A big thanks to those who stopped by the blog this week. The idea behind Facile Friday is to give a voice to others. So here goes…a recap of things that I stopped to wonder at this week.

1. What I consider to be ONE of the most significant reflections I have read this week, is found on orthosphere, under the title ‘Where we are, and where we’re goin’. This  warning, which is rightly identified by the author, is reflected by Gene Roddenberry in his sci-fi series ‘Andromeda’. Basically he deals with the dangers associated with Nietzsche’s ‘Übermensch’ (superhumans), the overall existence of Nietzscheans in the series illustrates exactly what the orthosphere points out here. Eugene Peterson also points to this when he asserts that “Gnosticism is a virus that threatens the life of the Gospel..it offers a spirituality without God, at least any god other than the spark of divinity I sense within me” (‘Christ plays in ten thousand places’ 2005, p.62)

2.  Author of the Book “God’s mind in that music” , Jamie Howison gets a sound out. He posted a thought-provoking piece on our collective attitude towards Ascension day. Howison wonders why we don’t make a bigger deal of Ascension Day saying: “I suspect it also has something to do with our modest embarrassment around the story we tell that day”.  Is he right? He just might be.

3. In a similar thread of thought, I was pointed to this 2011 article on art and theology written by David Clayton. Interesting reading. I found the discussion on individualism insightful.

4.  John Millbank, research Professor of Politics, Religion and Ethics at the University of Nottingham, wrote an article on The impossibility of gay marriage and the threat of biopolitical control.This particular article is informative and long. So be prepared to skim through if you are squeezed for time. For brevity Millbank points to state interference in the church via eugenics, ideology and how those two issues underly part of the momentum of the LGBT movement. For balance here is Jason Micheli suggesting that rejecting Gay marriage ‘may even be resisting the Spirit, to attempt to deprive same-sex couples of the discipline of marriage and not to celebrate same-sex weddings…the danger of refusing to celebrate love is real’.

My own developing, confessional-theological view on this : it is sad that the theological debate goes on being informed by left and right isms, that the emotional manipulation continues and that good theologians are seemingly pressured into merging their theology with the ideology  of the groupthink, in order to keep the ”love never rebukes” lie flowing. I am skeptical of any sociopolitical group that seems to preach an interpretation of  agape as ”love devoid of rebuke”. I am also suspicious of any sociopolitical group who seems to equate rights and social justice with  the ‘giddy euphoria associated with breaking taboos’ (Gene Veith). I am cautious of any sociopolitical group who measures love and acceptance with the warmth felt from always being in the spotlight. I am cautious of any sociopolitical group who equates disagreement with disrespect and treachery. I will openly question any sociopolitical group who uses ridicule to silence discussion and debate. (Disclaimer: this is not a beat-up of Jason, his article is insightful and his blog provides a service to many, even this accidental prodigal).

5. Scot McKnight hits the mark with his post about theologian David Wilkinson. I have had the honor of sitting under some lectures by David Wilkinson on creation. McKnight points to a ChristianityToday article by Wilkinson who provides a five point discussion on Creation and how we limit our thinking about it. A good read!!

6. I stumbled across John Stackhouse this week. I wanted to brush up on some writing styles and the conventions that are associated with them.  Personally, I found this helpful and extremely valuable for someone new to blogging.

7. I am going to plug Melinda Vanry’s blog again this week, because there is a real need for more discussion like this in the Church today especially with regards to how we treat/understand anxiety and depression.  Melinda discusses issues about mental health in a theologically reflective way.If you are in Australia and you are struggling in this area please contact Beyond Blue or talk to a trusted church, Pastor or friend.

8. Theological masters of rock,  STRYPER have a new album in the pipeline. Michael Sweet, Tim Gaines, Oz Fox and Robert Sweet have been pushing on through the secular/sacred line. True, there are limits too how much Stryper one can listen to, however…that said…

That’s all folks…