Tensegrities

Our curricular strategy at Luther is based on work that was begun more than 20 years ago, and continues at Luther in the form of several strands: “learning the story,” “interpreting/confessing,” “leading in mission,” and “discipleship.” I’ve always liked this framework, in part because it doesn’t fit within any narrow disciplinary context.

Recently I was reading some of that older literature, from the basic aims and purposes of theological education conversation, and came upon a description of the three sorts of things that faculty at the time of the discussion, thought were important: bringing students to a basic intellectual grasp of the subject matter, developing in students some ability for the assessment of religious practice, and fostering self-transformation through engagement in study. These are not identical to the strands I noted above, but they DO provide a better sense, for me at least of some of what was undergirding our curricular strategy, back when it first emerged.

Feministing links to a recent DQ ad and asks “is anyone else freaked out by this?” I sure hope so! I AM.

Here’s an interesting report out from the Center for American Progress detailing some of the ways in which young adults think about the economy:

• Millennials are more likely to support universal health coverage than any age group in the 30 previous years the question has been asked, with 57 percent of 18- to 29-year-olds saying that health insurance should come from a government insurance plan.

• Eighty-seven percent of Millennials think the government should spend more money on health care even if a tax increase is required to pay for it, the highest level of support in the question’s 20-year history.
• An overwhelming 95 percent of Millennials think education spending should be increased even if a tax increase is required to pay for it, the highest level ever recorded on this question in the 20 years it has been asked.
• Sixty-one percent of Millennials think the government should provide more services, the most support of any age group in any of the previous 20 years the question was asked.
• Millennials are very supportive of labor unions, giving them an average ranking of 60 on a 0-to-100 scale (with 0 indicating a more negative view of labor unions and 100 being a more positive view), the second-highest level of support of any age group in the over 40-year history of the question.

In my ongoing effort to keep people aware of how we’re moving towards war with Iran, and how we might prevent that!, here’s an op-ed piece that details why Hillary Clinton’s policy of “dual containment” towards Iran (remember the “obliterate” quote?) is not a wise policy.

Here’s a little “pick-me-up” that might help remind you how to keep moving from “good to great” in your children’s ministries.