Chapter 7
Good Morning to this week 7 of 2023
A renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all. Colossians 3.11
Culture is not just about what we do, but about what we believe, what we value, and how we understand the world. Margret Archer
In a sense, both Colossians 3:11 and Archer’s quotes encourage us to look beyond surface-level differences and focus on the underlying power behind it.
Hans Joas writes in The Power of the Sacred: An Alternative to the Narrative of Disenchantment.
Religion is not just a part of culture; it is a formative force in culture.
The religious transformation of the modern era did not lead to the decline of religion but rather to its diversification and pluralization.
The concept of the sacred is a central category in the understanding of religion, and it also has a broader significance for the study of culture.
The history of religion is not a linear process of decline and disenchantment, but rather a complex and diverse set of developments that have resulted in a pluralization of religious traditions and beliefs.
The sacred is not only a source of meaning and moral guidance but also a force that shapes individual and collective action.
Joas also argues that faith is not just a personal matter, but also has social and cultural dimensions. He contends that faith can be a source of community and social cohesion, as well as a factor that shapes cultural attitudes and values.
In Colossians, the idea of renewing one’s mind is central to the concept of transformation in Christ. Colossians 3:10 says, “and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.” This verse states that the process of becoming a follower of Jesus involves not just a change in behavior, but a change in the way we think and understand the world.
Hans Joas, in his work on the sociology of religion and culture, also emphasizes the importance of cultural and spiritual transformation. He argues that religious and cultural traditions have the power to shape the way people understand and experience the world, and that the process of cultural and spiritual renewal can be a catalyst for personal and societal change.
Renewing our minds is an essential part of the process of becoming more fully human and experiencing the fullness of life that God intends for us.
Wishing you a blessed start to this week with renewed thoughs!
Philemon