Articles
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Out of the Box Theory for Seminarians: an Autoethnography of Facilitating Workshops
Components of a discovered-in-practice, Out of the Box Theory, can come together in the spiritual formation of seminarians being theologically trained. The process of change can be witnessed in facilitating life writing workshops. Shellseekers Art + Soul life writing workshops has some of the answers to fill a gap in the practical aspects of embodied spiritual formation. In creating and facilitating contemplation and creativity workshops in churches, the classroom, and other venues, as a visual artist and practical theologian, I have observed participants for over a dozen years. In this paper I offer a window into the workshops, with insights gleaned. The methodology used here is autoethnography. “Auto” is for…
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Reflections on “Pastoral Ethics and Belief Baggage: A Critical Look at Animal Symbolism in Witchcraft” by Claire Ayelotan
Claire’s piece can be read here: https://practicaltheologyhub.com/?p=1298 Fear and the Desire for Control Why are our societies so obsessed with witchcraft? While I was reading Claire’s brilliant piece, I could not help but remember that we used the same Christian text – Pope Gregory IX’s papal bull Vox in Rama – regarding fear of black cats (but my piece was on another topic: https://practicaltheologyhub.com/?p=1268). Black cats and other animals are widely associated with magic and beyond natural (or supernatural) powers. Trying to answer the question, we all abhor death, disease, famine, poverty and not being able to get what we want [in Buddhist terms these are part of what is understood as…
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Can AI sin?
Can AI sin? The obvious answer would be no; it might be created in the image of humanity, but it is not a human being. In my previous article[1] I discussed whether an avatar can be created bad. The conclusion was that the avatar itself was not bad, but it could be seen as bad, depending on the actions of the person they represent. However, if Artificial Intelligence is an entity, should it be treated differently in relation to the question of sin? Depending on our religious, or non-religious, background, our interpretation of what sin is may differ. Most would accept that sin is primarily an action against God, whether…
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Reflections on “Who do you say that I am?” by Tim Livesey
Published April 25, 2024 Direct Link: https://practicaltheologyhub.com/?p=1404 I was deeply moved by Tim Livesey’s reflections on identity, labelling, and empathy, sparked by his interfaith pilgrimage through Israel and Palestine. His analysis of Jesus’ powerful question—“Who do you say that I am?”—strikes at the heart of how we see, understand, and ultimately treat one another. Tim compellingly shows how labels, whether religious, ethnic, or political, profoundly shape our interactions, often distorting our capacity to acknowledge shared humanity. This reflection comes at a time when the dark shadow of abandonment, death, neglect, hunger, and pain overwhelms innocents caught in a conflict not of their own making, while much of the world watches…
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Rape Culture in Pastoral Discourses: An Analysis of Women in the Evangelical Religious Context
Sexual violence against women, often legitimized by cultural and pastoral discourses, remains an alarming problem in Brazil. The concept of “rape culture” encompasses a set of beliefs, behaviors, and discourses that normalize and excuse sexual violence, often shifting blame onto those who experience it and protecting the aggressor, according to Judith Herman (1992). In the evangelical context, religious leaders play a unique role in shaping values and beliefs, influencing both individual behaviors and social structures. However, in certain cases, the language adopted by pastors not only reflects unequal gender norms, but also reinforces them, contributing to the perpetuation of a culture of female submission and violence. To understand this problem,…
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Rethinking Religious Engagement Through Worship: Airport Prayer Rooms as Sites of Secular Hospitality
Air travel is often accompanied by heightened emotions and elevated stress levels, arising from a range of challenges—from carefully managing check-in times and adhering to airline baggage allowances to the anxieties about confined spaces, turbulence, the potential impact of flight delays and cancellations, or more sinister imaginings of how flights might go wrong. In recognition of the diverse needs of travellers—whether of any faith or of none—many airports now provide a designated prayer or quiet room. It is my own practice, where time and circumstance permit, to make use of these rooms when passing through airports. I do so with a dual awareness: first of a personal concern—whether or not…
