Looking for serious conversation

I was asked last week, why do I blog? Do I have a need to be heard, seen or is it something else? This has led me to reflect on why I am writing this blog, I have come up with a few answers to the question.

I write because I need to see my thoughts on “paper” so that I can examine them. Once a blog is posted I can come back later and examine my thoughts critically.

I write because I process through expression, in my mind is a jumble, as the words fall out on the page they re/organise themselves into sentences that carry meaning.

I write because there are people in various places in the world that actually want to know what I think and they ask me to keep writing.

But I think most of all I write because theology cannot be done in a vacuum. I need discourse, I need people who respond, who disagree, who question and who engage with the thoughts and challenge me.

In light of the last point this blog has been a bit of a disappointment. I need more conversation partners, I need more conversations, I need mentors, friends and dissenters.

So if you read this blog regularly, I beg of you. Comment, disagree, dialogue! And if you like send me an email and lets formalise a mentor/mentee partnership. I am not looking for people who think like me, but people who can challenge and gently guide me to greater insight. In this all are welcome! Let’s do theology together!

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conversation, dialogue

5 responses to “Looking for serious conversation”

Sven Ljungholm

October 9, 2012

Great minds… lol I am writing my reflection on my 5 years of blogging, and what have I, or better said, God accomplished through my less than masterful teaching and counseling? I’ve been privileged to have been a part of some significant God moments- many have come to or entered a deeper faith, many have reinvented and reinvested themselves in a Godly vocation, a few have returned to faith and ministry in TSA and elsewhere, two, subsequent to several days of spiritual dialogue decided they’d live on a bit longer (still engaged with them – note, not ‘in touch’, but ENGAGED), many have been honest in sharing where they are in their spiritual, sexual, and psychological explorations and commitments, and dozens have ventured out and posted articles of significance (to themselves and to others) in our blog.

It’s too late to say, in brief, but succinctly then, (lol) I believe it’s a matter of determining whether our message is of value and worthy of God’s blessing, His confirmation and seal of approval. And that confirmation comes only subsequent to posting one’s thoughts, teachings and convictions. If hearts are moved God’s grace sealed our offering.

blessings, sven

Reply
1. olterman
  
  October 10, 2012
  
  Thank you for this comment Sven, I know that there is a whole range of conversations I would never had the privilege to be part of if I hadn’t been writing these posts on my blog so in that sense it has been a blessing.
  
  There have been a lot of god moments, but what of the public furthering of the theological discourse? Not so much so I am hoping in some way to connect in a better way to the theological community at large and to try to encourage more conversation in public.
  
  Reply
Stuart Watson

October 9, 2012

I can only speak for myself, Patrik, but I’m one of the people who read your blog – primarily because it’s obvious from the way you write that you enjoy doing theology in an orderly, critical but ‘grounded’ way. I find your writing thought provoking.

I must confess also that I wrote in the comment box on the post you made earlier today, only to delete what I’d written before I clicked ‘post’. Now, why would I do that? I guess primarily because I have a professional life in the secular world. And my experience in the virtual world of ‘social media’ has taught me that people can be quite thoughtless when, for example, they comment on posts I’ve made. Face-to-face, you can brush off a silly comment, but, contrary to what seems to be prevailing approach to social media, such comments made online are public and permanent, to one extent or another.

But why would I be so ‘defensive’? Well, my public persona is valuable to me because ultimately it’s what pays the bills – so I can’t afford to have online interactions that might turn out to appear less than ‘professional’.

I’m open to serious theological discussion… but (and I’m genuinely open to persuasion here) to what extent is it good, safe, or even helpful to have that kind of discussion in an open online forum?

Reply
1. olterman
  
  October 10, 2012
  
  Stuart, thank you for your reply and candour, you know that I highly value your input.
  
  What I was thinking was formalising some sort of group (an email list, a closed facebook group) where this kind of feedback could be more structured. The only problem then would be how to bring the results of that conversation back into the public.
  
  Some thought required.
  
  Reply
Debbie Eaton

October 11, 2012

Hi Patrik…I’ve just rediscovered your blog and am reading. It’s interesting to share some of the journey you’ve been on and continue in. Much of interest, much to challenge and much to engage with.

keep reading, keep thinking and keep writing!

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