tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824261000607570706.post7146561665294264706..comments2023-07-03T11:49:37.837+01:00Comments on Theologies: Why Theology Matters (even if you don't understand it)Marikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613745498284783614noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824261000607570706.post-23902784012286986822009-11-06T13:55:00.163+00:002009-11-06T13:55:00.163+00:00You're right, why take popular culture serious...You're right, why take popular culture seriously? I for one never watch TV or films, listen to music or the radio, or am in any way influenced in my ideas and attitudes by the world around me. Oh, wait...Marikahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02613745498284783614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824261000607570706.post-36367921679994754292009-11-05T07:13:57.296+00:002009-11-05T07:13:57.296+00:00Well what you say I think is true as far as popula...Well what you say I think is true as far as popular culture is concerned -- but are we supposed to take popular culture seriously? The theories of Derrida and other intellectual poster-boys filter down and affect the thinking of Madonna and President Obama, but nobody serious. It's the pavlum they feed the grad students in the U.S. But compare that to more profound, timeless ideas -- the Christian Wisdom literature, Plato, or the Bhagavad Gita. No, I'm of the opinion that 20th century intellectuals are mainly sophists. They give the public what it wants -- just like the fashion designers. As you suggest, maybe it's all a vast make-work project: keep debating silly theories to justify the faculty positions.John Uebersaxhttp://www.john-uebersax.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824261000607570706.post-34217032347239999072009-11-01T09:13:22.108+00:002009-11-01T09:13:22.108+00:00I think this is probably largely true. Keynes expr...I think this is probably largely true. Keynes expressed it well: 'Practical men, who believe themselves to be quite exempt from any intellectual influence, are usually the slaves of some defunct economist.'<br /><br />A good example is the word 'worldview', which until some 25 years ago seems to me to have been restricted to arcane continental philosophy books, and usually written 'Weltanschauung'. The concept has trickled down, presumably through academics to politicians, preachers, and popular books. People found it a useful way to talk, to the extent that I heard schoolkids on the train talking about a friend's 'world' and whether the idea of (eg) being a teacher's pet was 'in' it.<br /><br />However, I wonder sometimes whether academics use the argument as a kind of comforting doctrine to justify their activities. Most theologians will not, even indirectly, impact on the thoughts of jockeys and tree surgeons.<br /><br />Also, I think it is important that, as recognised in some of the comments above, the fact that Lacan is of interest to smart journalists, and that the view of smart journalists are of interest to popular journalists, and their ideas are of interest to postal deliverers - does not imply that the postal workers are or should be interested in Lacan.Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06544888419638975030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824261000607570706.post-7316766712623476092009-10-28T22:23:57.167+00:002009-10-28T22:23:57.167+00:00I enjoyed this topic especially since I am current...I enjoyed this topic especially since I am currently studying Theology at the sprightly age of 56. We are never too old to learn new things and to adopt new ways. For those who question the practicalities of theology and how it can effect your life that is entirely up to the individual and how much they put what they learn into practice. Like most things you only gain from something dependent on what you are prepared to put into it.<br />JimJimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17912192868425679358noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824261000607570706.post-7961225392058003902009-10-28T13:34:02.678+00:002009-10-28T13:34:02.678+00:00Becky - I agree - if you are interested in somethi...Becky - I agree - if you are interested in something you may want to study it in more depth and this may not be of interest to anyone else. But surely it even if it is not of interest, it may affect them? I may have no academic interest in heat transfer and thermodynamics (actually I do) but everyone surely cares about the amount they have to pay on their heating bill.<br /><br />Also I agree that worldviews are often less rigorous than 'academic philosophical structures' as you call them. Not quite sure what you are getting at about their being a non-straightforward link between philosophy and 'the assumptions that guide our general lives'. I have a feeling that if this is the case, this may be the fault of academia for not communicating ideas clearly and accessibly.davenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824261000607570706.post-76887342570025052442009-10-26T12:33:22.630+00:002009-10-26T12:33:22.630+00:00Oh yeah, I meant to say, I think a lot of this ref...Oh yeah, I meant to say, I think a lot of this reflective type stuff has to do with personality and desire. If your desire and interest is towards fashion then by all means study every inch of it and do as rigorously as you are able, and if your desire is towards philosophy, then do the same. But in both cases, don't start thinking that everyone needs to be involved.Beckyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07266470420219143563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824261000607570706.post-83526932244705629262009-10-26T12:29:51.067+00:002009-10-26T12:29:51.067+00:00Dave, I agree that everyone has their worldview, b...Dave, I agree that everyone has their worldview, but that's very different to a philosophical structure that has been subject to years of academic thought. I think that's another example of the way in which academia (which I'm involved in) and everyday life (also involved in!) can be conflated more than they should be. It's not a straightforward correlation between continental philosophy and the assumptions that guide our general lives as Christian authors often make it out to be.Beckyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07266470420219143563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824261000607570706.post-88882148298923945082009-10-24T13:57:04.766+01:002009-10-24T13:57:04.766+01:00p.s. becky said "Does understanding this type...p.s. becky said "Does understanding this type of philosophical thought provide solutions for 'ordinary people' though?".<br />The thing is, every 'ordinary person' actually has their own philosophy. Their own worldview, unspoken assumptions, things they hold to be true, beliefs and so on. I think the sooner we become aware of this for ourselves and are able to articulate it to some degree, the better, because otherwise we're in danger of (1) being manipulated (2) taking on anything that comes our way, without weighing it up first.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02176639321328116299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824261000607570706.post-77111168735979775842009-10-24T13:24:22.365+01:002009-10-24T13:24:22.365+01:00Hear hear! And what is true of philosophy and theo...Hear hear! And what is true of philosophy and theology also goes for science etc. One thing I've found very interesting doing a science PhD is how far removed the media's perception and understanding of science (particularly the uncertainties and the human judgement involved) are from the reality of science at a research level. Unfortunately this means that whoever shouts louds gets heard (cf. Dawkins). It's classic vocal minority stuff.<br />Dave HoweyUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02176639321328116299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824261000607570706.post-855940416363736182009-10-23T22:49:16.545+01:002009-10-23T22:49:16.545+01:00Maybe Streep's character was right or maybe fa...Maybe Streep's character was right or maybe fashion doesn't matter and that's why most folk are happy to let a few obsessives worry about it on behalf of everyone else. Maybe academics are right and do shape the thinking of us all, or maybe the academics that become notorious just describe badly what becomes obvious to everyone else.Matt Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05602642806307440912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824261000607570706.post-42093086605720819402009-10-23T18:50:05.873+01:002009-10-23T18:50:05.873+01:00Does understanding this type of philosophical thou...Does understanding this type of philosophical thought provide solutions for 'ordinary people' though? I'd be interested in the next step in this argument, and also an account of exactly how theory trickles down into everyday life. In the Prada example, while cerulean does make its way into Andrea's outfit, its effect is pretty benign. I read a book ages ago by a Christian about the effect of cultural/critical theory on everyday life, but found it to be scaremongering rather than true. Do you think theory can be useful?Beckyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07266470420219143563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824261000607570706.post-51642535452152803732009-10-23T17:30:00.386+01:002009-10-23T17:30:00.386+01:00That is such a good post. Think at times both side...That is such a good post. Think at times both sides of the conversation need reminding that theology has everything to do with ordinary people.Tractor Girlhttp://tractorgirl.wibsite.com/noreply@blogger.com