Tanner Talk of Omaha

12/20/2023

The Second in a series of talks on Katheryn Tanner, In What Sense is Katheryn Tanner an Anglican Theologian? See You Tude video and follow up on The Elder of Omaha blog.

The the second in a series on Katherine Tanner a systematic theologian currently on the faculty of Yale Divinity School. This talk explores the question of ...

06/01/2023

https://youtu.be/MB13pZb79Jc This is "theopoesis" or first order talk. It would be interesting to see how second order talk, theology as Tanner understands it, would react to it. I would be interested in your thoughts. Michael

This talk offers poems and thoughts from On Giving My Word which reflect on the mystery of the Holy Spirit, celebrated on Pentecost and on a better understan...

04/27/2023

The question I should like to ask Tanner or any of her interpreters is does her doctrine of creation imply a continuing creation. The Anglican world has argued about “a continuing incarnation” to which I have been want to favor. But would a continuing incarnation be possible without a continuing creation? This interests me because in recently think about the meaning of “conceived by the Holy Spirit” I was led to think that the incarnation is “an act of creation,” and that “raise by the Holy Spirit” implies that the resurrection is an “act of creation as well. It is certainly problematic to think of three creations. I would be interested to hear what you think. Michael, the Elder of Omaha.

01/15/2023

Tanner continues to interest me.

A blog about the use of narrative as a ground for social and spiritual identity.

01/14/2023

Does Kathryn Tanner Preach?

Occasionalism, which was formerly known as supernaturalism or interventionism, in relation to the Devine, is excluded by Tanner’s primary principle for God-talk: God’s agency acts immediately, everywhere, always. In contrast to a God that acts occasionally, this God is the great God, that in turn demands more of us. We mirror God, so if our God is an occasional God, we will be occasional Christians, sometimes in need of God, sometimes praying to this God, sometimes going to Church to find this God. If, on the other hand, our God is great God, who acts immediately, everywhere, at all times, then we will understand that our need for God is continual, our prayer is continual, and our going to Church is regular.

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” I Thessalonians 5:16

Makes me miss not having a pulpit!

12/26/2022

The implication of Kathryn Tanner’s theology that the transcendent God is everywhere as an immediate and active agent, is that the presence of God should be easy to come by. So why does it elude us. I would submit the crux of the problem is our fear of smallness of the self. The self that has shed its amour and divested itself of its trappings, is, indeed, a small self, immediate to an immediate God!

12/17/2022

An example of the presence of Tanner's guidelines for coherent God talk in the poetic of On Giving My Word.

A blog about the use of narrative as a ground for social and spiritual identity.

12/16/2022

A blog about the use of narrative as a ground for social and spiritual identity.

12/09/2022

Let's talk. I am still at the early stages of developing this page, and would like to hear from you. I would offer a comment on a distinction that Tanner draws in identify her role as an academic theologian. She refers to her work as a theology as second order talk which leaves what preachers, poets, teachers and lay witnessing to be first order talk. A reader of her work is likely struck by that fact that she does tell you what to say, but rather claims to give you rules which can make what you say coherent. That may strike you as a modest contribution, until you reckon with how much incoherent God talk is going around. There is a collateral pattern to incoherence, and that is silence, for fear, perhaps of adding to the incoherence. Is this where the faith crisis of our time comes?

12/08/2022

My aim is to prompt talk about Kathryn Tanner in Omaha as I regard her credentials as a systematic theologian are both impressive and relevant to the pastoral needs of the local Christian community. My skill with face book is limited and hope you will step in with help. I started to put her face in the profile, which meant that she would appear to the author of these remarks. Then I thought of one of one of my own, but seemed to take ownership that I don't want, so I decided to make the Icon of Jacob and the Angel our profile and remain hidden in the Jacob on the right. Let's talk!