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The Culture in which we Find Ourselves

terri martinson elton, phd

{Culture mediates……ordering,teaching, creating,

reorienting. Culture also …

…tends, reforms, and challenges.

…”The most basic contribution that an anthropological understanding of theology – postmodern or not – makes to theology is to suggest that theology be viewed as a part of culture, as a form of cultural activity…[and] Theology is something that human beings product.” (Tanner, 63)

Theology is a human activity…and “Thinking about theology as a part of a culture would mean thinking about theology as a part of some specific, communally shaped way of life, with all the full-bodied and concrete comprehensiveness that the expression ‘way of life’ conveys from an anthropological point of view.” (Tanner, 67) Role of theology within

culture and making meaning

“Christian theology has to do, instead, with the meaning dimension of Christian practices, the theological aspect of all socially significant Christian action.”(Tanner, 70)

Hence, Christian theology has at its core wrestling with meaning and actions that constitute a way of life…in this way, Christian…with the key question “What is a Christian to say and do in these circumstances?” (Tanner, 90)Role of theology within

culture and making meaning

{God, in Christ Jesus, came to this world…He lived, died and was resurrected.

God’s redemptive movement

{Into the pain and suffering, null and void, God came.Into brokenness and injustice, restoration and mercy came.Into injustice and death, reconciliation and life came.Into humanity, the divine came.

God’s redemptive movement

{God is at work reconciling the world…and we are Called into the

redemptive mission of God.

{What does it mean to invite young adults into God’s redemptive movement?