Comments on: Moral Theology’s Isolation http://bdhamilton.com/articles/moral-theologys-isolation Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:36:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Brian Hamilton http://bdhamilton.com/articles/moral-theologys-isolation#comment-2224 Brian Hamilton Fri, 31 Aug 2007 01:53:05 +0000 http://bdhamilton.com/articles/moral-theologys-isolation#comment-2224 I think for me, the antidote to 'moralizing dilution' came when the insufficiency of morality became more apparent to me. That is, we can't do it all ourselves and, according to the Christian tradition, we don't have to. I think for me, the antidote to ‘moralizing dilution’ came when the insufficiency of morality became more apparent to me. That is, we can’t do it all ourselves and, according to the Christian tradition, we don’t have to.

]]> By: Kim http://bdhamilton.com/articles/moral-theologys-isolation#comment-2222 Kim Thu, 30 Aug 2007 23:07:40 +0000 http://bdhamilton.com/articles/moral-theologys-isolation#comment-2222 Ah, I figured as much on moralizing dilution. I think I've sufficiently diluted my morals to the point of being a humanist...who knows...maybe I'll recover~ Ah, I figured as much on moralizing dilution. I think I’ve sufficiently diluted my morals to the point of being a humanist…who knows…maybe I’ll recover~

]]> By: Brian Hamilton http://bdhamilton.com/articles/moral-theologys-isolation#comment-2208 Brian Hamilton Wed, 29 Aug 2007 21:18:37 +0000 http://bdhamilton.com/articles/moral-theologys-isolation#comment-2208 Not sophistication, I assure you, but unclarity. If _you're_ not following, then I'm just being a bad writer! By 'moralizing dilution,' I'm mostly thinking of the tendency of many to reduce all Christian teaching to bare ethics. For example, the answer to the question, 'Who is Jesus?', becomes 'a moral teacher,' or 'a revolutionary,' or 'a nonviolent activist.' These answers, while latching onto key aspects of Jesus' character, are fundamentally _atheological_. Much moral theology no longer cries, with Peter, "You are the Messiah, Son of the living God!" I'm oversimplifying here, but I think what I'm getting at is recognizable on the lowest level of theological discussion. I'm glad to hear you're coming to some peace about future directions! I hope you'll never leave theology to the 'experts,' though--especially if they're like me. It gives me some hope to think of people like you, theologically informed, doing work at the level of international relations. I certainly don't think study and teaching is 'impractical,' but I'm glad for people as broadly studied as you are to be working in other contexts than the academy. Good luck starting the semester! Mine here's looking good. Not sophistication, I assure you, but unclarity. If you’re not following, then I’m just being a bad writer! By ‘moralizing dilution,’ I’m mostly thinking of the tendency of many to reduce all Christian teaching to bare ethics. For example, the answer to the question, ‘Who is Jesus?’, becomes ‘a moral teacher,’ or ‘a revolutionary,’ or ‘a nonviolent activist.’ These answers, while latching onto key aspects of Jesus’ character, are fundamentally atheological. Much moral theology no longer cries, with Peter, “You are the Messiah, Son of the living God!” I’m oversimplifying here, but I think what I’m getting at is recognizable on the lowest level of theological discussion.

I’m glad to hear you’re coming to some peace about future directions! I hope you’ll never leave theology to the ‘experts,’ though—especially if they’re like me. It gives me some hope to think of people like you, theologically informed, doing work at the level of international relations. I certainly don’t think study and teaching is ‘impractical,’ but I’m glad for people as broadly studied as you are to be working in other contexts than the academy.

Good luck starting the semester! Mine here’s looking good.

]]> By: Kim http://bdhamilton.com/articles/moral-theologys-isolation#comment-2197 Kim Wed, 29 Aug 2007 03:32:16 +0000 http://bdhamilton.com/articles/moral-theologys-isolation#comment-2197 Sounds like quite the dilemma! I admit I hardly know what you are writing about anymore, it's so sophisticated. But I think we are diverging more and more theologically as I succumb to humanism and you maintain loyal ties to the Church and to history and saints and tradition. I wonder what you mean by the "moralizing dilution of Christian theology"? Ach, I can't even understand anymore. I should leave academic theology to experts like yourself and stick to lay theological conversation and lay political debate. I am feeling more at peace about studying international relations at the master's level. But no higher. I want to be practical, not a professor teaching about the world but actually participating in the world. We'll see. Have a great day! Sounds like quite the dilemma! I admit I hardly know what you are writing about anymore, it’s so sophisticated. But I think we are diverging more and more theologically as I succumb to humanism and you maintain loyal ties to the Church and to history and saints and tradition. I wonder what you mean by the “moralizing dilution of Christian theology”? Ach, I can’t even understand anymore.

I should leave academic theology to experts like yourself and stick to lay theological conversation and lay political debate. I am feeling more at peace about studying international relations at the master’s level. But no higher. I want to be practical, not a professor teaching about the world but actually participating in the world. We’ll see.

Have a great day!

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