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More Dimensions in the Forma and Materia of the Word
No full textIn this time of a vast change and multiplication of communications media, many pastors and Christians are asking what forms thereof are best for their God-given tasks and objectives. Those broaching these questions have assumed answers based on scientific data, subjective feeling, intuition and cultural norms. These are not to be discounted and indeed warrant further probing. However, a theologian’s task, properly speaking, is to discern what is inherent to the Lord’s command to write, speak or teach. Does this simply mean to communicate via whatever medium one chooses? Why is one form or material preferred to another? Why does the Lord engrave by His finger into stone on one occasion or command a prophet to write on a scroll? Why marks on human flesh? Indeed, before media existed, He spoke everything into being, and before establishing or employing an alphabet, He marked and erected physical objects to reveal, signify, or create various realities. How is material media inherent to the doctrinal content and its impact on the human psyche, as humans imitate, replicate and assert His word? And how is today’s culture collectively best attuned for reception and use of God’s Word? Considering certain philosophers and modern communications scholars, this presentation will make observations from Holy Scripture regarding such questions
Signifying Nothing: Ancient Magic, AI Confessionals, and Spiritual Care in the Church
No full textOver the years, studies have shown that people are very comfortable disclosing personal secrets and worries to programmed chatbots, even before the recent advent of more realistic AI chatbots. This may seem like a symptom of our new era, but this practice has ancient roots: sharing our fears and worries with facsimiles that appear to listen parallels the ancient practice of magical curse tablets, where troubled people would petition the gods for help with love, success, and competition, completing the incantation by hiding their requests where no one could see them. Today, troubled people continue to seek to conceal their emotional burdens and settle for what only feels like relief. This presents both challenge and opportunity for the Church, which is grounded in confession and absolution, as well as prayer, as God’s real answer and balm to our human brokenness and the burdens of our hearts
The Peril of AI Art
No full textArtificial Intelligence (AI) art isn’t harmless. With AI as a mechanism for creation, numerous people and institutions have urged caution in the generation of articles, papers or sermons. Yet, when it comes to images, many have readily accepted the use of AI. Art that has been created by AI is treated as a harmless way to craft images that suit the design of the user in an expedient way with little mastery or time. As an image generator, AI may appear to produce novel images, but these works are formulated from the styles and creativity of actual artists. AI art plagiarizes styles from human creators and circumvents opportunities to interact with human expressions of the transcendent and warrants a high degree of caution. This sectional examines the risks of AI art considering Makoto Fujimura’s assertion that humans are fundamentally “co-creators” with God. Taken alongside the work of George Steiner who argues every piece of art from images to music, is a wager on the transcendent, one can see how art is necessarily a human endeavor. Human creators produce works reflecting God’s creation highlighting unique aspects of the transcendent. Works crafted by artists within a community communicate a message wrought through time and toil. Utilizing the Isenheim Altarpiece crafted by Nikolaus of Haguenau and Matthias Grünewald, this presentation will show how art formulated by human hands in their role as co-creators is a necessary expression of the transcendent while exhibiting the potential perils of AI art
01-33 Baptism of our Lord
Get PDFSpark your thoughts for January 7, First Sunday after the Epiphany. Jessica Bordeleau hosts professors of homiletics- Dr. Peter Nafzger and Dr. David Schmitt in a discussion of the lectionary texts from Genesis 1:1–5, Romans 6:1–11, Mark 1:4–11, Psalm 29:1–11.
This podcast is also available at Concordia Theology-Podcast, and all major podcast platforms Lectionary Kick-start
01-34 Second Sunday After the Epiphany
Get PDFSpark your thoughts for January 14, the 2nd Sunday after the Epiphany. Jessica Bordeleau hosts professors of homiletics- Dr. Peter Nafzger and Dr. David Schmitt in a discussion of the lectionary texts from 1 Samuel 3:1–10, 1 Corinthians 6:12–20, John 1:43–51, Psalm 139:1–10.
This podcast is also available at Concordia Theology-Podcast, and all major podcast platforms Lectionary Kick-start
068. Colossians 2:6-15
Get PDFChapel Sermon by Joel Biermann from Colossians 2:6-15 on Tuesday, January 9, 2024
Genesis 17:01-07, 15-16
No full textGenesis 17:1-7, 15-16 presented by David Adams for the First reading for Sunday, February 25, 2024, Second Sunday in Lent
089. Book Blurbs: Mark Rockenbach, Unforgivable
No full textConcordia Seminary’s Dean of Theological Research and Publication Dr. Kevin Golden sits down with Associate Professor of Practical Theology Dr. Mark Rockenbach about his recent book, Unforgivable: How God’s Forgiveness Transforms Our Lives (Concordia Publishing House, 2024), in this Concordia Journal Book Blurbs segment. Rockenbach, whose background is in counseling, co-authored the book with Ted Kober. “There’s a lot out there about forgiveness but not a lot out there when you struggle with unforgiveness, when you don’t want to forgive someone,” Rockenbach says. “This book is intended to help people who are in that particular situation. … Forgiveness ultimately comes because of what Jesus has done for us. One of the things the book helps to establish is that forgiveness is really something that Christians do.” The book is available for purchase through Concordia Publishing House and Amazon.https://scholar.csl.edu/cjc/1089/thumbnail.jp
090. The Theology of Cyril of Alexandria
No full textDr. Maxwell’s recording of a class on “The Theology of Cyril of Alexandria.”https://scholar.csl.edu/cjc/1090/thumbnail.jp