Starting Date: 03-04-2009
Starting Time: 7:00pm
Ending Date: 04-08-2009
Project H.O.M.E.
1515 Fairmount Avenue
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19130
United States
215-842-1790LIBERATING PAUL: TAKING A NEW LOOK AT A RADICAL APOSTLE
The Apostle Paul, whose writings had an enormous impact on early Christianity, is primarily understood in the church as a theologian of personal salvation, whose supposedly “conservative” social views moderated the gospel ethics of Jesus. This six-week course will take a new look at Paul, arguing that in fact he was very much in the radical and liberating vein of Jesus, forming counter-cultural communities or “house churches” that lived in opposition to the values of imperial Rome. We will look at the social context of Paul’s writings, as well as the controversial issue of authentic Pauline writing versus later "pseudo-Pauline" writings in the New Testament canon, which reflect the struggle of his vision in an increasingly institutionalized church. We will explore his subversive views on power, patronage, economics, and politics, which are often obscured in the Western theological tradition. We will look at some of the problematic issues we encounter in Paul: his views on women, slavery, homosexuality, and obedience to the state. The course will be facilitated by Will O'Brien, coordinator of The Alternative Seminary. The charge for the class is $50 (or whatever you can afford), which will include the cost of various articles and hand-outs.
If you are interested in participating, please contact Will O’Brien at 215-842-1790 or wobrien@alternativeseminary.net by February 20.
The Alternative Seminary is an informal program of biblical and theological study and reflection designed to foster an authentic biblical witness in the modern world. For more information, see www.alternativeseminary.net.
Geographical Scope: Local Other |
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