adam·m·lowe

RSS means Really Simple Syndication, which strangely enough, doesn’t sound very simple at all. Basically, it is a standardised protocol that enables people to monitor a ‘feed’ (i.e., a special URL address) and get alerts to new content. [Read More]

Venturing into eBooks can be fraught with all types of confusion.  Firstly, there are a range of services and readers available – depending upon which country you live in (Amazon Kindle, Apple iBooks, Barnes & Noble, Sony) – from which it can be quite hard to discern which to use.  (Note that eReader refers to the device, whilst eBook refers to the electronic version of the text.)  In my opinion however, the Amazon Kindle Store (i.e., as a source of eBooks, not necessarily the device) is really the only option at the moment for a few key reasons: [Read More]

Recently on the ABC’s Encounter program there was an excellent discussion regarding Theological Education and the University (in Australia).  It makes very interesting listening.  You can listen either on their website, or by PodCast subscription.  The program synopsis:

This year the Melbourne College of Divinity celebrates its 100th anniversary. The MCD exists because of Australia’s singular allergy to religion in education, which ruled theology out of the first universities, in Melbourne and Sydney. But theology has persisted here: in private, independent colleges, then in private universities, and now in the public university sector. Encounter this week explores the history, shape and future of theological education in Australia.

I always find it unfortunate that significant and complex issues, particularly during election campaigns, are often reduced to ten second soundbites.   In Australia right now, we have many challenges and opportunities lying before us – not least those concerning the environment, social welfare, education, health, and our population.  Even more than this, it seems as an extraordinary nation we have immense potential to be global leaders - bristling with vision and backed up by gritty resolve – willing to address global challenges through our own actions internally, and those directed externally.  It seems all-too-often that we are fooled to believe that one’s capacity to “take care of ourselves” is jeopardised if we take an outward look towards others (be they in Australia, or in the world).

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As someone who suffers from an acute case of earlyadopteritis, it is with little surprise that I was keen to jump on the iPad pre-order bandwagon. I had considered many eReaders in the past, but none provided sufficient capability for my particular set of needs. So this post is not a review of the iPad per se, but a small discussion of how it meets (or doesn’t meet) my needs in the world of study – particularly theology.

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I recently asked twenty-five friends and colleagues which five ‘theological’ books they would recommend for people considering – or commencing – studying theology.  The participants were from diverse professions, nationalities, ages, theological positions, and traditions.  Almost all of them had some formal theological education.

There were three main reasons why I considered this a worthwhile enquiry, being: (a) I think it is a practical question, (b) I’m generally curious about people, and (c) I thought it might inherently reveal which books have had the most influence on people’s theological/Christian formation (in this instance).

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Last Thursday and Friday (20-21 May) I was fortunate to attend the Holy Spirit in the World Today Conference at Holy Trinity Brompton.  The speaker lineup was most impressive, including Archbishop Rowan Williams, Jürgen Moltmann, Professor Miroslav Volf, Professor David Ford, and Rev’d Tom Smail.  Those with strong connections with HTB (i.e., Nicky Gumbel, Ken Costa, and Sandy Millar – now Bishop in Mission to London) and St Mellitus College (Rev’d Dr Graham Tomlin, Rev’d Dr Michael Lloyd, and Dr Jane Williams) also had a significant presence.  I was impressed with way in which this gathering was a balance between the academic presentation of matters pertaining to pneumatology (i.e., the branch of Christian theology concerning the Holy Spirit) and an actual experience of collaborating with the Holy Spirit.  It seems – at least to me – that a Christian conference (actually, any theological training) without application and experience (especially when considering matters of the Spirit!) is considerably incomplete.  To poorly quote Ken Costa, the intention of the conference was neither purely ‘academic’ nor some form of ‘festival’, but instead a merging of the two (i.e., thinking about God and engaging with God).  I think that they really succeeded.

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Since arriving in Durham last September, I have increasingly fallen in love with her.  You might recall a similar sentiment (from Notes from a Small Island, 1995, cf. Amazon) famously penned by Bill Bryson (who in addition to being a brilliant author is Chancellor of Durham University):

I got off at Durham… and fell in love with it instantly in a serious way. Why, it’s wonderful – a perfect little city… If you have never been to Durham, go there at once. Take my car. It’s wonderful.

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Wright, N. T. Virtue Reborn. London: SPCK Publishing, 2010.
[ISBN: 978-0281061440]

It feels like aeons have passed since I was last able to read books unrelated to work and/or study.  Thus it was with great joy that I picked up N. T. Wright’s new book Virtue Reborn (which is published under a different name – After You Believe - in the US) and read it over the last week.  Approaching Christian Ethics from a different vantage of the countless tomes that have preceded it, Bishop Wright’s book is not only a significant contribution to the field, but also to individuals and the church (both communities and the church-at-large).  A key strength is the manner in which he engages with a wide range of thinkers (e.g., be they philosophers, theologians etc) and presents them within a Biblical, thoughtful, and practical framework.  Following the tone of Simply Christian and Surprised by Hope, this latest work is eloquent, compelling, and accessible to a broad scope of readers.  But enough of the prologue…  (It is probably a good place to note that I have made so many notations on the pages throughout this book – apologies to those who cringe at the thought of marking a book – that it may have been more efficient to only mark the parts that I didn’t anticipate returning to.) [Read More]