethics, Faith, Feminist theology, God, IMAGE OF GOD, inclusive, Jesus, Kingdom of God, Liberation theology, oppression, PC(USA), Progressive, Theology

Continued from Part 4, or go to the beginning and view the Table of Contents.

I will resist the urge to recap the arguments so far. They are here, after all, to find and read in the first four parts. In this section I want to speak of why this topic is important in the first place. Nothing like waiting until the end to do that, is there? Ultimately, what I have to say on this will be based on two central beliefs.

(i) As long as it falls short of idolatry, the image that each of us has of God can serve be valuable for our faith lives. It is one thing to say, “I find an affinity with a male or female image of God that informs my personal spiritual journey,” and a whole different thing to say, “God is male – to say otherwise is blashemy, a sin or whatever.” We have a right to envision God in the way that is most comfortable to us, as long as we remain cognizant of the fact that it is just an image.

(ii) When it comes to public worship or study, however, our personal image of God needs to be left at the door. In this situation, we may be responsible not just for our own spirituality, but that of others as well. To formalize or otherwise restrict public worship and theology to that of our own is to reach the point of idolizing our own rationality, or irrationality as the case may be. Continue reading ‘God as Mother – Innocence Lost (Part 5)’

Jan

God as Mother – Masculinity Lost? (Part 4)

By Rev Andy Little Leave a Comment

Categories: Ethics, Feminist theology, Liberation theology and Sermons & Studies
Tags: bias, biblical authority, Christ, Christian, Church, Equity, Ethics, Faith, Feminist theology, Genesis, Holy Spirit, IMAGE OF GOD, inclusive, Kingdom of God, oppression, PC(USA), Progressive, Theology

Continued from Part 3, or go to beginning at Part 1.

EMASCULATION OR UN-MASCULINIZATION OF GOD

Opponents of inclusive imagery and language about God often claim it is bordering on blasphemy, with a significant number of those making the case being women. Proponents cite myriad reasons for its legitimacy. For now, let’s begin by looking at the arguments for the masculine image of God, so we can determine what’s at stake in changing our approach.

Except for Mormons, many who believe there is a God-mother beside the God-father, and some non-trinitarian sects, most adherents of Christians sects believe that the totality of God is wrapped up in the trinitarian formula, “Father, Son and Holy Ghost (Spirit).” To change that formulation, many think, is to attack the very nature of God and to lead people away from the “true” God. Besides the fact that God does not need protecting, on which I hope we would all agree, then what is in need of protection is a tenet of faith – a dogma – a way of understanding God. The way in which we speak of God does not change who and what God is. The tenacity with which people hold onto specific images prompts us to ask, “What is really at stake?” Continue reading ‘God as Mother – Masculinity Lost? (Part 4)’

Jan

Scapegoating & Spiritual Abuse in Churches (Part 3)

By Rev Andy Little 1 Comment

Categories: Ethics, Justice & Mercy and Liberation theology
Tags: biblical authority, Christ, Christian, Church, conflict resolution, Ethics, group dynamics, IMAGE OF GOD, Kingdom of God, oppression, PC(USA), Theology

Continued from here. Go to Table of Contents

Pastoral care in spiritual abuse

Most of the authors, again, describe two distinct groups – those that abuse and those that are abused. While the majority discuss pastoral or secular care for the victims, little is said about the perpetrators of spiritual abuse. Arterburn and Felton, however, seemed to acknowledge the brokenness and victimization of all the participants by providing a short section, after each description, labeled “Hope for the …”. While differences can be distinguished with regard to aggression, intentionality and, to some extent morality, each of the players who stay in an errant or sick religious environment, without trying to change it, can be viewed as victims in need of recovery and redemption. Care should be taken, however, to avoid excusing aberrant behavior, since that can lead to freeing the victimizers from the obligation or duty to recognize and change their abusive patterns.

Continue reading ‘Scapegoating & Spiritual Abuse in Churches (Part 3)’

Jan

Scapegoating & Spiritual Abuse in Churches (Part 2)

By Rev Andy Little 3 Comments

Categories: Ethics, Justice & Mercy and Liberation theology
Tags: biblical authority, Christian, Church, conflict resolution, Ethics, group dynamics, oppression, PC(USA), Theology

Continued from here Go to Table of Contents

The others players in the ‘game’ of spiritual abuse

Most of the authors researched consider the remaining players to be persons addicted to a toxic or sick religious system, generally assuming that healthy members would be aware of the problems and leave to find a more nurturing environment. While not all are directly involved in the abusive behavior, all people remaining within the system and choosing not to seek change are, to varying extents, complicit in the illness of the church. Various terms were used to name these people – victims, religious addicts and scapegoats being the most common.

Continue reading ‘Scapegoating & Spiritual Abuse in Churches (Part 2)’

Jan

God as Mother – Imagery lost (Part 3)

By Rev Andy Little Leave a Comment

Categories: Ethics, Feminist theology, Liberation theology and Sermons & Studies
Tags: bias, biblical authority, Christ, Christian, Church, Ethics, Faith, Feminist theology, God, history, IMAGE OF GOD, inclusive, Jesus, Kingdom of God, Liberation theology, Progressive, Theology

Continued from Part 2. Or go to Table of Contents

Feminine images of God still abound in scripture, as discussed in Part 1. Those images, however, are simply those that have survived the expurgation by 3rd and 4th century “masculinizers” of the text. I know, that’s not technically a word – at least it wasn’t, but it is now. Examples could be used from the texts that were omitted, like the Odes of Solomon, but they are not part of the canon and so would be open to ridicule. Examples of passages still in the Bible have already been covered. To make the point on how images have been expunged, I will simply examine the instance of El Shaddai – Almight God – as the case in point. Continue reading ‘God as Mother – Imagery lost (Part 3)’

Jan

Liberation Theology and Globalization – Part 5

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Categories: Ethics and Liberation theology
Tags: bias, Capital, Christian, Church, Economy, Holy Spirit, IMAGE OF GOD, Liberation theology, oppression, Progressive, society, Theology

Continued from here or go to Table of Contents.

A LIBERATION THEOLOGY FOR THE “FIRST WORLD”

A major roadblock to a serious discussion of liberation theologies in dominant culture is the assertion that they are essentially Marxist in nature. This accusation has been proffered by not only “First World” governments, but by the Western churches including the Roman Catholic Church. Since explicating the philosophies of Marx is not the point of this paper, it will have to suffice to address the barest of arguments. First, the West in general, and the U.S. in particular, is somewhat irrational in its fear of Marxism. Marx was, first and foremost, a philosopher – albeit one who believed in praxis. The philosophy of Marx does not line up particularly well with what the West understands as Marxist politics, namely Communism as practiced in the 20^th century: Continue reading ‘Liberation Theology and Globalization – Part 5’

Jan

Liberation Theology and Globalization – Part 4

By Rev Andy Little 1 Comment

Categories: Ethics and Liberation theology
Tags: bias, Capital, Christian, conflict resolution, Economy, Equity, Ethics, Faith, history, Liberation theology, oppression, society, Theology

Continued from here or go to Table of Contents.

THE UNDEVELOPMENT OF THE DEVELOPED WORLD

The dominant U.S. theology of entitlement seems to conflict with not only liberation theologies, but most theologies that include political and social action as essential tenets. Such European notables in political theology as Jurgen Moltmann, Johannes Baptist Metz, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer were joined by Reinhold Niebuhr and John Howard Yoder of the U.S. In his 1972 book The Politics of Jesus, Yoder detailed the biblical evidence which justified his belief, “Jesus is, according to the biblical witness, a model of radical political action …”[1] Disturbed by theological thought that separated Jesus from the political sphere, he attempted to prove that faithful Christian disciples should adopt Jesus’ political approach. Continue reading ‘Liberation Theology and Globalization – Part 4’

Jan

Liberation Theology and Globalization (Part 3)

By Rev Andy Little Leave a Comment

Categories: Ethics and Liberation theology
Tags: bias, Capital, Christian, Church, conflict resolution, Economy, Ethics, God, Liberation theology, oppression, Progressive, society, Theology

Continued from here or go to Table of Contents.

USING THEOLOGY TO PROSPER

As in the U.S. women’s battle for the vote, the fall of the Berlin Wall and the ‘end’ of apartheid in South Africa, to name a few momentous occasions in recent social history, change of this magnitude requires partners. In each of these instances of striving for justice, significant numbers of allies within the dominant Western cultures had to be enlisted. Men voted to recognize (not give) women’s right to vote; pressure on East Germany and South Africa from other countries seem to have played a substantial role in changes experienced in those areas. Allies, from within the U.S. and European cultures, are likely to be needed, in the long run, to aid in the battle against widespread impoverishment. Continue reading ‘Liberation Theology and Globalization (Part 3)’

Jan

Liberation Theology and Globalization (Part 2)

By Rev Andy Little Leave a Comment

Categories: Ethics and Liberation theology
Tags: bias, Capital, Christian, Economy, Equity, Ethics, inclusive, Liberation theology, oppression, society, Theology

Continued from here or return to Table of Contents

THE ECONOMICS OF OPPRESSION

It may be, on one hand, quite right to point out that the general populations of these dominant cultures have neither made the decisions to dominate nor benefited directly in the economic spoils of domination. Actions empowered by monarchs and popes have been replaced by those instituted by presidents, prime ministers and corporate moguls. It may even be true that the portion of the U.S. or European populations that has profited the most is the elite – those with significant holdings of stocks, bonds and privilege.[1] While these things may be true, for the general population to claim no enrichment or complicity is to turn a blind eye to the obvious truths of economy and quality of life. Continue reading ‘Liberation Theology and Globalization (Part 2)’

Jan

God as Mother – lost in later tradition (Pt 2)

By Rev Andy Little 4 Comments

Categories: Ethics, Feminist theology and Sermons & Studies
Tags: bias, biblical authority, Christ, Christian, Church, Equity, Faith, Feminist theology, group dynamics, history, IMAGE OF GOD, inclusive, Jesus, Liberation theology, oppression, society

Continued from: God as Mother – more traditional than you might think. Or go to Table of Contents

WHAT DID JESUS DO?

The most common reason given for calling God “God the Father”, “Father God” or “Father” is that Jesus did, and told us to do so as well. That is true, of course, only when you read a translation of the New Testament in something other than Greek. Greek had some interesting abnormalities that affect translation – unusual facets that were easy to miss, or to ignore, depending on your perspectives or intentions. Continue reading ‘God as Mother – lost in later tradition (Pt 2)’

Jan

The Parable of the Ministers

By Rev Andy Little Leave a Comment

Categories: Economic Theology and Ethics
Tags: Church, Faith, Kingdom of God

The Kingdom of Heaven will look something like this. The bishop of an unnamed denomination called in two new probationer ministers to make appointments to two churches based, of course, on the gifts and graces he perceived in each candidate. After interviewing the two probationers, the bishop appointed the first to a suburban church with over five hundred members and a brand new, spectacular building. The second was appointed to an inner city mission church with less than a hundred members and a somewhat dilapidated building located in a blighted neighborhood. The bishop, of course, disappeared from view until it was time for the next round of appointments.
Continue reading ‘The Parable of the Ministers’

Jan

The Case Isn’t Against LGBT – Part 5

By Rev Andy Little Leave a Comment

Categories: Ethics, GLBT & Queer Theology and Sermons & Studies
Tags: Christian, Church, GLBT issues, inclusive, Progressive, Theology

Go to Table of Contents

WHAT IS REALLY AT STAKE

What is at stake is the outright condemnation and rejection of a significant portion of God’s children by the church based, according to most, on scriptural authority. I argue that the very few Biblical passages that possibly decry homosexuality lose their veracity since the Levitical condemnation of “abomination” is, at the least, suspect. It is incumbent on the church to wrestle out the implications of this in a very public way,

Continue reading ‘The Case Isn’t Against LGBT – Part 5′

Jan

The Case Against LGBT – no, the KJV Part 4

By Rev Andy Little Leave a Comment

Categories: Ethics, GLBT & Queer Theology and Sermons & Studies
Tags: Christ, Christian, Church, GLBT issues, inclusive, Progressive, Theology

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THE ORIGINS OF “AS WITH A WOMAN”

Where, then, did the English translations derive the meaning so frequently interpreted as a prohibition against same-sex relations. We need look no further than the Vulgate, the Latin translation of scripture ascribed to St Jerome in the early fifth century. Continue reading ‘The Case Against LGBT – no, the KJV Part 4’

Jan

The Case Against LGBT Falters – Part 3

By Rev Andy Little 1 Comment

Categories: Ethics, GLBT & Queer Theology and Sermons & Studies
Tags: Christian, Church, GLBT issues, inclusive, Kingdom of God, Progressive, Theology

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SO WHAT IS THIS PROSCRIPTION REALLY ABOUT?

In true scriptural fashion, virtually all proscriptions are repeated several times – not just once or twice. While versions of the Decalogue – the Ten Commandments – appear three times, the admonishments contained therein are far more repetitive. Patterns and frequency of use, as mentioned earlier, help determine the meaning of difficult passages. There is, in fact, a pattern with regards to the significance of ‘bed’ in both the Hebrew and Greek.
Continue reading ‘The Case Against LGBT Falters – Part 3’

Jan

The Case Against LGBT – Part 2

By Rev Andy Little Leave a Comment

Categories: Ethics, GLBT & Queer Theology and Sermons & Studies
Tags: Christian, Church, GLBT issues, inclusive, Progressive, Theology

Go to Table of Contents

WHAT DOES “…AS WITH A WOMAN” MEAN?

Lev 18:22 You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.
Lev 20:13 If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall be put to death; their blood is upon them. (NRSV)

The wording of different English translations differs little with regard to these passages and, therefore, offers little help in examining meaning. The level of confidence in their validity, as prohibitions against same-sex relationships, is directly proportional to the credence given ‘literal’ readings of scripture. More literal – more important and damning; less literal – less consequential. I will argue, however, that the translations found in most English bibles are not very literal at all. In fact, quite generous interpretive licenses have been taken in the first place. Continue reading ‘The Case Against LGBT – Part 2’

... or, preaching from both ends

Rev Andy Little

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That's too bad - I'm so sorry. Oh, well, just try to make the best of it. What you'll find here is a variety of essays and ramblings to do with things theological, social, whimsical and, sometimes, all three. I don't write to get famous - trust me, I've been told how futile that would be - but to express myself. I love to communicate and browbeat - ummm, I mean dialogue - about the things I find intriguing. Since you're here, and the door's locked, why don't you stay a while. There's a page bar under the header with links to information about us - I mean me. Don't forget to tell me what you think - in a nice way, I mean.