Comments on: Creative Tension 2.0 http://www.tomcottar.org/2009/06/04/creative-tension-20/ ...conversation for the Journey... Tue, 27 Jul 2010 03:08:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: scott http://www.tomcottar.org/2009/06/04/creative-tension-20/comment-page-1/#comment-18682 scott Thu, 04 Jun 2009 22:24:29 +0000 http://www.tomcottar.org/?p=732#comment-18682 I tried the "quiet time" discipline for several years since it was one of the only spiritual formation tools proffered within our tradition. I personally found it unproductive and largely unhelpful. I found the discipline of breath prayers and more recently the rhythm of set prayer much more helpful. The point of a discipline is not really to do the discipline. I guess I don't get the "quiet time" discipline. Traditions of set prayer both individual and corporate in ways that I don't think "quiet time" can approach. Every time you engage set prayers, you do so with an awareness that many others are praying more or less what and as you are praying. You are simultaneously alone and with many. I've noticed that the statement that scripture has "no contradictions" depends on how the one saying it defines "contradictions". I have noticed, for instance, that some try to "harmonize" the chronology and accounts in the Gospels and when they, of course, fail, call those things "contradictions". They also seem to recall some of the events a bit differently from each other. And apparently that is very troubling to some, though I'm not sure why. The Gospel authors were not trying to compose chronologies of the life of Jesus. John, in particular, was composing a theological treatise. But none of them were trying to write a modern style documentary or travelogue. There are other such things scattered throughout them. It's the tricky things with labels like "contradictions". Different people understand them differently. God chose to reveal himself through Scripture? I had a hard time interpreting that bit, but I think that's what you were saying. That idea troubles me a bit. That would be a true statement in Islam about the Qu'ran. It would be at least somewhat true in Judaism, though Torah and Wisdom tend to have a life of their own, almost a personification, that tends to transcend the text. But I'm a little leery about connecting that thought to Christianity. I think we always have to keep in the forefront of our mind that the infinite, unknowable God reveals himself to us, makes himself known to us, incorporates us into himself through the union of the human and the divine in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. The Holy Scriptures are a source through which God works in our lives, they are useful in a host of ways, and through them God does a great many things. But they must always be interpreted and understood and engaged through the lens of Jesus of Nazareth - the fullness of the revelation of God. As far as the tensions and paradoxes you mention (and many others), you know, of course that they fail to create any tension within my faith. We are finite and all we see must be limited and from the perspective of that which we are considering. But God always transcends any thought we might have about God and even any denial or negation of any thought we might have. Where do I find tension in my faith? I think I most often find tension internally as I learn to be able to see some part of myself truly and I realize that part is not as I desire to be, that perhaps is a way I am ruled by the passions or am shaped to worship other gods. Good thoughts. I've been following the blog connected to this book for a while now. Haven't actually read the book yet. That will come. I tried the “quiet time” discipline for several years since it was one of the only spiritual formation tools proffered within our tradition. I personally found it unproductive and largely unhelpful. I found the discipline of breath prayers and more recently the rhythm of set prayer much more helpful. The point of a discipline is not really to do the discipline. I guess I don’t get the “quiet time” discipline. Traditions of set prayer both individual and corporate in ways that I don’t think “quiet time” can approach. Every time you engage set prayers, you do so with an awareness that many others are praying more or less what and as you are praying. You are simultaneously alone and with many.

I’ve noticed that the statement that scripture has “no contradictions” depends on how the one saying it defines “contradictions”. I have noticed, for instance, that some try to “harmonize” the chronology and accounts in the Gospels and when they, of course, fail, call those things “contradictions”. They also seem to recall some of the events a bit differently from each other. And apparently that is very troubling to some, though I’m not sure why. The Gospel authors were not trying to compose chronologies of the life of Jesus. John, in particular, was composing a theological treatise. But none of them were trying to write a modern style documentary or travelogue. There are other such things scattered throughout them. It’s the tricky things with labels like “contradictions”. Different people understand them differently.

God chose to reveal himself through Scripture? I had a hard time interpreting that bit, but I think that’s what you were saying. That idea troubles me a bit. That would be a true statement in Islam about the Qu’ran. It would be at least somewhat true in Judaism, though Torah and Wisdom tend to have a life of their own, almost a personification, that tends to transcend the text.

But I’m a little leery about connecting that thought to Christianity. I think we always have to keep in the forefront of our mind that the infinite, unknowable God reveals himself to us, makes himself known to us, incorporates us into himself through the union of the human and the divine in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. The Holy Scriptures are a source through which God works in our lives, they are useful in a host of ways, and through them God does a great many things. But they must always be interpreted and understood and engaged through the lens of Jesus of Nazareth – the fullness of the revelation of God.

As far as the tensions and paradoxes you mention (and many others), you know, of course that they fail to create any tension within my faith. We are finite and all we see must be limited and from the perspective of that which we are considering. But God always transcends any thought we might have about God and even any denial or negation of any thought we might have.

Where do I find tension in my faith? I think I most often find tension internally as I learn to be able to see some part of myself truly and I realize that part is not as I desire to be, that perhaps is a way I am ruled by the passions or am shaped to worship other gods.

Good thoughts. I’ve been following the blog connected to this book for a while now. Haven’t actually read the book yet. That will come.

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