Orthoparadoxical Theologizing

Theory-U & the Cross

Paragraph The reflective and discursive book, Presence: Human Purpose and the Field of the Future by Peter Senge, Otto Scharmer, Joseph Jaworski and Betty Sue Flowers invites readers into the exploration and development of the “U-theory” of learning and change.

Dwight J. Friesen April 15, 2005October 5, 2022

rev. hosea?

Among the many intriguing characters of Holy Scripture is the Northern Kingdom prophet Hosea(circa 8-7 century BC). He’s the man God called to marry a “prostitute” named Gomer as radical form of prophetic performance art. It’s a tragic relational story.

Dwight J. Friesen April 9, 2005October 5, 2022

phone conversation with etrek

I have the privilege of interacting Spencer Burke and a group of etrek learners on my work on the Scale-Free Kingdom of God. peace, dwight

Dwight J. Friesen April 1, 2005January 18, 2021

church: body & soul

There have been times throughout Western history when people talked as though the spiritual mattered, and the physical did not. Soul = good; body = bad. The move to holistic viewing of the human person in community seems like a

Dwight J. Friesen March 24, 2005October 10, 2022

thesis statements over creeds

For nearly as long as the church has existed so have Creeds. Creeds are the “I/we believe . . . ” statements of the people of God. As with all text, once it is “written” and made available(whatever the medium)

Dwight J. Friesen February 22, 2005September 14, 2022

I’m your’s (formerly “be mine”)

For many, if not most people, today’s observation of “St. Valentine’s day” has come to underscore some of the deepest pains and greatest longings of our lives.  The day is also one of the very few days on our calendar

Dwight J. Friesen February 14, 2005September 14, 2022

Polanyi: One of my Heroes

In one of the courses I get to guide this term, we’re using Michael Polanyi’s ground breaking text, Personal Knowledge: Towards a Post-Critical Philosophy. As I’ve been preparing and revisiting Polanyi I am undone by his courage, as he stands

Dwight J. Friesen January 28, 2005September 13, 2022

loosing as finding

In a recent conversation with some friends who are engaged to be married (congrats Thomas & Kelly) we got to talking about themes for their upcoming wedding. We batted a few ideas around the one that seemed to generate the

Dwight J. Friesen January 27, 2005October 11, 2022

dogma = distrust of God?

Sheryl raised some great questions in her reply to my Dec 28th post. The claim is often made that “truth is truth” with the assumption that such a claim stands on its own. Why should we expect it to? For

Dwight J. Friesen December 31, 2004October 26, 2022

journaling for others to see

I write to discover what I’m in the the process of believing. “When I say ‘I believe,’ I am not merely describing an inward feeling or experience: I am affirming what I believe to be true, and therefore what is

Dwight J. Friesen December 28, 2004September 28, 2022

seeing what happens between colors

In the seemingly unending stack of theology papers I am privileged to be engaging, a quote from Albers’ Interaction of Color caught my heart… thanks Ed. “In musical compositions, so long as we hear merely single tones, we do not

Dwight J. Friesen December 22, 2004September 28, 2022

can’t believe i said this

I’ve been battling a cold for about a week and yesterday afternoon around 3, I lost. A foggy head – where everyone sounds like they’re speaking into a barrel, nasal congestion, that achy feeling, and just a hint stomach-unease. To

Dwight J. Friesen December 10, 2004May 6, 2022

thoughtful engagement

Ryan Pettit wrote a thoughtful response to my “Christianity maybe an antichrist” entry of 12/4/2004. He graciously critiques my post, offering seasoned rationale for his claims. Ryan began his response by offering three definitions of religion, these are useful. He

Dwight J. Friesen December 8, 2004September 14, 2022

a philosophy that sings

Antinomy is a term used in logic and epistemology, which, loosely, means a paradox or unresolvable contradiction. At least for me that this season in my life, paradox feels vital to to discovery of the real. If for a moment

Dwight J. Friesen December 8, 2004October 26, 2022

Christianity may be an Antichrist

Christ trumps all religious systems. Jesus Christ did not create a religion Jesus appears to have lived meta-religion; no religion could contain Christ. Though Jesus was Jewish, and a Rabbi, he didn’t just teach the Law, he fulfilled it. When

Dwight J. Friesen December 4, 2004September 14, 2022

theology-less knowledge of God

Yesterday I was talking with my brother Dallas. And began talking about evil and the Garden of Eden. We began to imagine and wonder whether evil might have been a movement away from tacit knowledge of God. Basically, evil as

Dwight J. Friesen November 17, 2004May 6, 2022

why “and”

A couple of days ago I was asked why I’ve named my on-line journal and. I desire to bridge between. Where there is an ‘us’ and ‘them’ I want to be the and. Where there is black and white, male

Dwight J. Friesen November 11, 2004May 6, 2022

Confessing Christ in a World of Violence

A new confession of Christ. I wholeheartedly endorse this statement. Thanks to Jim Wallis and the thoughtful people over at Sojourners. Peace, dwight 1. Jesus Christ, as attested in Holy Scripture, knows no national boundaries. Those who confess his name

Dwight J. Friesen November 6, 2004September 28, 2022

internet & its impact on healthy social groups

To say that the internet is changing web of life in an understatement. The once, assumed claim that Americans are largely isolated individuals is certainly being emailed, IM’ed, live-journaled, blogged, gamed, webbed, surfed into new territory. Tim Bedner’s “We Know

Dwight J. Friesen October 26, 2004May 6, 2022

God, source of strength & wisdom

Things are getting a bit crazy on my side of the keyboard. I will be posting as often as I am able but have much to do these days. If God happens to bring me to your mind, please pray

Dwight J. Friesen October 21, 2004September 13, 2022

Orthoparadox

As I’ve continued reflecting on Orthobalance and aided greatly by those who posted comments, and a conversation I had with Bryan Burton. I’m beginning to lean a bit more to the term Orthoparadox (in part due to Mike O’s comment

Dwight J. Friesen October 16, 2004October 25, 2022

the possibility of evil, God declares is good

Yesterday while reading the early pages of the Genesis account of God’s acts of creation I noticed something that until now I haven’t seen, or least hadn’t been able to receive. As you may remember from the creation accounts there

Dwight J. Friesen October 15, 2004November 25, 2022

orthobalance

In yesterday’s entry I coined a term that I want to play with a bit more… At least I think I coined a term; who knows maybe the word is used in neurology or something. Orthobalance = the “right balance”

Dwight J. Friesen October 14, 2004May 6, 2022

to reverse evil is to live

The Beloved Disciple records many of Christ’s statements of self and mission like his “I am…” and “I have come…” declarations. One of these is recorded in the tenth chapter of the John’s Gospel. It is here we witness Christ

Dwight J. Friesen October 9, 2004May 6, 2022

toward the fulfillment of evil in Christ

In last night’s in Thinking Theologically class a we were looking at God as Creator. And side-tracked into an excellent conversation about the origin of evil, and whether or not God creates evil. Did spoken language exist prior to God’s

Dwight J. Friesen October 8, 2004May 6, 2022

Commodification

Recently I heard Ken Myers interview Vincent Miller regarding his new book Consuming Religion: Christian Faith and Practice in a Consumer Culture. The interview was outstanding. And dealt with, how the commodification of everything affects our sense of religious faith

Dwight J. Friesen October 3, 2004January 14, 2021

sweet fragrance

This morning I was graced to be with Jamal Rahman; a kind, humble, and open Islamic cleric and author of the outstanding book, The Fragrance of Faith: the enlightened heart of Islam. I want to learn in praxis how to

Dwight J. Friesen September 28, 2004January 14, 2021

meta-religion

I’ve been reading a bunch of Biblical Theology this summer. Something that I am beginning to question is what Paul, Mark, Matthew, John, et al thought they were inviting people to when inviting people to follow Christ. I’m pretty sure

Dwight J. Friesen August 29, 2004December 13, 2020

shame & hiding

I’ve continued sitting with the idea of being “created for not knowing.”  Which has going back to scripture’s creation accounts, to look afresh at what immediately follows the introduction of the knowledge of good and evil.  Shame rushes in as an accuser; and

Dwight J. Friesen August 27, 2004May 6, 2022

Created Not to Know?

My friend Jacob popped by for a few minutes today – I really love it when friends drop by especially unannounced – always a nice surprise. And he tells me about a conversation he was having while mountain climbing with

Dwight J. Friesen August 26, 2004January 15, 2021