Quotes & Sayings


We, and creation itself, actualize the possibilities of the God who sustains the world, towards becoming in the world in a fuller, more deeper way. - R.E. Slater

There is urgency in coming to see the world as a web of interrelated processes of which we are integral parts, so that all of our choices and actions have [consequential effects upon] the world around us. - Process Metaphysician Alfred North Whitehead

Kurt Gödel's Incompleteness Theorem says (i) all closed systems are unprovable within themselves and, that (ii) all open systems are rightly understood as incomplete. - R.E. Slater

The most true thing about you is what God has said to you in Christ, "You are My Beloved." - Tripp Fuller

The God among us is the God who refuses to be God without us, so great is God's Love. - Tripp Fuller

According to some Christian outlooks we were made for another world. Perhaps, rather, we were made for this world to recreate, reclaim, redeem, and renew unto God's future aspiration by the power of His Spirit. - R.E. Slater

Our eschatological ethos is to love. To stand with those who are oppressed. To stand against those who are oppressing. It is that simple. Love is our only calling and Christian Hope. - R.E. Slater

Secularization theory has been massively falsified. We don't live in an age of secularity. We live in an age of explosive, pervasive religiosity... an age of religious pluralism. - Peter L. Berger

Exploring the edge of life and faith in a post-everything world. - Todd Littleton

I don't need another reason to believe, your love is all around for me to see. – Anon

Thou art our need; and in giving us more of thyself thou givest us all. - Khalil Gibran, Prayer XXIII

Be careful what you pretend to be. You become what you pretend to be. - Kurt Vonnegut

Religious beliefs, far from being primary, are often shaped and adjusted by our social goals. - Jim Forest

We become who we are by what we believe and can justify. - R.E. Slater

People, even more than things, need to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone. – Anon

Certainly, God's love has made fools of us all. - R.E. Slater

An apocalyptic Christian faith doesn't wait for Jesus to come, but for Jesus to become in our midst. - R.E. Slater

Christian belief in God begins with the cross and resurrection of Jesus, not with rational apologetics. - Eberhard Jüngel, Jürgen Moltmann

Our knowledge of God is through the 'I-Thou' encounter, not in finding God at the end of a syllogism or argument. There is a grave danger in any Christian treatment of God as an object. The God of Jesus Christ and Scripture is irreducibly subject and never made as an object, a force, a power, or a principle that can be manipulated. - Emil Brunner

“Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh” means "I will be that who I have yet to become." - God (Ex 3.14) or, conversely, “I AM who I AM Becoming.”

Our job is to love others without stopping to inquire whether or not they are worthy. - Thomas Merton

The church is God's world-changing social experiment of bringing unlikes and differents to the Eucharist/Communion table to share life with one another as a new kind of family. When this happens, we show to the world what love, justice, peace, reconciliation, and life together is designed by God to be. The church is God's show-and-tell for the world to see how God wants us to live as a blended, global, polypluralistic family united with one will, by one Lord, and baptized by one Spirit. – Anon

The cross that is planted at the heart of the history of the world cannot be uprooted. - Jacques Ellul

The Unity in whose loving presence the universe unfolds is inside each person as a call to welcome the stranger, protect animals and the earth, respect the dignity of each person, think new thoughts, and help bring about ecological civilizations. - John Cobb & Farhan A. Shah

If you board the wrong train it is of no use running along the corridors of the train in the other direction. - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

God's justice is restorative rather than punitive; His discipline is merciful rather than punishing; His power is made perfect in weakness; and His grace is sufficient for all. – Anon

Our little [biblical] systems have their day; they have their day and cease to be. They are but broken lights of Thee, and Thou, O God art more than they. - Alfred Lord Tennyson

We can’t control God; God is uncontrollable. God can’t control us; God’s love is uncontrolling! - Thomas Jay Oord

Life in perspective but always in process... as we are relational beings in process to one another, so life events are in process in relation to each event... as God is to Self, is to world, is to us... like Father, like sons and daughters, like events... life in process yet always in perspective. - R.E. Slater

To promote societal transition to sustainable ways of living and a global society founded on a shared ethical framework which includes respect and care for the community of life, ecological integrity, universal human rights, respect for diversity, economic justice, democracy, and a culture of peace. - The Earth Charter Mission Statement

Christian humanism is the belief that human freedom, individual conscience, and unencumbered rational inquiry are compatible with the practice of Christianity or even intrinsic in its doctrine. It represents a philosophical union of Christian faith and classical humanist principles. - Scott Postma

It is never wise to have a self-appointed religious institution determine a nation's moral code. The opportunities for moral compromise and failure are high; the moral codes and creeds assuredly racist, discriminatory, or subjectively and religiously defined; and the pronouncement of inhumanitarian political objectives quite predictable. - R.E. Slater

God's love must both center and define the Christian faith and all religious or human faiths seeking human and ecological balance in worlds of subtraction, harm, tragedy, and evil. - R.E. Slater

In Whitehead’s process ontology, we can think of the experiential ground of reality as an eternal pulse whereby what is objectively public in one moment becomes subjectively prehended in the next, and whereby the subject that emerges from its feelings then perishes into public expression as an object (or “superject”) aiming for novelty. There is a rhythm of Being between object and subject, not an ontological division. This rhythm powers the creative growth of the universe from one occasion of experience to the next. This is the Whiteheadian mantra: “The many become one and are increased by one.” - Matthew Segall

Without Love there is no Truth. And True Truth is always Loving. There is no dichotomy between these terms but only seamless integration. This is the premier centering focus of a Processual Theology of Love. - R.E. Slater

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Note: Generally I do not respond to commentary. I may read the comments but wish to reserve my time to write (or write from the comments I read). Instead, I'd like to see our community help one another and in the helping encourage and exhort each of us towards Christian love in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. - re slater

Saturday, October 1, 2022

A Contemporary Understanding of the Bible - Part 1: Special Revelation



A Contemporary Understanding of the Bible
Part 1 - Special Revelation

Series Information

It has taken me awhile to get here but it makes the most sense to me now then when I was younger believing the system I was in was correct. Because I went through a necessary time of "doubt and uncertainty" I was able to let go of all my traditions to reform my training and beliefs to be more in line with what I regard as a "contemporary understanding of the bible".

This short article then is written for the "Nones and Dones" and contemporary Christians seeking a better way to read the bible than in the current literal fashion it is being read now by those making conclusions on such readings and acting un-Christianly / unlovingly towards those in the world and in the church who are confused by all the hate and bullying, oppression and incivility towards them. Especially by those professing Jesus as their Lord and Savior but showing none of Jesus' love and compassion.



An Extended Definition of Divine Inspiration

First up, I was taught that special revelation occurred to only those whom God selected. My tradition called this "divine inspiration". This, as opposed to natural revelation from creation in its different manners and illustrations.

As an aside, at Relevancy22, as I explore, expand, and deepen my understanding of process philosophical theology I am working with both special and natural revelation. The first re the bible and God's LOGOS / WORD as my tradition names it; and the latter with all the sciences and academia. Thus my forays into process evolution, the process quantum sciences, social and economic sciences, forms of process-based government such as process ecological societies, and etc.

Now, by extension, I've reconsidered my thoughts about special revelation along these several lines:

1A. The idea of "special" is not as "special" as I was taught. God is in the business of communication to as many people as he can. If that is so, then there are "savants" out in our communities and global societies who, like a musical tuning fork, sense this Spirit, or "spirit-ual" revelation of sorts to paint, sculpt, preach, lead, form, and create from God his LIVING Word in as many flavors, tellings, and fashions as they can. From the adult to the child, from the specialist to the businessman, from the plumber to the bum on the streets. There are human savants who are driven - or burdened - to speak of this "divine" inspiration driving their souls.

1B. Not all "savants" are hearing completely. Because of their backgrounds, heritages, traditions, and predialections, these internal inklings can and will become confused with other drivings, urges, and beliefs. The trick is to help each "listener" to a more complete idea and dynamism of their insights. Here, the simplest I can preach is to always let one's work be driven by love and humanitarianism. If one's burden doesn't lift the oppressions off the shoulders of people carry the burdens of racisms, poverty, invisibility, etc, than such "special revelations" are in the end worthless, un-divine, non-spiritual healing balms to society or one's immediate friends and family. They are simply discourses in frivolity.

2. Now let's consider the case of the "rest of us" such as myself and everyone whom I know. We are each trying in our own way to become more whole and more-wholly live in this world of ours. We have lots of failures. Lots of attempts. And lots of inspirations - whether from TV, the movies, sports, addictions, hobbies, friends, the pulpit, or wherever. This is "inspiration" for the rest of us. Generally, the rule here is several: learn to love ourselves but not inordinately as some do; learn to love those around us who are loveable and save the harder, unlovable types for later (toxic family members, work situations, friends, etc); and learn to love and appreciate life as it comes to you in whatever difficulty, disaster, or suffering. We live in an imperfect world marred by a basic fallenness we call sin. Life is hard. Love makes it easier (and be careful with words like "hope" and "expectations").

Conclusion # 1 re Divine Inspiration

The BIG idea here is that God's "special revelation" which we call "divine inspiration" is simply for all of us. Some hear it better than others. Some can not. Some here parts of it. Some will here more of it. That it comes through the most unexpected lives at the most unexpected times... usually times when we are in places to hear and listen better than we have been in our lives.

Secondly, to no surprise but my own when having to deconstruct and resort my tradition and beliefs... God's message is love, hope, healing, and forgiveness. If we read the bible closely it's tenor, or thematic motifs, all center on these words. Words which we describe as atoning forgiveness, personal penitence and repentance, redeeming redemption in its many forms, and a live become more turbulent because God is calling out to us to let go of our hates and give in to love.

Thirdly, I personally do not subscribe to personal (sexual) humiliations, bodily beatings and chastities, monkish type practices, bodily starvations, or ritualised practices of such. The way to receive and give back divine love is simply to i) learn to love yourself, ii) learn to love others, iii) learn to love God not in ritual but, as you can, in whatever ways this may be done.

1 John 4:19-20 (NASB)

19 We love, because He first loved us. 20 If someone says, “I love God,” and yet he hates his brother or sister, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother and sister whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.

Since I stated this would be a short article I will leave with this gem. Many years ago I read Reuben Welch's little thin book titled "We Really Do Need Each Other." Surprisingly, I found it to be a very easy and critical study of the much neglected book, I John [ahem, 1,2,3 John, Jude and Revelation... THAT 1 John :) :) ]. It's simplicity changed by life and was the beginning of the end of my beliefs and traditions which taught me its theologies, bible verses, and convictions. Love will do that though. Especially divine love when it comes in so many ways, forms and fashions. So I will pass this precious reading along to you and hope it makes Jesus more alive than the Gospels have left him in our imaginations and biblical theology studies.

I'll see you in Part 2 of this article...


Peace,

R.E.Slater
October 1, 2022


Amazon link

Reviewer Comments
  • The layout in this book is one of the most interesting books I have ever seen and you will read it again and again.
  • It is a wonderful, yet short, description of what love is and what it should be.
  • Not many people seem to know about Reuben Welch, a Christian writer whose humor and tender heart make his book a wonderful, poignant call to Christian action. His illustrations of how we Christians often dump someone hurting until they've shaped up is convicting. Who have I done that to, since I know people who've dumped me because of my baggage? Welch makes me think more deeply about the grace of Christ, and the kindness I, in attempting to reflect his character, can show to others. Having the text written in a poetry layout can be distracting for some, but I found it slowed me down to think about the phrases he emphasizes by placing them alone, separate from a paragraph. Welch's matter-of-fact style, and obvious love of the Lord make this a wonderful read.

 
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