Wednesday, November 14 was a day of rich experience. I traveled with Oakwood Hall's Spritual Life Assistants to Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, KY to hear lectures giving by The Church of England's Bishop of Durham, N.T. Wright. Hereinafter referred to as Tom (since that is how he signed my journal), N.T. initially studied at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford and was then ordained as Junior Research Fellow and Junior Chaplain at Merton College, Oxford. He served as Fellow and Chaplain at Downing College, Cambridge before moving to Montreal as Assistant Professor of New Testament Studies at McGill University. He returned to Oxford as University Lectured in New Testament and Fellow and Chaplain of Worcester College. He became Dean of Lichfield in 1994 and Canon Theologian of Westminster Abbey in 2000.
After meeting Tom, I assert that he may chuckle at the above description. He is not a man of pride who values the fanciful titles and accompanying celebritism. The only reference in his addresses regarding his position was the notation of his membership in the English Parliament's House of Lords. This fact was stated slightly for teaching to reference the differentiation between the suppossed "separation of church and state" in the United States and the established national religion of England.
Tom's person is gentle with an aura of humility. He possesses a somewhat dry, or rather, subtle, sarcastic sense of humor which proved essential to his teaching method.
Refer to upcoming posts for further thoughts on his teachings (including links to the podcasts), account of personal interaction experienced, and photos.
Bishop N.T. Wright is not to be confused with the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Douglas Williams. One co-worker who shall remain nameless made this terrible mistake and must find himself in a state of repentance.
Matthew 5:38-48, NASB
"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone want to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you. You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? If you greet only you brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
3 comments:
Thought you might like this:
http://philosepher.blogspot.com/2007/11/will-real-archbishop-please-stand-up.html
While it is true that the Church of England is the national church and the queen is the head, religion in England seems to be a dying thing. On the campus of the University of East Anglia nearly everyone I run into is either atheist, agnostic, or apathetic. Only the Muslim students seem to have conviction about their beliefs. Christian identifiers are definitely in the minority. I'm not sure what the cause of this is, but state religion certainly doesn't lead to widespread believing.
greg,
thank you for sharing. tom wright referenced the problem of apathy and a sense of "dying religion." he pointed out that there is not much difference between having an established religion or not. i would also argue that the idea of "separation of church and state" is problematic and with a proper ecclesiology is actually impossible.
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