Patheos
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This blog hopes to play a role in spurring discussion and sharing resources so that the global church would further develop a missiological theology and a theological missiology. We cannot afford to separate missiology and theology. Missiology separated from theology is little more than anthropology and sociology. Theology distinguished from missiology is abstraction.
Patheos
5d ago
In Western culture today, shame has become a potent tool, often used in ways that deeply impact how people see themselves, behave, and relate to others. While shame can certainly play a constructive role by encouraging accountability or reinforcing social ties, its weaponization often has the opposite effect, damaging personal growth, relationships, and public discourse ..read more
Patheos
3w ago
What is a Pride Economy? In Stolen Pride, Arlie Hochschild shares how powerful dynamics of honor and shame shape America’s social and political fabric. She does so by describing what she dubs a “pride economy”? What is that? Well, I’m glad you asked. The Economics of Pride A “pride economy” refers to a social and ..read more
Patheos
1M ago
Michael Morris’s Tribal: How the Cultural Instincts That Divide Us Can Help Bring Us Together offers penetrating insights into the forces that shape human communities. His book resonates well in today’s society, revealing how our underlying instincts can both fracture and unite us. What about the church though? By examining these instincts—reframed here as prevalence ..read more
Patheos
1M ago
In Tribal: How the Cultural Instincts That Divide Us Can Help Bring Us Together, Michael Morris takes us on a fascinating journey into the heart of what divides and unites humanity. At its core, Tribal is about the instincts that shape human behavior and how they can be both the sources of deep divisions and ..read more
Patheos
2M ago
Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s Second Discourse on the Origins of Human Inequality offers a critical examination of the human condition, tracing the roots of inequality back to the earliest stages of social development. (See my previous post for a critique of his individualism.) As flawed as his work is, Rousseau rightly observes that competition and the lust for ..read more
Patheos
2M ago
Jean-Jacques Rousseau is often celebrated as a champion of liberty, individualism, and natural human goodness. In his Second Discourse on the Origins of Human Inequality, Rousseau tries to expose the dangers of social inequality by tracing the root of human misery to the onset of civilization. While I find his writing abysmally naive and self-contradictory ..read more
Patheos
3M ago
In recent years, “wokeness” has become a cultural phenomenon that is difficult to define precisely, yet its influence is pervasive. It’s often associated with social justice movements. At its core, however, wokeness is a worldview shaped by profound skepticism toward grand narratives— those overarching stories that give meaning and coherence to history, culture, and identity ..read more
Patheos
4M ago
In this second post in the series, we look at ways that honor and shame shape major works in Western literature. Today, we examine Shakespeare’s Othello. Othello is a masterful exploration of how honor, shame, and reputation shape human behavior and relationships. In the play, these themes are not mere background elements; they are the ..read more
Patheos
4M ago
Over the years, I’ve tried showing how Western cultures care about honor and shame. These are not mere “Eastern” concerns. In keeping with this point, I’ll spend a few posts highlighting examples of honor and shame in Western literature. Today, we begin with Frankenstein. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein offers more than just a tale of scientific ..read more
Patheos
5M ago
The call to be our “authentic self” is a popular mantra in today’s world, where authenticity is often equated with self-fulfillment and living without pretense. But, as Christians, is this truly the path we should take? While there’s value in honesty and integrity, the concept of always being “authentic” can be misleading. Here are three ..read more