Weekend Event—Rita Nakashima Brock

September 24-25, 2010

Fri. 7:30-9pm - Sat. 9 am-2:30pm

Saving Paradise:

How Christianity Traded Love of This World for Crucifixion and Empire

A riddle: why are images of the crucified Christ absent from early Christian art? After visiting Mediterranean and European sites sacred to early Christians a provocative answer comes forth—the dying Christ never appears in early Christian art because early Christians did not believe Christ’s redemptive death had opened a heavenly afterlife for the faithful. Rather, early Christians looked to Jesus as the exemplar who showed how to defy injustice by creating paradise on Earth in a loving community. In this theory, images of Christ’s passion and death invaded Christian art only when the Church started using a theology of otherworldly salvation to recruit the forces necessary to build a Christian empire.
Rita Nakashima Brock

Upcoming Weekend Events

Friday & Saturday, 10/22/10 & 10/23/10 - BISHOP JOHN SPONG, Retired Episcopal Bishop

Friday & Saturday, 2/25/11 & 2/26/11 - JOHN DOMINIC CROSSAN, Professor, Speaker, Author

Friday & Saturday, 4/15/11 & 4/16/11 - PAUL KNITTER, Professor, Speaker, Author

Make a contribution
Fall 2010 Luncheon Lectures The luncheon lectures are held on the second Wednesday of each month at The Forest Club, 9950 Memorial Drive from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
  • Wednesday, September 8th JEFFREY NEFF
  • “Death and Resurrection in East Texas”
  • Wednesday, October 13th LEONORA MONTGOMERY
  • “Late Age and Ethical Imperatives”
  • Wednesday, November 10th WILLIAM PARSONS
    • “On Seeing the Light: Mysticism in the Confessions of Augustine”
  • Wednesday, December 8th BREN HARDT
  • “Speaking Peace by Connecting with the Divine Energy within Each of Us”
Please register by the Monday before the event as there is a $1.00 Chef’s surcharge for walk-ins. Credit card registration can be done by telephone at 713-668-2345, mail or via PayPal (on this web site under Upcoming Events). Cost = $25.00 per event.

Click here for registration and more information about the lectures.

Foundation Gathering Groups

If you're interested in discussing theological issues, consider joining one of our Foundation Gathering Groups.

These groups meet in homes, and offer stimulating conversation in a friendly environment.

Gathering Groups meet at various times in several neighborhoods in the Houston area, so there's probably one that's convenient for you.

Click here for more information.

Tools for Professionals

Ministers have few resources for worship material that expresses a non-literal, non-dogmatic and non-exclusive understanding of our faith. Thus, what is spoken in worship is too often at variance with what is believed and proclaimed. This site is a place for materials that exhibit fresh images, striking metaphors, contemporary understandings and common sense. The items found here are freely offered and your offerings are sought.

Click here for more information.

Theology, considered

by Rev Dr Robert H Tucker
Science and Religion: A Thinking Process Divide
3 Sep 2010

The public flashpoint between religion and science is found in the issue of creationism and evolution. Other issues, such as the sun revolving around a stationary earth, are now found in the dustbin of history. As visible as this issue is in public life, I have come to believe that other, more subtle, factors fuel [...]

more
"Theology, considered" archives
Join our mailing list:
more information

Notable Publications 

Fall Classes at The Academy of Contemporary Theology

Our adult education program may resume in the fall of 2011. Watch for announcements next year.
Copyright ©2009 Foundation for Contemporary Theology. All rights reserved.
Clicky Web Analytics