Theological Expeditions
Prior Expeditions
Below find information about expeditions which have concluded.
Return to the Theological Expeditions main page.
"Mapping Frontiers in Theology": September-November 2023
Time and dates: Except as otherwise noted below, noon to 1pm each Sunday from September 10 through November 12, 2023.
Required reading: We will read Quest for the Living God: Mapping Frontiers in the Theology of God by renowned Roman Catholic theologian Elizabeth A. Johnson along with some other pertinent materials. Johnson's book is a perfect starting point for our new group, as it deftly maps key issues and recent theological movements. Please complete the indicated reading before each session (around 20 pages most weeks). Each chapter of this book essentially stands alone, so if you must miss a week, you can easily pick back up the following week.
Schedule:
Sept. 10: Embarking on a Theological Expedition
Introductions. The goals of Theological Expeditions. Group norms. Johnson's theological “ground rules for the journey.”
Required reading: None.
Sept. 17: The Modern “Winter” of Christianity
Religion in the post-Enlightenment era. The “Too-Small” God of modern theism. The scientific, political, and intellectual roots of secularism.
Required: Quest for the Living God ("Quest") pp. 1–17, 25–28.
Optional: Three-page handout of "A better response to the decline of the Christian West" by Mac Loftin; Quest pp. 17–23 (the "ground rules" we discussed on Sept. 10).
Sept. 24: “Gracious Mystery, Ever Greater, Ever Nearer”
The theology of Karl Rahner. Divine transcendence and immanence. “The Whither of Our Self-Transcendence.”
Required: Quest pp. 28–47.
Oct. 1: “The Crucified God of Compassion”
Theologies of suffering. The Shoah. Theodicy and its failures.
Required: Quest pp. 49–68.
Optional: Two-page handout titled “The Parable of the Apple Orchard."
Oct. 8: “Liberating God of Life”
Liberation theologies. Poverty and biblical justice.
Required: Quest pp. 70–88.
Oct. 15: “God Acting Womanish”
Feminist and womanist theologies. The figure of Holy Wisdom. Metaphorical profusion.
Required: Quest pp. 90–110.
Optional: Two-page handout from E. Johnson, She Who Is [174-175]
Oct. 22: “God Who Breaks Chains”
African American theologies. White privilege and racial justice. Spirituals.
Required: Quest pp. 113–131; one-page "Modes of Theology" handout.
Optional: Three-page handout from James Cone, God of the Oppressed [211-213]
Oct. 29: “Accompanying God of Fiesta”
Latin American theologies. The piety of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Required: Quest pp. 133–150.
Nov. 5, 9:30 a.m. this day only: “Generous God of the Religions” and “Creator Spirit in the Evolving World” (We will cover two chapters this week.)
Christianity and religious pluralism; approaches to inter-religious dialogue. Theologies of creation care; panentheism; evolution, chance, and divine agency.
Required: Quest pp. 153–198.
Nov. 12: “Trinity: The Living God of Love”
The development of trinitarian doctrine. Visions of the Trinity, ancient and modern. Expedition One wrap-up.
Required: Quest pp. 202–224 and one-page Trinity "cheat sheet" handout.
All readings apart from the Quest book will be provided. Optional readings may be added as the Expedition moves forward.
"Why Theology Matters": January-February 2024
When: Sunday, noon to 1pm, on January 21, January 28, and February 11 (3 sessions).
Required reading: We will read What's the Point of Theology?: Wisdom, Wellbeing and Wonder by the popular Anglican theologian Alister E. McGrath. Please complete the indicated reading before each session. (This is a quick read compared to the Johnson book.) The McGrath book is available at Biblio.com, Bookshop.org, and Amazon, among other online retailers.
Schedule:
Jan. 21: Discuss McGrath, pp. 1-33.
Jan. 28: Discuss McGrath, pp. 33-83.
Feb. 4: NO MEETING. (Trinity parishioners: Please attend the cathedral Annual Meeting.)
Feb. 11: Discuss McGrath, pp. 84-137, and the handout (a brief excerpt from Thomas Aquinas by Denys Turner).
"The Problem of Suffering": February-March (during Lent) 2024
When: Sunday, noon to 1pm, on February 25, March 3, March 10, and March 24 (4 sessions).
Required reading: We will read Why Is There Suffering? Pick Your Own Theological Expedition by Bethany N. Sollereder. Please complete the indicated reading before each session. This book is available at Biblio.com and Amazon, among other online retailers.
Schedule:
Feb. 25 – Read the Introduction in the Sollereder book. Pick one path that best reflects your current thinking, see it through to the end, and come ready to discuss it.
Mar. 3 – Discuss the Sollereder book with a focus on short chapters 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 14, 17.
Mar. 10 – Discuss the Sollereder book with a focus on short chapters 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 35, 38, 39, 40, 41.
Mar. 17 – NO MEETING.
Mar. 24 – Discuss handout with excerpt from Charles Taliaferro, “The Ethics of Creating a World and the Ethics in a World,” from The Cascade Companion to Evil (pp. 54-75).
"Jesus Through the Centuries": May-June 2024
When: Sundays 5/12, 5/19, 6/2, 6/9, 6/23, and 6/30 (6 sessions).
Where: Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, 81 N. Second Street, San Jose, CA. We will meet in person in the Sunday School Room located off the Great Hall. (Directions, parking, and public transportation info.)
Required reading: We will read a modern classic, Jesus Through the Centuries: His Place in the History of Culture by the late Yale historian and theological scholar Jaroslav Pelikan. Though framed as an historical-cultural study, this book contains much to spur theological reflection and discussion. It is available at Biblio.com and Amazon, among other retailers. Please complete the indicated reading before each session.
Schedule:
May 12, Noon – Pages 1-33: Introduction and Chapters 1-2.
May 19, 10:30 a.m. (prior to the 11:30 bilingual Pentecost service) – Pages 34-70: Chapters 3-5.
May 26 – NO MEETING.
June 2, Noon – Pages 71-121: Chapters 6-9.
June 9, Noon – Pages 122-156: Chapters 10-12.
June 16 – NO MEETING (Visual Arts Sunday).
June 23, Noon – Pages 157-193: Chapters 13-15.
June 30, Noon – Pages 194-233 (end): Chapters 16-18.
“Mystical” Theology in Christianity and Other Traditions: Sept.-Nov. 2024
When: Sundays at noon, beginning September 8.
Where: Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, 81 N. Second Street, San Jose, CA. We will meet in person in the Sunday School Room located off the Great Hall. (Directions, parking, and public transportation info.) (No online option, sorry.)
Required reading: Mystics by William Harmless, S.J. This excellent book explores the lives and theological systems of eight historically important mystics. At one chapter a week, the reading is very manageable. Mystics is available at Biblio.com and Amazon, among other booksellers. As always, let Jim know if you run into a problem obtaining a copy of the book.
Schedule of readings and discussions:
Sept. 8 -- Mystic as Fire Watcher: Thomas Merton
Harmless, pp. 19-40 (Reading the preface and the introductory chapter at pp. 3-18 is recommended but not required. To get a head start on the discussion, you can view Jim's blog post: What Makes a Person a "Mystic"?)
Sept. 15 -- Mystic as Experienced Exegete: Bernard of Clairvaux
Harmless, pp. 41-58
Sept. 22 -- NO MEETING (Deacon Bertram will offer training for Lay Eucharistic Ministers and Lay Eucharistic Visitors at noon.)
Sept. 29 -- NO MEETING (Dean Julia’s final Sunday at Trinity)
Oct. 6 -- Mystic as Multimedia Artist: Hildegard of Bingen,
and Mystic as Cartographer: Bonaventure
Harmless, pp. 59-105
Oct. 13 -- Mystic as Mystagogue: Meister Eckhart
Harmless, pp. 107-134
Oct. 20 -- Mystic as Desert Calligrapher: Evangrius Ponticus
Harmless, pp. 135-157
Oct. 27 -- Mysticism and Islam: Rumi
Harmless, pp. 159-188
Nov. 3 -- Mysticism and Zen Buddhism: Dogen
Harmless, pp. 189-223
Nov. 10 -- Interspiritual Mysticism: Hindu Advaita Vedanta in Dialogue with Christianity
Handout: Juan Mascaró, Introduction to the Upanishads and Isa Upanishad
Nov. 17 -- Reading Mystics: Text, Community, Experience
Harmless, pp. 225-269
