Monday, December 28, 2009

Emergent Church - Part 3/3

Chapter 7 - Undefining Knowledge - The Epistemology of the EC (PGS 135-156)
  • EPISTEMOLOGY: Theory of Knowledge
  • addresses the following questions:
  • What is knowledge?
  • How is knowledge acquired?
  • EMERGENT CHURCH EPISTEMOLOGY
  • rejection of absolutes and a world of cause and effect
  • believe in a socially constructed world in which our beliefs create the "worlds" in which we live.
  • "Coherentism"
  • BIBLICAL CHRISTIAN EPISTEMOLOGY
  • knowledge of salvation and reconciliation is revealed in the Bible.
  • Scripture is foundational for knowledge of salvation, of God, and of the world in which we live.

Chapter 8 - Undefining the Kingdom of God (pgs 157-178)

  • THE EC "KINGDOM of GOD"
  • equals joining God and building an earthly paradise now
  • logical conclusion when looking at their eschatology
  • all things are coming together in a future paradise
  • repackaged Liberalism through the Social Gospel and Mystical Spirituality
  • people must find a way to make this world a better place while waiting for it to be perfected as they move forward toward a future paradise.
  • THE BIBLICAL CHRISTIAN "KINGDOM of GOD"
  • The king will return to judge the disobedient
  • He is a threat to all who do not obey the laws or commandments
  • reward and blessing for those who believe in Him

Chapter 9 - Emergence Theory: The Philosophical Source of Emergent Theology (pgs 179-181)

  • Jurgen Moltmann plus Ken Wilber = EMERGENT
  • Moltmann; Emergent source of eschatology
  • Wilber; Emergent source of philosophy
  • Wilber's Philosophy - The Mystical Darwin
  • Upward Spiral - everything is evolving into something better
  • Holistic (spiritual and physical) concept of evolution
  • Spiral Dynamics - the world evolves into a physical / spiritual paradise over time.
  • Who is Ken Wilber?
  • neo-Buddhist
  • Philosophy = pagan and Christian concepts into one unified spirituality
  • created his own language that works with his ideas and concepts
  • has his roots in Hegel
  • The EC ... nothing special or unique
  • rejection of Scripture
  • looked at Hegel as its prophet
  • EXAMPLE - The Mormon Church - rejected scripture and looked to Joseph Smith as its prophet.

No comments: