Yale conversation for emergent cohort
Wednesday, March 15, 2006

Looking forward to conversation and relationship this Wednesday night.

I thought I would get our conversation going from a theme from the emergent theological conversation held at Yale at the beginning of February. Miroslav Volf was the theologian that helped shape the conversation there.

The main part of the conversation came from Volf’s book “Exclusion and Embrace: A Theological Exploration of Identity, Otherness, and Reconciliation.” In this book he talks about the importance of developing “double vision” saying:

“…we enlarge our thinking by letting the voices and perspectives of others, especially those with whom we may be in conflict, resonate within ourselves, by allowing them to help us see them, as well as ourselves, from their perspective, and if needed, readjust our perspectives as we take into account their perspectives. Nothing can guarantee in advance that the perspectives will ultimately merge and agreement be reached. We may find that we must reject the perspective of the other. Yet we should seek to see things from their perspective in the hope that competing justices may be converging justices and eventually issue in agreement.

Reversing perspectives may lead us not only to learn something from the other, but also to look afresh at our own traditions and rediscover their neglected or even forgotten resources.” (p. 213)


Conversation starters:
. volf critiques the evangelical community for emphasizing its identity in sectarian ways-- I am what is not outside, rather than being defined by who we are. Do you agree with this? How has the church engaged in conversation with “others” that has not been helpful? How would “double vision” begin to shape our conversations, and would it be helpful in our emerging context?
. Volf says that we need to develop “healthy boundary maintenance” in our theological method. He emphasizes the need to enter the space of the other and make space in ourselves, but suggests boundary maintenance as a key to doing this. He never really defined what that looks like on a day-to-day basis. If our conversations on truth and epistemology are virtually limitless, as Volf suggests, where and how do we develop healthy boundary maintenance?
. How have you learned to have healthy conversations within your journey in the emerging church movement? What have you found life giving within this conversation?

How is that for a start?

See you Wednesday,
James Bergen