What a busy last few days! However, a delightful gift came in the post a couple of days ago from none other than the great theologian, Hans Küng! One of the items in the package was a signed copy of the Lew Kopelew Prize ‘order of ceremony’, including speeches (mentioned here). What a lovely surprise!
As I read the speech it became clear that the translation we offered a few days ago on this blog was faulty. Rather than stating that Americans have been misguided ‘by a President arrogantly presenting himself as a Christian’, the German actually says: ‘daß sie von einem arroganten, sich “christlich” präsentierenden Präsidenten ...’ which is, if anything, an even stronger formulation!
Yesterday I was pleased to take part in the 80th birthday celebrations of the great NT scholar, Martin Hengel, in the Tübingen Theologicum. I made a couple of short videos (but as shall become abundantly clear – I will upload them later –, I’m really not film director material!) and managed to get a picture of the back of David deSilva’s head (I’m not paparazzi material either)! The wonderfully friendly, and massively learned, William Horbury gave the honorary lecture in pretty convincing German. Given that I deal with and take issue with Horbury’s thesis concerning early Christology in my doctoral work, it was a delight to hear direct from the ‘horses mouth’, even if I’m still profoundly unconvinced. I’ll blog more about the celebrations later.
By the way, for those who have e-mailed me in the last few days, thank you. I will reply as soon as possible.
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6 comments:
Is Kueng claiming that Dubya is not a sincere Christian as Kueng is
Sincerity has nothing to do with it. W is woefully ignorant of the basic teachings of Christianity, including those of his own United Methodist denomination.
Chris, you are certainly blessed in friends and getting great early Christmas presents! I met Hengel once in the '80s. Truly brilliant and a gracious person, too.
Could you just jot down please, what te basic teachings of Christianity are?
Hengel is truly birlliant, Michael - a scholar of immense learning. And a total Swabian, if ever I heard one!
Steven, perhaps that question is a little too broad for comment in an unrelated post, perhaps if you have time, Michael, you could detail in what ways 'W is woefully ignorant of the basic teachings of Christianity', if that would help Steven (?).
Is it really a compliment to call somebody a Swabian?
(Says he, having lived in Bayern and on the Rheinland...)
The Swabians would think that a compliment! How long where you in Germany, Steven?
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