Dr.Hans Küng, Swiss Theologian dies at the age of 93.

 

Dr. Hans Küng in 2008. He called himself "an idealist without illusions." Photo credit: Bernd Weissbrod/picture-alliance, via Associated Press.

Dr.Hans Küng, Swiss theologian has died at the age of 93, in his Tubingen, Germany home, yesterday, Tuesday, April 7, 2021. 

Dr.Küng was a controversial theologian in the Roman Catholic Church. He had much in common with the Reformation theology of Martin Luther, and, in the 20th century, Karl Barth. He advocated for, among other reforms: The Ordination of women, the end of a celibate clergy, birth control, and the end of papal infallibility. A prolific author of some 50 books and other scholarly works, he was among the youngest theologians who influenced the Second Vatican Council. 

When Rome revoked his license to teach theology in a Roman Catholic institution; he remained in Tubingen, and continued to teach theology in the secular part of that university. He also went on to establish an institute for ecumenism and an institute of global ethics. Even though the Vatican forbade Dr.Küng from teaching theology in a Catholic institution; Rome still regarded him as a priest "in good standing," rather ironic.

There are many profound Dr.Küng quotes that one might share, here is one example, reflecting, I believe, his authentic faith: "The nicest liturgical words and the highest praise of Christ--unless backed by Scripture and understood by the people--are just not useful."

My favourite Küng book is On Being A Christian. As a Lutheran, I found Dr.Küng to be more Lutheran than some Lutherans in this work. In this volume, he clearly, and, in my humble opinion, makes a convincing case for reforms  similar to those that Luther made back in the Reformation age.

Have you read any of Dr.Küng's books? If so, which one(s) do you like most? 

Read more on Dr.Küng here and here.

200 Quotations

Readers may be interested in the following link, from the Jewish-Christian Relations website, which contains quotations from a wide variety of people and faith traditions. The quotations can be included in essays, blogs and websites, conversations, interfaith and ecumenical dialogues, and so on: 200 Quotations 

Reading the Bible in a year

This year, 2021, I decided to read the whole Bible. It has been far too long since I've read the Bible in one year-so I thought it was time to discipline myself to take on this commitment. When was the last time you read the whole Bible in one year? I recommend it to you if you haven't ever done so; or if it has been sometime ago since you made the commitment to do so. As some of you may know, there are numerous schedules available for reading the Bible in one year. The schedule that I've chosen is from the Good News Translation Bible, published by the Canadian Bible Society. It is titled: "Read the Bible in a Year." 

This schedule can be a challenge some days, for example, on January 28th, the selected reading consisted of the first six chapters of Leviticus! Not exactly something I'd normally choose! On average, I'd say so far the schedule is about three chapters per day-sometimes more, sometimes less.

One of the advantages/blessings of reading lengthy passages of the Bible is that you develop a greater appreciation for the contexts in which many of the passages occur; as well as becoming more aware of significant theological and other motifs (some of which are repetitive) in a particular Book of the Bible. 

In addition to reading through the Bible in one year, I've also decided to make brief notes on the text. I wrote the following notes on today's reading, Leviticus 15-19. 

In chapter 15, the LORD instructs Moses and Aaron concerning bodily discharges; bodily cleanness and uncleanness; and purification practices and offerings. To touch someone who was ritually unclean due to bodily discharges also made one ritually unclean. 

In chapter 16, the LORD instructs Moses regarding the purification rituals and rites for the Day of Atonement. The Day of Atonement was to be observed once a year as "an everlasting statute." (Leviticus 16:34) The word Azazel may refer to a desert demon; or it may refer to a complete removal of sin, when Aaron or a successor priest placed both hands on the live goat's head and confessed all of Israel's sins, which transferred the sins to the goat, and then the goat was sent into the wilderness.

In chapter 17, the LORD tells Moses to speak what the LORD commanded to Aaron, his sons and all Israelites concerning the slaughter of animals and sacrifices of well-being. The LORD prohibits Israelites and resident aliens among them from eating blood. Blood is to be regarded as a sign/symbol of life and sacred, as it makes atonement when sprinkled or thrown/poured on or near the tabernacle altar. 

In chapter 18, the LORD instructs Moses to speak to all Israel concerning forbidden sexual relations. They are forbidden to have sexual intercourse with their relatives, e.g. children, parents, siblings, aunts and uncles, etc. Homosexual activity is regarded as "an abomination," sexual relations with an animal is "a perversion." Sacrificing children to Molech profaned the name of God. God defiled the land of Canaan and Egypt because their citizens practiced these forbidden sexual relations. 

In chapter 19, the LORD instructs Moses to speak to Israel concerning ritual and moral holiness and justice. The chapter repeats, after each holiness and justice injunction: "I am the LORD your God," or "I am the LORD." This emphasizes the divine origin and authority of each injunction. Among that which is forbidden is mixtures of differing materials for clothing, which today, is difficult, since a lot of clothing has mixed materials. The chapter ends with the reminder that the LORD delivered Israel from Egyptian slavery, and the command to keep all his statutes and ordinances-likely in order that Israel does not become an oppressive or corrupt nation like the neighbouring ones around them. 

With regards to all of the rituals and rites, statutes and ordinances, etc., Aaron and his sons the priests would be kept very busy and need to be able to remember a lot of details concerning religious, legal, and medical best practices. 

The Weekend in B & W - January 8, 2021

 

                                                            X-country ski trail

       For the Weekend in Black & White

Christmas and the 'Great Conjunction'

 This year we have enjoyed gazing and photographing the 'Great Conjunction' of Jupiter and Saturn. It is with a sense of awe that we experienced God the Creator's work. 

It is interesting that some refer to this as similar to the biblical 'Christmas Star.' Of course, chronologically, if one reads Matthew's account of the magi visitation of Jesus, one realizes that they did not see Jesus until some time after his birth. 

I think for those of us living in the northern hemisphere, light is a significant symbol of life-especially during the long winter nights and short days. Where I live, the sun sets in December, prior to the solstice, at 4:13 P.M. Added to the short days, often our winter sky is a cloudy blueish-grey, making it seem like night. 

So when we look at the heavenly bodies of Jupiter and Saturn in conjunction with each other, they are a symbol of life and hope that, for the faithful, Jesus is the light of life, the light of the world, the light that shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not and cannot overcome. For that, thanks be to God!

The following are a couple of photos I took of the Jupiter-Saturn Conjunction.

Taken with my iPhone

Taken with my Nikon camera

Wishing all of my readers peace and good will, and a blessed Christmas. 

Wordless Wednesday - December 2020

 

            For Wordless Wednesday

Edmonton-born filmmaker appointed to the Order of Canada

 Edmonton-born filmmaker, Tom Radford has been appointed to the Order of Canada. He has written, produced, and directed over 50 films. The films have highlighted the stories and history of Alberta and Canada. Over the years, he has worked with the National Film Board of Canada, and the CBC. Radford has also been a spokesperson for justice, Indigenous, and environmental issues in his films. For more visit the following link.