Jason Ingalls - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Jason Ingalls
Reviews in religion and theology, Dec 28, 2010
The book is not without its problems, however. The discussion of 'the Other' is far too simplisti... more The book is not without its problems, however. The discussion of 'the Other' is far too simplistic and overlooks the nuances of Levinas' philosophy. 'The Other' becomes a catch-all for just about anything that is different, making the word of little actual significance. Similarly, deconstruction seems to mean little more than self-criticism or reformata semper reformanda ('reformed, always reforming'). That said, this book is not intended for an academic audience and seeks rather to make complex ideas in modern theology and philosophy accessible and meaningful for practicing Christians in America today. In that sense, his book is largely successful. In addition to making some important themes in Barth understandable for a non-academic audience, Franke also incorporates significant ideas from modern hermeneutics and contemporary missiology into the book. His discussions of the church and scripture are the high points. The EC has tended to lack theological sophistication and clarity, often because of a reaction against the academic 'ivory tower.' Franke helps to bridge this divide between theology and practice within the emergent context. His book should help to make important theological insights accessible to young evangelicals looking for guidance.
Reviews in religion and theology, Feb 23, 2011
Reviews in religion and theology, Mar 1, 2013
Conflict and the Practice of Christian Faith: The Anglican Experiment, Bruce N. Kaye, Lutterworth... more Conflict and the Practice of Christian Faith: The Anglican Experiment, Bruce N. Kaye, Lutterworth, 2011 (ISBN 978-0-7188-9243-2), x + 181 pp., pb £18.25 As priest of The Episcopal Church (USA) living in England, I get to see some of global Anglicanism's fault-lines face-to-face. During the Covenant debate in the Church of England, an English colleague of mine argued against it. However, in one debate, he came to the conclusion that he and his interlocutor wanted the same thing for the Anglican Communion: interdependence, mutual respect, and theological orthodoxy. While they agreed on the ends, they disagreed on the means. He came away from the conversation saying, 'We want the same thing'. I would expect to hear a similar note struck in Bruce N. Kaye's Conflict and the Practice of Christian Faith: The Anglican Experiment. Kaye in his role as the General Secretary of the Anglican Church of Australia from 1994 to 2004 has lived through the various permutations of theological dialogue and process that led to the Windsor Report and the Covenant proposals. However, Kaye seems unable to say, 'We want the same thing' about the Covenant process. In this review, I will outline Kaye's basic and very helpful distinction between the local and the universal, chart an unhelpful collapse of the universal into the local, and then flag up what Kaye wants out of the Anglican Experiment. I hope to show that Kaye and supporters of the Covenant do want the same thing but disagree about the means of making it happen. First, Kaye helpfully describes a tension between local difference and cosmic belonging inherent in the spread of the Christian Gospel. Over the course of Part I, 'Conflict and Connection in the Church', Kaye posits that uncomfortable diversity is a necessary extension of the proclamation of the Christian Gospel (Chapter 1), that the relationship between the local and the universal differs from place to place (Chapters 2-3), and that unity in the Church is not about agreement or even mutual understanding, but about love (Chapter 4). 'Every time' the Christian Gospel passes into a new culture, Kaye points out, 'it inevitably extends the diversity apparent within the Reviews 259
Reviews in religion and theology, Mar 1, 2010
Roland Boer has given us an important interpretation of John Calvin's political theology. Politic... more Roland Boer has given us an important interpretation of John Calvin's political theology. Political Grace is a provocative account by a rebellious child of the Reformed tradition, one who writes with an informality that makes him feel like an old friend. His friendly tone also hints at his purpose with Calvin, which is nothing less than to re-make the old Reformer into a fellow traveler in the way of revolution. Boer does so with a writing style that is crisp and accessible, even when he considers intricate points of Reformed theology, Marxist philosophy, Straussian theory, and biblical hermeneutics. This combination of clarity and broad learning is one of the real strengths of the book. More impressive still is the book's clear argument. Taking a literary approach, Boer focuses on Calvin's Institutes. Calvin's theology, we are told, pushes toward a revolutionary politics only to be repeatedly interrupted by his own countervailing conservatism. Or as Boer states, 'John Calvin let the radical political cat peek out of the theological bag only to try his hardest to push it back in and tie the bag up again' (p. xv). Boer supports his thesis with chapters on the Bible, sin and grace, freedom, and politics. He explains that Calvin's elevated view of the Bible may challenge oppression, but it may also suppress dissent. A universal doctrine of sin may be egalitarian, but a doctrine of double predestination is aristocratic in the extreme. Gospel freedom may liberate the conscience, but the distinction of kingdoms preserves the status quo. Ironically, it is only in his politics that the radical Calvin finally breaks free to offer a clear challenge to the status quo-evil commands should not be obeyed. The final steps of Boer's argument are to track the source of this tension and then to suggest a way forward. He shows Calvin to be a close student of Paul, whose work exhibits many of the same tensions as Calvin's. Drawing on Claude Lévi-Strauss, Boer argues that both
Reviews in religion and theology, Jun 28, 2010
Reviews in religion and theology, Jul 1, 2013
Religious Studies Review, 2013
Reviews in Religion and Theology, Mar 1, 2010
... Issue. Reviews in Religion & Theology. Volume 17, Issue 2, pages 146–148, March 2010. Add... more ... Issue. Reviews in Religion & Theology. Volume 17, Issue 2, pages 146–148, March 2010. Additional Information. How to Cite. ... Reviews in Religion & Theology, 17: 146–148. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-9418.2009.00500.x. Author Information. Wycliffe College, University of Toronto. ...
Reviews in Religion & Theology, 2013
Reviews in Religion & Theology, 2010
Reviews in Religion & Theology, 2011
psychology terms 'peak experience', or what the poet Laforgue calls 'immanensity' (p. 174). And i... more psychology terms 'peak experience', or what the poet Laforgue calls 'immanensity' (p. 174). And it is here, on what E O Wilson terms 'the near side of metaphysics' (p. 176) that Walters becomes optimistic and identifies 'a promising locus for dialogue' (p. 176) where atheists and theists might find some kind of rapprochement. With this Guide Walters has provided an introduction that will be either an invaluable textbook for undergraduates navigating their way into new academic territory or an important single read for general readers interested in trying to make sense of what is clearly an important area of contemporary debate that will yet have a long way to run. Walters skillfully directs his readers around the intricacies of what can be (literally) dispiriting debates, and his list of works cited is an invaluable reading list for anyone wanting to take their study further.
Reviews in religion and theology, Dec 28, 2010
The book is not without its problems, however. The discussion of 'the Other' is far too simplisti... more The book is not without its problems, however. The discussion of 'the Other' is far too simplistic and overlooks the nuances of Levinas' philosophy. 'The Other' becomes a catch-all for just about anything that is different, making the word of little actual significance. Similarly, deconstruction seems to mean little more than self-criticism or reformata semper reformanda ('reformed, always reforming'). That said, this book is not intended for an academic audience and seeks rather to make complex ideas in modern theology and philosophy accessible and meaningful for practicing Christians in America today. In that sense, his book is largely successful. In addition to making some important themes in Barth understandable for a non-academic audience, Franke also incorporates significant ideas from modern hermeneutics and contemporary missiology into the book. His discussions of the church and scripture are the high points. The EC has tended to lack theological sophistication and clarity, often because of a reaction against the academic 'ivory tower.' Franke helps to bridge this divide between theology and practice within the emergent context. His book should help to make important theological insights accessible to young evangelicals looking for guidance.
Reviews in religion and theology, Feb 23, 2011
Reviews in religion and theology, Mar 1, 2013
Conflict and the Practice of Christian Faith: The Anglican Experiment, Bruce N. Kaye, Lutterworth... more Conflict and the Practice of Christian Faith: The Anglican Experiment, Bruce N. Kaye, Lutterworth, 2011 (ISBN 978-0-7188-9243-2), x + 181 pp., pb £18.25 As priest of The Episcopal Church (USA) living in England, I get to see some of global Anglicanism's fault-lines face-to-face. During the Covenant debate in the Church of England, an English colleague of mine argued against it. However, in one debate, he came to the conclusion that he and his interlocutor wanted the same thing for the Anglican Communion: interdependence, mutual respect, and theological orthodoxy. While they agreed on the ends, they disagreed on the means. He came away from the conversation saying, 'We want the same thing'. I would expect to hear a similar note struck in Bruce N. Kaye's Conflict and the Practice of Christian Faith: The Anglican Experiment. Kaye in his role as the General Secretary of the Anglican Church of Australia from 1994 to 2004 has lived through the various permutations of theological dialogue and process that led to the Windsor Report and the Covenant proposals. However, Kaye seems unable to say, 'We want the same thing' about the Covenant process. In this review, I will outline Kaye's basic and very helpful distinction between the local and the universal, chart an unhelpful collapse of the universal into the local, and then flag up what Kaye wants out of the Anglican Experiment. I hope to show that Kaye and supporters of the Covenant do want the same thing but disagree about the means of making it happen. First, Kaye helpfully describes a tension between local difference and cosmic belonging inherent in the spread of the Christian Gospel. Over the course of Part I, 'Conflict and Connection in the Church', Kaye posits that uncomfortable diversity is a necessary extension of the proclamation of the Christian Gospel (Chapter 1), that the relationship between the local and the universal differs from place to place (Chapters 2-3), and that unity in the Church is not about agreement or even mutual understanding, but about love (Chapter 4). 'Every time' the Christian Gospel passes into a new culture, Kaye points out, 'it inevitably extends the diversity apparent within the Reviews 259
Reviews in religion and theology, Mar 1, 2010
Roland Boer has given us an important interpretation of John Calvin's political theology. Politic... more Roland Boer has given us an important interpretation of John Calvin's political theology. Political Grace is a provocative account by a rebellious child of the Reformed tradition, one who writes with an informality that makes him feel like an old friend. His friendly tone also hints at his purpose with Calvin, which is nothing less than to re-make the old Reformer into a fellow traveler in the way of revolution. Boer does so with a writing style that is crisp and accessible, even when he considers intricate points of Reformed theology, Marxist philosophy, Straussian theory, and biblical hermeneutics. This combination of clarity and broad learning is one of the real strengths of the book. More impressive still is the book's clear argument. Taking a literary approach, Boer focuses on Calvin's Institutes. Calvin's theology, we are told, pushes toward a revolutionary politics only to be repeatedly interrupted by his own countervailing conservatism. Or as Boer states, 'John Calvin let the radical political cat peek out of the theological bag only to try his hardest to push it back in and tie the bag up again' (p. xv). Boer supports his thesis with chapters on the Bible, sin and grace, freedom, and politics. He explains that Calvin's elevated view of the Bible may challenge oppression, but it may also suppress dissent. A universal doctrine of sin may be egalitarian, but a doctrine of double predestination is aristocratic in the extreme. Gospel freedom may liberate the conscience, but the distinction of kingdoms preserves the status quo. Ironically, it is only in his politics that the radical Calvin finally breaks free to offer a clear challenge to the status quo-evil commands should not be obeyed. The final steps of Boer's argument are to track the source of this tension and then to suggest a way forward. He shows Calvin to be a close student of Paul, whose work exhibits many of the same tensions as Calvin's. Drawing on Claude Lévi-Strauss, Boer argues that both
Reviews in religion and theology, Jun 28, 2010
Reviews in religion and theology, Jul 1, 2013
Religious Studies Review, 2013
Reviews in Religion and Theology, Mar 1, 2010
... Issue. Reviews in Religion & Theology. Volume 17, Issue 2, pages 146–148, March 2010. Add... more ... Issue. Reviews in Religion & Theology. Volume 17, Issue 2, pages 146–148, March 2010. Additional Information. How to Cite. ... Reviews in Religion & Theology, 17: 146–148. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-9418.2009.00500.x. Author Information. Wycliffe College, University of Toronto. ...
Reviews in Religion & Theology, 2013
Reviews in Religion & Theology, 2010
Reviews in Religion & Theology, 2011
psychology terms 'peak experience', or what the poet Laforgue calls 'immanensity' (p. 174). And i... more psychology terms 'peak experience', or what the poet Laforgue calls 'immanensity' (p. 174). And it is here, on what E O Wilson terms 'the near side of metaphysics' (p. 176) that Walters becomes optimistic and identifies 'a promising locus for dialogue' (p. 176) where atheists and theists might find some kind of rapprochement. With this Guide Walters has provided an introduction that will be either an invaluable textbook for undergraduates navigating their way into new academic territory or an important single read for general readers interested in trying to make sense of what is clearly an important area of contemporary debate that will yet have a long way to run. Walters skillfully directs his readers around the intricacies of what can be (literally) dispiriting debates, and his list of works cited is an invaluable reading list for anyone wanting to take their study further.