Ed- a great reflection! I wonder how you might frame the relationship between ‘inclusive’ and ‘generous’ orthodoxy? You describe your own pilgrimage as one of both growing into certain convictions (about the ‘bodily’ resurrection of Jesus, while at the same time remaining open to those who may differ. Is there a likeness here to what has been referred to as Paul Ricoeur’s ‘detour and return.’ It is only by critical, even oppositional questioning that we come to a ‘second naïveté’ where we may believe the same things, but this belief is held differently. If this makes sense.
Apologies for the delayed response, John! I hadn't seen there were any comments in this post. I think there is most definitely a likeness there, and I think that makes a great deal of sense. One of the things I haven't dwelt on in this post, but am thinking about more broadly, is how the character of theological belief shifts in precisely that kind of way—how the meaning of those beliefs is deepened through critical engagement, precisely as you describe. I think this is one of the ways that we can draw out the communal and open-ended nature of theological reflection, without dissolving the integrity of specific beliefs.
Ed- a great reflection! I wonder how you might frame the relationship between ‘inclusive’ and ‘generous’ orthodoxy? You describe your own pilgrimage as one of both growing into certain convictions (about the ‘bodily’ resurrection of Jesus, while at the same time remaining open to those who may differ. Is there a likeness here to what has been referred to as Paul Ricoeur’s ‘detour and return.’ It is only by critical, even oppositional questioning that we come to a ‘second naïveté’ where we may believe the same things, but this belief is held differently. If this makes sense.
John
Apologies for the delayed response, John! I hadn't seen there were any comments in this post. I think there is most definitely a likeness there, and I think that makes a great deal of sense. One of the things I haven't dwelt on in this post, but am thinking about more broadly, is how the character of theological belief shifts in precisely that kind of way—how the meaning of those beliefs is deepened through critical engagement, precisely as you describe. I think this is one of the ways that we can draw out the communal and open-ended nature of theological reflection, without dissolving the integrity of specific beliefs.
This is wonderful. Thank you 🙏
Well stated. I'll be thinking about this one for a while.