Culture and Cultural Studies:
Chapter 1:
Talking to my pastor a lot about my generation and the way we can be the church in our contemporary culture, I realize through that Chapter that Cultural Studies is one of the key for me and my Church to understand where we come from. Understanding what shapes us, and our culture is the best way to have an opportunity to have an impact on that culture. Also, for a few years my Church has been really involved in counseling and spiritual formation. And I think that cultural studies should be part of that kind of formation because our life (in a holistic way) is impacted by our culture.
Chapter 2:
I think it is important for the church to work at decoding the 'maps of meaning' of the people it deals with. The church has for too long trying to evangelize without taking the time to try to understand its audience and I think that the main part of bringing the gospel is listening to others, trying to assimilate their 'language' and understand their culture(s). So the church should be aware of 'signs' delivered by such or such culture it wants to address.
What would Jesus deconstruct.
Chapter 1.
In his first chapter, Caputo invites us to think about that well known question "What would Jesus do?" and reconsider its modern interpretation surrounded by commercial by-products and used as a weapon against "those who are wrong". His portrait of Jesus is not what is usually depicted in the church in general and barely in my own church. I agree on Caputo on the point that it is time for the church to live its faith out and bring changes in our society by bringing the Truth of Jesus Christ. A Truth that deconstruct, that is ugly and smells bad, but that is real and often lives next door to us.
Chapter 2.
Our understanding of faith as a Journey has to be re-evaluated and Caputo shows how in every path there are wrong ones, dead-end paths, etc. Deconstruction and the fact that nothing is settled and has to be "tested" should be something that any church should keep in mind. In that way, by trying, or should I say "discerning" with the help of the Holy Spirit, the church can go on an "adventure" in the sense that Caputo means it. It can be a scary thing for a church or even for anyone of us, because there will always be uncertainties and dangers, but I believe that it is how faith has to be lived and lived out.
Chapter 3.
Caputo in the chapter define deconstruction in light of different concept: the gift, hospitality, forgiveness and love. His explanation of those are, I think, utterly biblical in a way that Jesus calls us to love the unlovable, to give without expecting in return like he did, to offer hospitality to the other and to forgive what is unforgivable. I think that the church, even if it teaches those in that way is often missing the point and putting "economies" around them. I think deconstruction is needed in the church (of the church) in order to come back to the true meaning of Love, Hospitality, Gift, and Forgiveness as Jesus means them.
Chapter 1:
Talking to my pastor a lot about my generation and the way we can be the church in our contemporary culture, I realize through that Chapter that Cultural Studies is one of the key for me and my Church to understand where we come from. Understanding what shapes us, and our culture is the best way to have an opportunity to have an impact on that culture. Also, for a few years my Church has been really involved in counseling and spiritual formation. And I think that cultural studies should be part of that kind of formation because our life (in a holistic way) is impacted by our culture.
Chapter 2:
I think it is important for the church to work at decoding the 'maps of meaning' of the people it deals with. The church has for too long trying to evangelize without taking the time to try to understand its audience and I think that the main part of bringing the gospel is listening to others, trying to assimilate their 'language' and understand their culture(s). So the church should be aware of 'signs' delivered by such or such culture it wants to address.
What would Jesus deconstruct.
Chapter 1.
In his first chapter, Caputo invites us to think about that well known question "What would Jesus do?" and reconsider its modern interpretation surrounded by commercial by-products and used as a weapon against "those who are wrong". His portrait of Jesus is not what is usually depicted in the church in general and barely in my own church. I agree on Caputo on the point that it is time for the church to live its faith out and bring changes in our society by bringing the Truth of Jesus Christ. A Truth that deconstruct, that is ugly and smells bad, but that is real and often lives next door to us.
Chapter 2.
Our understanding of faith as a Journey has to be re-evaluated and Caputo shows how in every path there are wrong ones, dead-end paths, etc. Deconstruction and the fact that nothing is settled and has to be "tested" should be something that any church should keep in mind. In that way, by trying, or should I say "discerning" with the help of the Holy Spirit, the church can go on an "adventure" in the sense that Caputo means it. It can be a scary thing for a church or even for anyone of us, because there will always be uncertainties and dangers, but I believe that it is how faith has to be lived and lived out.
Chapter 3.
Caputo in the chapter define deconstruction in light of different concept: the gift, hospitality, forgiveness and love. His explanation of those are, I think, utterly biblical in a way that Jesus calls us to love the unlovable, to give without expecting in return like he did, to offer hospitality to the other and to forgive what is unforgivable. I think that the church, even if it teaches those in that way is often missing the point and putting "economies" around them. I think deconstruction is needed in the church (of the church) in order to come back to the true meaning of Love, Hospitality, Gift, and Forgiveness as Jesus means them.
Nice work in this post and the others for the first week.
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