wes hargrove

wes hargrove

Wes Hargrove  //  a place where art, theology, and philosophy collide.

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Sep 1 / 1:32pm

Leaving Home

The Greek term theorin: a practice of travel and observation, a man sent by the polis to another city to witness a religious ceremony. 'Theory' is a product of displacement, comprising a certain distance. To theorize, one leaves home.

James Clifford, "Notes on Travel and Theory"

I just started reading Thomas Tweed's 'Crossing and Dwelling' for my Eastern Religions course. Our professor (I've taken multiple classes from him) usually starts off his upper-division classes with a book on theory of religions. (For example, in the basic survey world religions course he assigned Mircea Eliade's 'The Sacred and the Profane'.)

I'll post more on how Tweed's book unfolds in the first chapter. (I'm in charge of leading our class discussion on Thursday, so I'll post something tomorrow evening.)

Wes

Filed under  //  Classes   Reading   Theory  

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Feb 27 / 10:19am

Re-reading the Fidelity of Betrayal

My studies have led me back to Peter Rollin's Fidelity of Betrayal. I read it in December for the first time, but I ran across this just now...

Christianity is not brain surgery or rocket science, it is not quantum mechanics or nuclear physics; it is both infinitely easier and more difficult than all of these. The fragile flame of faith is fanned into life so simply: all we need do is sit still for a few moments, embrace the silence that engulfs us, and invite that flame to burn bright within us. This act is simplicity itself, and, just perhaps, after a lifetime of hardship and struggle, a few of us will achieve it and be set alight by it.

I was struck by this the first time I read it, and I experienced a second naïveté with it just now (coincidence, to those who are familiar with the topic of Fidelity of Betrayal). I resonate deeply with the notion of infinite difficulty and ease. You can also read Peter Rollin's blog here. I definitely recommend it.

Wes

Filed under  //  Philosophy   Quotes   Reading   Theology  

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