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Showing posts from July, 2010

Modules 8, 9, & 10: Class Notes

Module 8: Exhortation Robert Bellah, Habits of the Heart - Conclusion: Churches might be the best place for us to work toward the emergence of communities of character/moral discourse. Alasdair McIntyre – After Virtue They would argue current moral crises are not because of advances in technology, etc., but that we can’t solve problems through more specialized knowledge. More fundamental problem: collapse of the ethos . Ethos: accepted right way of doing things in a group. “We don’t do that.” The force of the ethos depends on the strength of the “we” in that statement, and our “we” has collapsed. And as always, this is a phenomenon of urbanization. The moment of the “why not?” question is the moment ethics begin. The moment for teaching, maturity, etc. We have an assumption today that the “why/why not” cannot be answered, because of the huge emphasis we place on individualism. Ethics becomes reduced to lifestyle choices. Relativism is so absolute that people doubt whether “why/why

Modules 6 & 7: Class Notes

Here's the next set of notes on Reconciliation and Consolation:  Module 6 – Reconciliation Practice of not naming the person who hurt you is wide spread in conciliatory letters. Perfect Tense: Present condition b/c of past event. Physical pain and emotional pain had no different words, descriptions. Stoics, etc., thought that a wise person could have no relationship to pain. 2 Cor. 1:11 – not outwitted, but defrauded. Indicates the person’s loss in community would have had an economic impact. 2 Cor. 7:12 – adikeo – injustice, legal wrong 2 Cor. 12: 16 – panourgos – capable of any work (of wrongdoing) Paul is being accused of embezzling the offering for the poor in Jerusalem through means of Titus and his ‘brother’ – this accusation is the wrong done against Paul that has caused him so much pain. Francis Watson: 2 Cor. 10:2, then v. 7 – switches from some people to someo ne . Why? Paul’s emphasis on cross? 10:10 Again, should say “Someone says” but not “They say” – this

Modules 4 & 5: Class Notes

Here's my next set of unedited class notes - lots of them!: Module 4: Managing Conflict In voluntary association, the provider of the food, the householder, feels to have power over portion control, who gets what, best portions, dining customs. 1 Cor. 11:17-34 – In the house of Gaius – the haves and the have nots Contrast between private supper and the Lord’s supper – you’ve made the Lord’s supper into a private supper. Other Greeks complained about tendency to privatize public feasts. (ie Plutarch) Meant for community, being privatized. Bread – part of supper – later the cup – part of whole meal. v. 21: Prolambein – either eating before others (slaves and working poor) arrive, or “in front of” others, while others had to look on, literally wealthy eating while others are watching, also different quantities of food are being served (as would be in ‘regular’ club/association), and perhaps different quality of food as well. Corinth – dearth of domestic archaeology – only 5 houses fro

Module 1, 2, & 3: Class Notes

Here are my unedited notes from class today at MTSO , with Dr. Welborn  (Happy Reading!) :  DMIN 901 Continuity and Change The Methodist Theological School in Ohio Summer Semester 2010 L. L. Welborn, Visiting Professor Discover point of correlation between my point of ministry and ministry of first century Christians. Ekklesia is formal name for voting place in community – when Paul uses as ‘church’, is making comparison. *** Module 1 – Sociological – insight into the social realities that helped to shape the NT can make the NT intelligible, but more importantly, applicable. Paul uses this model himself. (1 Cor 1:26) These are the same three decisions Aristotle uses in his divisions in the Greek city in his politics. Wise = educated. Powerful = wealth (dynatoi). Nobly-born = birth. So in Corinth, some were, some weren’t – not many, but a few. Paul is making a social description of the Christian community – not individuals, but the group. That makes is sociological. Celsus