Thanks, Mom, for photos sent by email.
Practical theology and social justice (PhD edit)
Practical theology is sociopolitically committed.[1] Persons from ‘below’ are a focus of practical theology, these being people who experience institutionalized injustice and oppression.[2] The Church should not simply attempt to raise itself to heaven in a sense,[3] but needs to focus on working within the world.[4] Robert McAfee Brown (1984) comments that in the Bible, in places such as Exodus, God takes a position against those who promote oppression and injustice.[5] God at times does take sides in human struggles,[6] and God does side with the oppressed.[7] Christians are sometimes in the delicate and tricky position of staying true to Biblical standards and yet standing with those who are oppressed and within the world system,[8] even if they are not believers and live outside of Christian morality. Those in power who call themselves Christians need to be respectfully challenged if they are perceived with a significant deal of evidence, to be involved in abusive practice.[10] Western Christians need to examine the side they are on in many of the world’s social struggles, particularly in regard to the third world.[11]
In my mind there is a danger that Christianity, whether conservative or liberal, becomes overly influenced by cultures where it exists.
Any historical corruption of the Christian Church is, in the end, a poor witness of Christ and the gospel and weakens the credibility of Christian ministry in the minds of many critics.
[1] Pattison and Woodward (2000)(2007: 14-15).
[2] Pattison and Woodward (2000)(2007: 15).
[3] Anderson (2001:181).
[4] Anderson (2001:181). The Church must work within the world without being worldly at the expense of being true to the Holy Spirit. This is no easy task for a large institution such as the Church.
[5] Brown (1984: 34).
[6] Brown (1984: 34).
[7] Brown (1984: 41).
[8] Anderson (2001:181).
[9] Brown (1984: 160-161).
[10] Brown (1984: 160-161). The third world is also known as the developing world.
[11] Anderson reasons the Church needs to repent for wrong doing in its existence. Anderson (2001: 180-181).
ANDERSON, RAY S. (2001) The Shape of Practical Theology, Downers Grove, Illinois, InterVarsity Press.
BROWN, ROBERT MCAFEE (1984) Unexpected News, Philadelphia, The Westminster Press.
WOODWARD, JAMES AND STEPHEN PATTISON (2000)(2007)(eds.), The Blackwell Reader in Pastoral and Practical Theology, Oxford, Blackwell Publishing.
Thoughts on FIFA and no instant replay
TSN: FIFA no replay
'FIFA refused to comment Monday on mistakes made by World Cup match officials that contributed to the elimination of England and Mexico. The governing body of world soccer did not send any officials with responsibility for referees to its daily briefing despite widespread furor over Sunday's errors.'
'"We obviously will not open any debate," Maingot said. "This is obviously not the place for this."'
Figures. It is amazing that the people at the head of perhaps the most powerful organization in the world concerning the most popular sport, are not overly concerned with as much as possible guaranteeing the most accurate results.
It is as if they are putting tradition before truth.
Hmm, does that not take place in some religion as well? Interesting.
'FIFA president Sepp Blatter, who attended both games Sunday, strongly opposes introducing any video technology to help referees.
"Let it be as it is and let's leave football with errors," Blatter said after video experiments were halted at a March 2008 meeting of the rules panel, the International Football Association Board.''
I reason newer leadership is needed.
