In today's episode, we dive into Stephen's research on global Christian reasoning. We consider the four cultural frameworks Stephen evaluated in this context, and examine their impact on interpretations of several Bible passages. But before we get into all the intriguing details of Stephen's dissertation, we catch up with our hosts, Stephen and Justin, as they discuss the challenges of living in a new country, dealing with bureaucratic paperwork, daily life, and the refreshing discovery of meaning in liturgy. 

As we delve into Stephen's research, we explore the existence of an epistemic community within global Christian reasoning and the importance of cultural self-awareness in theological reflections. We also touch on the complex issue of how culture and pre-understandings shape our interpretations of biblical texts, and the dangers of assuming a "plain meaning" without critical self-reflection. 

Join us as we uncover the fascinating relationship between culture and global Christian reasoning - a theme with potentially massive implications for missiology and theology. Grab your favorite cup of coffee and join us for another engaging episode of "Professors, in Rooms, Getting Coffee"!

Find Bonus Content, including a free beta transcript, on Patreon at https://patreon.com/envisionberlin

Key Points

1. Challenges and Reflections 

- Dealing with stress and overwhelm in work and personal life 

- Recognizing the impact of changing weather and daylight savings time on moods 

3. Liturgy and Church Traditions:

- Appreciation for liturgy, prayers, confession, Eucharist, and scriptures

- Comparing different church traditions and experiences

- Reflecting on the evolution of church practices over time

3. Global Christian Reasoning:

- Focus on understanding expressions of Christianity in the past century

- Accessible literature in English

- Focus on expressions of Christianity that emerged in the last 100 years 

- Literature primarily in English, allowing for accessibility 

- Understanding Christianity at multiple levels: epistemologically, cosmologically, theologically, and practically 

4. Cultural Frameworks in Global Christian Reasoning:

- Examining cultural differences and their impact on shared text

- Identifying four cultural frameworks: shame/honor, past/future, consent/authority, good/evil

- Recognizing the importance of land, time, and suffering in the literature

- Translation and cultural perspective affect interpretation and meaning

- Potential for further research on shame, honor, guilt, innocence, and time orientation in biblical passages

Timestamped Overview

01:42 End of first full program year at Envision Berlin achieved. Exciting accomplishments and unexpected experiences.

06:05 Written prayers in Liturgy were more satisfying than spontaneous ones.

09:02 Stay focused on the core commitments.

11:19 New generation finds freedom in evangelicalism.

14:42 Stressed in daily life abroad.

17:30 Colleagues and friends overwhelmed by work and personal issues.

21:58 Seeking alternate definitions of culture for political science.

24:40 People writing about Christian thought worldwide, emphasizing Protestantism and recent expressions of Christianity, including practical aspects.

28:04 Limited focus, not comprehensive. Shared references, coherence.

30:43 Does culture exist? How does it matter?

34:42 Ethnic theologizing, response to western cultural influence.

38:23 Cultural differences matter in global Christian reasoning.

41:49 Different shades of meaning in text interpretation. Varying perspectives analyzed.

43:01 Searching scripture for cultural time differences.

46:32 Cultural differences impact shared understanding of text/events.

50:58 Culture and presuppositions impact our interpretation.

References 

Local Theology for the Global Church

Return to Babel: Global Perspectives on the Bible

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