Is it your opinion that narrative postmodernism influenced the development of narrative theology (Post liberal theology) as we have come to know it in the last 30 years or so?  (Stanley Hauerwas, Ray Anderson, James McLenden, etc).  Kinda seems like there is a connection there.

Bob,

Yes, the folks you mention as identified with postliberal theology fit comfortably under the broad umbrella of narrative postmodernism.

I find some of what they say helpful.  But I think they give up on some important questions pertaining to metaphysics and rationality.

Tom

Tom,

Thanks for stopping by and commenting on my blog (http://kjkebblog.blogspot.com/).  You asked for suggestions, well, I may have a few.  I am willing to dialog with you on the topic of holiness and how it interacts with us today and how it should interact with us today.

Kevin

Dr. Oord,

Thank you for introducing me to narrative postmodernism.  I had been familiar with the concept of communal truth, but I had not heard it in the context of narrative postmodernism.  Overall, I find your critique both illuminating and accurate.  Narrative postmodernism appears not to be THE solution, but perhaps it is an important part of a building critique of modernity.

-Rob

I have always thought it is interesting to consider the way in which we tell stories, and how we relate to one another. This post has helped me to think about this issue with some new language/jargon that I think will be increasingly helpful as I (and others) consider this fascinating issue. I look forward to grappling with these (and countless other) questions as I work through your class.

Hey very nice blog!!....I’m an instant fan, I have bookmarked you and I’ll be checking back on a regular….See ya <a >:)</a>

I have always been interested in the fact that we all have formed our ideas based on our background, experiences, influences, etc. I am often surprised at the fact that there are so many people who don’t realize that their own advise is formed from their own life’s journey and someone else’s advise could be equally as helpful or un-helpful.

At the place I work in the hospital setting the narrative stories is one of the most important tools to help patients and families to heal. As chaplains we are encouraged to get people to tell their stories. It is in listening to those stories that we find ways to weave the God Story in and through their lives.
In taking the time to listen to the heartbeat of their essences and what it means to have relationships one can begin to see where others and God is in their pain and suffering. They become more sensory instead of logical when it comes to healing and medicine.
Doctors are learning the importance of listening to the stories too in helping patients and families to understand where they are coming from when it comes to whole health (mind, body and soul). 
Chaplains more and more are becoming part of the disciplinary team in helping in the healing. These teams become part of their stories too as they find meaning in what is going on in their lives at these shifting times of their lives.  New communities are formed and relationships rekindled as the patients and families explore their traditions and experiences. It is a time where they find out they are not along in their struggles.
Cheryl

I appreciated this blog.  Your explanation of narrative postmodernism helped me understand and I agreed with your conclusions.  Near the end you wrote, “the gospel of Jesus Christ points to an overarching narrative about God and creation that transcends all individual and communal narratives.” 
  I watched several “flash mob” videos on U-tube this week.  The Hallelujah chorus from Handel’s Messiah was performed in a mall food court.  It seemed analogous to the combination of the “overarching narrative” and the “individual and communal narratives.”  The flash mob sang one song – the overarching narrative – the Hallelujah chorus.  Yet each individual had a specific and unique role they played in the “overarching” narrative.  Some were altos, some sopranos, some tenors, etc.  Each was dressed in different clothing.  Singers were clustered in different spots throughout the food court.
  We have different stories to tell as individuals and denominations, but we need to harmonize those stories with God’s song.

I want my four kids to know that they are a part of the overarching Biblical story.  I want them to own that story as their story.  If it is not seen as their story than I am afraid they will not claim the truths found within it.  It is one thing to read about the Israelites exodus from Egypt and a totally different thing to view it as your exodus from Egypt.  I appreciate the embracing of the communal narrative.  The Biblical story is not about some other people that lived a long time ago, but it includes me.  It is our story.

I would agree with the concerns shared regarding Narrative Postmodernism.  Life is not about extremes and we must find the balance between individualism and community. For many to step in the direction of community will be a challenge but the attractiveness of community is a draw.

One question we must address in this discussion is what is our source of what self is.  When we the “I” try to give value it comes up short, Self is best cultivated and defined in community and communion.  Both community and communion help to balance self encouraging our individuality but not at the cost of the community rather to its benefit as well as the benefit of self.  The narrative helps to share the story of the community so that the self may develop both in respect of and in regards to the community and the individual.

It is interesting to me how the normal activities of story telling can be used to establish a way of religious thinking.  I agree that this aspect of narrative postmodernism helps us to “find meaning and truth” in the stories of our life.  I do not agree that it should be the deciding factor in our theology.  As one of the concerns state, “Spirituality is concerned at least in part with the unseen,” Is this not faith?  Theology is found in a gathering of all aspects of our life, not just in particulars.  When speaking of “Authoritarian communities,” I could not help but think of the Jim Jones fiasco, where people looked to him as their savior.  They neglected themselves to the point of death.  They had no love for themselves.

I think one of the things that narrative theology as described above struggles with is that every person is formed by a whole variety of stories.

We are formed by our family stories, our school stories, our social stories (such as sports teams we play on), our church stories, our national stories, and so on.  The stories which shape us are numerous and each of us has different stories.

Perhaps this is where narrative theology can begin to recover a sense of healthy individuality within the community.

Also, could it be that the overarching narrative is hidden within the overlap of these myriad stories?

I concur with the point you made in your post about having a healthy balance – specifically you mentioned between individual and community.  Moving towards a post-dualistic frame of reference is important in moving us towards wholeness in Christ.  Viewing the Bible as narrative or story is something that modernism has diminished in favor of universal truths and reason-oriented propositions.  What I sense has happened in this process is that we have lost our imagination in our desire to control the text of the Bible.  Often, the Bible is read for information instead of formation.  By swinging the pendulum back towards narrative theology, my hope is that we regain what story so wonderfully provides us – creativity, mystery, and a bigger world where the impossible becomes a normal occurrence.

Although I see nothing wrong with using the Christian Narrative and traditions of the church to teach the message of Christ and develop theology, I must say that in some form, we must start our own narrative.  Not attempting to replace the old narrative of the church but update some of the concepts.  Contemporary thinkers, specifically the unchurched, have little care for the traditions of church.  If they did, they would be in attendance already, perhaps.  In other words, we cannot teach a doctrine in practical terms just because this was the doctrine of the church prior to the Enlightenment.  In recent months, my theology has developed from personal experiences with God and other Christians and reason and less on traditions.  When theology eliminates reason, I believe interpretation is left to chance and could turn heretical.  In using reason and experience combined with tradition to develop theology, we not only interpret scriptures and the story of God in such a way that is more accurate, but it is also more applicable to the contemporary unchurched.

Narrating one’s story can go beyond being healthy, if the one narrating does not know when to shut up! There is a point for all of us where we tire of hearing another’s narrative.

Narrative postmodernism seems not to be about the story as much as it is communication. Establishing dialogue with others allows them to make connection with God thru our own “relational holiness.”

The definition of the term “postliberal” is interesting to me, as well. It’s hard to imagine “post” anything deriving from classic Christian liturgies and experiences!

I think you are right about your assessment of truth. What modernism sought to define, actually placed God in a box, so to speak. I believe the hardest part of the truth as it pertains to God, is that humans cannot define God in human terms. Even the nature of community and human relationship do not grasp the full depth of God’s love and truth. Maybe post-modernism is the first step, to the many steps that we will have to make to move closer to that understanding. However, I really believe that even this idea is somewhat elusive.
If I frame my idea of God around being loftier than the universe, then in some sense I bring God down, because God is beyond my vision and imagination. If I refer to God as being everywhere, I am limited by my understanding of what everywhere means, because I have not been everywhere in the universe, or on every astral plain. Words serve to only frustrate this dilemma, because words limit our definition to human terms. I believe God to be beyond our reason, and beyond the scope of all things known. However, one day I have hope to fully know the author of my greatest love. The Bible inspires me to dream, “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I have been fully known.”(1 Corinthians 13:12 NASB)

You have offered some good critiques of Narrative Postmodernism.  While I would subscribe to most of this framework, there is one critique I simply cannot get over; and it is one you mentioned in this blog.  Narrative Postmodernism overcompensates for the individualism prevalent in modernism.  When our body has an allergic reaction, it thinks it is fighting something that is causing a disease.  It produces antibodies that trigger the mast cells to release large amounts of histamine.  The histamine causes the inflammation.  So, it’s the over-reaction of our bodies that causes an allergic reaction (http://www.healia.com/healthguide/guides/allergies/what-happens-during-an-allergi).  I feel like we have a great potential to allergically react to systems of thoughts and react our way right into trouble again.  It is the over-reaction to modernism that gives me pause.  It seems to me like narrative postmodernism over-reacts and, as a result, produces an unhealthy picture of self vs. community.

I think this has helped me with the issue of Natural Law that I’ve been having a hard time grasping for most of this week.  The narrative postmodern theology rejects the concept that there is a natural law.  In the blog post, Tom you write, “While narrative postmodernists overcome radical individual relativism, they shift to a relativism of communities.  What is true is relative to a community and its way of life.  There is no over-arching or universal standard by which to judge the adequacy of diverse truth-claims offered by communities that disagree with one another.  One cannot appeal to ultimate truth, for instance, when seeking to convert nonChristians.” If I’m understanding this correctly this is what occurs in the case where the concept of a natural law is rejected.  Natural Law is what reminds us of our Creator.  It does not matter if we’re Christian or not.  There is something inside of all of us that make us want to do what is right. 
  I also find myself in agreement with this idea that modern theology has swung way too far toward individualism.  Again though, I believe that there is a yearning in all of us to be accepted and in community with others.  In your post you write, “While modernity wrongly deemed individuals unrelated and essentially autonomous, narrative postmodernism seems not to allow persons authentic independence.  Authoritarian communities can be just as devastating as isolated individualism.”  This seems to hit it right on the spot. 

After reading this post I’m not really sure why there has been such a rejection of this discussion inside the American Evangelical Church.  What is there to be afraid of?  In my view if we would allow ourselves to openly discuss and challenge the status quo for the good of the church it would benefit us all.

Narrative postmodernism is one of many ways that can be helpful in making sense of
God’s Reality. Narrative theology focuses on community and the larger meta-narratives
that help to inform life. This focus is helpful in an age where relativism and individualism abound. Yet the focus on community and meta-narratives is only one way among many that help us understand what God’s Reality is.

There has always been a need for balance in what we allow to shape our
understanding of reality. As Christians we primarily have the Trinity, community,
Scripture, and individual experiences that mix together to formulate what we believe to
be True. When one of these four areas is overly exaggerated, we run into trouble.

Narrative postmodernism focuses on community in a way that is helpful as long as it
is not overemphasized. There is certainly a voice in narrative theology that is helpful in our time.

“If narrative postmodernism is true, we should not expect an outsider to understand Christianity’s community-derived logic.  An outsider’s critique is only valid if it corresponds with some part of the story Christians already affirm.”
    I wonder at times how many people who don’t attend church on a regular basis walk into a church to check out the service only to find they don’t inderstand anything that’s being said. I’ve heard preachers share a message and I had no idea what they were trying to pass on to their listeners. That’s when I started wondering about those who are not Christians who might be in the same service. This just seems to bring it to our attention that there are many non_Christians who have no idea what we are talking about.
    In light of this it makes sense to me that perhaps we really do place too much value on some things that are said in opposition to Christianity. It’s easy to criticize what one doesn not understand.
    It seems that Narative Postmodernism might be a lot about ones comprehension, views, opinions and history that becomes all rolled up into thier storys or naratives.
    I can easily see how in light of this it would be easy to find a toss up in regards to who believes the story and who does not. This might also lead to great amounts of fault in the story that is told. 
    We can communiate our story all we wish. It’s still up to the listener to accept of reject it. It’s sort of like Jesus’ story….. some accept it and some reject it.

I like the idea of narrative theology and the way narrative postmodernism is described here makes me interested in entering the conversation with those who subscribe to this vein of theology.  I will admit, though, that I continue to have a foot in modernism.  For example, I still believe in ultimate truth.  For me this is foundational.  You said, “Narrative postmodernists agree that there is no objective all-encompassing standard by which to judge truth.  Universal reason is an illusion.”  Then as you close you mention the “overarching narrative about God and creation that transcends all individual and communal narratives.”  Is that postmodern for as close as one can come to universal truth?  Is it universal truth? 

Great blog.  Thanks for challenging me!

I find it interesting that we as a community and even a readership may have a voice in sensing what may be an appropriate “overarching narrative that points to God and creation”.  As cultures and traditions differ, I wonder how easy or difficult it is to reconcile our perceptions of what would be the grand narrative that transcends traditions?

Is it possible to find such a narrative without sacrificing what is unique to each tradition?

I have some difficulty with saying that a spiritual community’s language games and forms of life determine what is reasonable, meaningful and true. When considering opposing views of reason, meaning and truth, how can it be said that both views are valid because they are born of each spiritual community’s language games and forms of life? Relativistic thinking bends my understanding of truth. It is this tension which positions me with the critics of narrative postmodernism’s critics in this area. At the same time, I agree with you, Tom, that God’s truth transcends the Christian community. This is a thought-provoking post.

Hearing the stories of others helps me in anchoring my own story. They help me to measure and weigh the things I have been brought up with and they help me to look critically at what needs to be kept as well as what needs to be released.
Community helps me to be accountable and honest with my everyday living when the community is accountable and honest with me in their everyday living.

I believe there is a Truth that speaks to all cultures and times even though it is set in a specific culture and time.  If we base Truth on how different cultures interpret things based on their own understanding of words and meanings nobody could really communicate.  I will say that communities do have their own understanding of words and meanings through culture and traditions but to say that we should base Truth from one’s own understanding to the next to me seems pointless. Jesus Christ is Truth all spiritual communities and different cultures around the globe should be able to understand and grasp as I believe God created it that way and for that purpose.

“Or, perhaps better put, the gospel of Jesus Christ points to an overarching narrative about God and creation that transcends all individual and communal narratives.”

This is why Scripture is so powerful for us, not only as Wesleyans, but as Christians.  We believe that the “overarching narrative” has been given (indeed has by necessity been given) to us by God.  While a variety of textual disciplines critique Scripture, uncovering the human elements and connections present within the text, we believe that this set of words finds its source ultimately in the very Being it reveals.

All week I have been struggling with Narrative Postmodernism’s presupposition that the community gets it right. I am on board with the idea that Community voice is significant in developing theology, but there have just been too many times the church as a whole has gotten it wrong.
You said, “The community cannot hear the voice of the prophets - both inside and outside - if it accepts without question the old, old story passed down.” I think it’s the “outside prophets” that make it difficult for me to swallow the whole of narrative postmodernism. It’s the challenges from the outside that keep us honest and keep us from becoming smug and self-satisfied with our interpretations of our own story.

To me a proper balance is adequate. Narrative postmodenism has good points that need to be understood and considered. I do agree that our community and our context plays an important role on how we see life and how we might react to new ideas that come from other cultures or religions. On the other side I believe that individualism is also important. I believe that God deals with everyone in a personal way. According to scriptures we will be judged by our actions and decisions and not by our community actions or decisions.

The Wesleyan in me certainly wants to preserve the ideal that God’s Truth can be found anywhere—“All Truth is God’s Truth.”  And if this is the case, then there must be Truth that transcends culture, including communities and stories.  And finding this Truth in other faith traditions helps us find God’s grace, and connecting points to all of creation.

I do like the departure from modernism that narrative postmodernism brings—especially the freedom to embrace what can’t be proven scientifically.  As Jesus often explained in John’s Gospel, we think in earthly terms, but there is another realm, a spiritual realm, that we cannot see but is far more “real” than what we can see and “prove” scientifically.

Narrative is what makes our faith worth living. If faith is reduced to a universal set of propositions that a person must adhere to, then there isn’t much purpose to it, nor is it for all people. However, when faith becomes alive through story, it has much meaning. The truth that we discover about God can be known through our stories. As communities of people operate, (the way they live, work, play, treat each other, and how they treat outsiders), all communicate the truth that they believe. Our stories illuminate a God who is otherwise, unseeable.

The struggle though is that communal narrative without the approval of a larger narrative is incomplete. In order to be expressions of God, stories must fit within the historical scope of who God is. This is where the balance with other theological camps mentioned in the blog post comes in. All that we do in life requires moderation.

I think it is important that truth is not too heavily focused on the perspective of the individual or the perspective of just the community.  I think that truth can be found in both ways even though postmoderns might disagree.  Some individuals living in isolation or living in a community where the truth they believe in is not the real truth, have to figure out the truth for themselves through the power of God at work in their lives.  From that point on, they may find a Christian community to further explore the truth, but there are still times when people have to seek out the truth on their own.

In the blog, it was stated that modern logic helps us “picture” the world. This is telling.  Certainly, one of the criticisms of modernity has been its logic-cenetered view of reality.

The reason that I really connect with the Narrative approach in this instance is because it presents something that is ongoing in the face of a very stagnant view of reality.

The modern world is taking snapshots.  There isn’t anything wrong with this.  I have pictures in my house of my family.  In fact, I can go look on my wall and find a picture right now.  There is a family, sitting together, all smiling.  Is this a picture of reality?  Sure it is!  But it isn’t the whole reality.

For this reason, pictures have a tendency to let us in on half-turths.  They aren’t false, but they don’t present us with the whole of reality.  Pictures are stagnant and they capture moments and certainly, mostly they capture the moments that we want to capture, not the other ones.

Logic has this issue.  We like to use logic, but it is stagnant and only presents half-truths based on the tangible world.

The Narrative approach gives us something that is ongoing.  If we look at the same picture and you were standing next to me, and asked me about the picture, I might be able to tell you a story that presented a better look into our life as a family. 

I may tell you that we had a really tough day that day and we took 100 shots and only one of them had all of us smiling.  I might say that we had just finished eating and my wife had broccoli in her teeth that they had to photoshop out but if you look really closely, you can see a little tiny piece that they missed.  Or, I might tell you that this was one of the best days we ever had as a family and that I wish we could get back to a time that was so good. 

You would certainly know much more about my family and have a better sense of the truth after you heard the story.

I think that the nature of narrative theology is that there is an overarching story.  There is a God that is writing his story and we are all players in his great story of love.  Throughout history, God has been redeeming and reconciling.  He has been telling his story through people.  The lot for our lives, then, is to find our part in this story; to line ourselves up with the truth of the greatest story ever told and to live it.

Then, our stories speak the truth of the greater story.  Maybe they do even if we never accept that truth.

Universal reason is a myth.  Translation may happen but communication is not guaranteed.  A reason is what but God is who.  The basis for the individual in the church is confusing since God is community.  His own being is community via the Trinity.  We claim autonomous status in a God who is the exact opposite.  Reason and individuality are two sides of the same coin.  Philippians 2 is so important in the discussion.  It demonstrates God as communal and participation instead of reason.

There are many aspects of the narrative postmodernism view which I can go along with also.  It presents the idea that we are more community based and not as individualistic as some want to be.  In regards to truth however, there is a much larger and grander overarching story that the narrative theology fails to nail down. All of these theologies ebb and flow with the culture and society of the moment. Surely there has to come a time when regardless of the social economic climate of the day, week or month our understanding of God is consistent above everything else.  People both inside and outside of the church are not looking for another “ism” but an actual truth on which they can stand and be supported.

God transcends everything to speak to us both individually and collectively with a voice that is easy to discern as His. We need to tune into the voice and tune out all the distractions.

The idea of an over arching narrative appeals to me, and I seek to communicate with an open mind. What is the truth to which other communities provided? Is it a truth with broadens our understanding of our own Christian faith? This open style of thinking begins to lean towards pluralistic salvation, in my mind. How do we balance the understanding of our truth and the openness to truth from outside sources? The true question is, “What is God’s over arching narrative?”.

If - the following statement from the Blog is true… “Modernism says we can only consider something meaningful if expressed in universally reasonable or factual language.  Logic, mathematics, and the natural sciences are the only adequate bricks for building a meaningful worldview.” ... Then issues concerning faith or experience do not have any value in determining valid world view.  Most of what we believe regarding the Biblical world view or Christianity is a matter of faith, believing the unseen to be true.  Jesus told Thomas that he believed because he had seen, but blessed are they who believe and have not seen.

I truly enjoyed reading this article, but I had one concern and maybe I am just misreading it.  The following statement caused me to do a double take:

“I think God’s truth transcends the Christian community – although I also think the broad Christian tradition does a better job than other religious traditions telling us about God.”

I have always been under the impression that as Christians we worship the only true God, this statement leads me to think that other religions teach about the same God, but just do a poor job at it.  I’m not sure that is where you were going with this statement so I will leave it at that.

As for narrative theology, it provides an interesting perspective into the study of God, and I agree with you that it should be used in balance with more traditional forms of study.

The Bible is read from a narrative perspective.  Narrative in perspective because it addresses groups or communities of people.  The Bible for many in ancient days was part of an oral tradition, and this oral tradition lends well to a narrative form of teaching.  By this understanding I would agree with the argument that is including in this writing which states, “Narrative postmodernism argues that meaning is found in, and arises out of, particular communities.  Truth is communal, not individualistic.”

However, I would also argue that the Bible is also individualistic.  Individuals make life changing decisions to follow and agree with teachings found within the pages of scripture.  Dr. Oord states, “I recommend that postmodern Christian theologians draw from narrative postmodernism. But I also recommend that Christians seek an overarching narrative in which to understand the gospel of Jesus Christ.”  Therefore, the individual relationship which is found in Jesus Christ is understood beyond what we hear in our communal church meetings.  Where does this leave us?  The Bible communicates truth through a narrative perspective and an individual perspective.

I like narrative! I believe God is writing the stories of each of our lives as a continuation of the story he wrote in the Bible…God working among humanity, in each of our lives.  I agree that we can’t assume that Christian narrative is the only place to find God, we are all his creation and he’s writing his story on the pages of each of our lives - Christian or not.  The cool part is being able to see how has intertwined our stories for his purposes and glory.  A HUGE, HUGE, HUGE part of my ministry is about allowing the women we serve to tell their story and then being able to shine light on God in every piece. Learn someone’s story and you can show them God, you can show them Truth.  Not that you are bringing Truth or God, that’s already there…just highlighting it, pointing it out…giving them eyes to see themselves as God sees them. 
Great post!
Sharon

Tom,
Narrative postmodernism utilizes, for its subject-matter, stories that are drawn from sources beyond as well as within the biblical narrative. You state, “It rightly calls us away from radical individualism and radical relativism. It reminds us that the community has a wisdom that transcends its individual parts.” I appreciate your statement. Narrative theology challenges the audience to locate themselves within the biblical account, thus forcing them to become actively involved both cognitively and physically. Regardless of culture, thought, or viewpoint, we are all storytellers at large. Humanity enjoys conveying stories, and it takes pleasure in listening to them as well. Through the teachings inherent within the scope of narrative theology, we are given the opportunity to better understand our own lives as they relate to the communal narratives that continue to unfold before us. Narrative theology, in a sense, is communal theology. Hearing and interpreting another’s story often opens new vistas of enlightenment within our own present-day accounts. As characters sharing and existing within the realm of postmodern reasoning and narrative, our lives become communally joined at the theological hip of love and Christian servitude. We become players with a theological storyline that involve other individual’s stories, and they become partakers within our own collective yarns. If society is going to take its contemporary theology seriously, it needs to become actively and communally involved.  It needs to locate itself within the context of the biblical story in the present as it looks forward to the future.
This is not to imply that the community involved won’t have doubts or questions regarding the text itself, in fact, this is a necessary ingredient for the endeavor at hand. When we enter the world of theological doubt, we allow our minds and imaginations to speculate and probe the great events and scenes inherent within the biblical account. Our thought becomes unshackled from the individualism and relativism operating within the confines of contemporary living. If society can believe that Scripture is a limitless anthology of writings united in the main, then narrative postmodernism will indeed help pave the way for communal wisdom and transcendent logic.

I am not certain if I buy entirely into the notion of communal truth; but, at the same time, I can appreciate the value of the linguistic value of sharing experiences of personal truth within community.  God’s intersections with people do not only occur within the context of biblical study, expressions of worship or prayer.  Instead, God intersects with us as individuals in a multitude of ways.  I can see how the narrative of the community offers its members the opportunity to hear the stories of God’s intersections and see the manner in which people live out the truths they have experienced.
    Though communal truth may not necessarily represent The Truth; it nonetheless presents a version of what has been experienced in both current and past generations.  I value the correcting nature of the Holy Spirit.  To be concerned about the “truth” that is shared within a community discounts another strong opportunity which exists within the communal narrative.  The emphasis on collectivism encourages dialogue and this cannot be undervalued.  If nothing else, dialogue can serve as a start point. It prompts reflection and a call for a deeper thought.  Though this school of thought may not emphasize individual thought beyond the excepted truths of the community narrative, collective change is still not out of the question when dialogue, the narrative is encouraged.

I am attracted to narrative postmodernism.  I believe that the church continually writes new chapters in the long history of Christianity.  We are pieces of God’s narrative—each of us with our own part to play.  By His grace we are placed into community, and from within it we combine our efforts for His glory.  However, the individual is of unique importance and should not be minimized (1 Cor 12:17-20).
 
Also, I find that I agree with narrative theology, and you Dr. Oord, when it comes to reminding “us that truth is bigger than what we can condense in logical propositions and perceive through our sensory organ.”  The entire scope of reality is beyond our grasp, and as such we are called to trust the Creator.  If God meant for us to have a complete understanding we would have it—but instead He calls us to faith.  Even so, God honors our seeking, especially if it is in the manner He has prescribed.

Thanks for the enlightening reading.

How I wish I could sit in a living room with you and just talk over coffee for a couple of hours!  In your blog you wrote, “But I join the critics who seek an overarching narrative. I think God’s truth transcends the Christian community – although I also think the broad Christian tradition does a better job than other religious traditions telling us about God.”

What do you perceive to be an overarching narrative if not the narrative found in the whole text of the Bible? I speak of God’s great love for humans and that the only hope humanity has is to receive God’s free gift of grace—The Atonement. 

I agree with you that God’s truth transcends the Christian community.  As I have spent the past 36 years trying to get to know God, the key thing I have learned is that I will never know all there is to know of God.  And that is a very good thing!  If my God were completely knowable, He would be a very small god indeed.