Ancient Texts by Michael Kenneth Wilson
This is a summary of all 24 chapters of the Iliad, followed by some of my concluding observations.
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Biblical Exegesis by Michael Kenneth Wilson
The book of Judges is centrally concerned with idolatry, with the two major formulae of the book ... more The book of Judges is centrally concerned with idolatry, with the two major formulae of the book contrasting God's view of idolatry with that of the Israelites.
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This is an exegetical analysis of a magnificent psalm which considers both God's penetrating self... more This is an exegetical analysis of a magnificent psalm which considers both God's penetrating self-revelation of his glory as Creator via the day and night skies and his penetrating ministry as Covenant Lord within the inner being of his people.
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This cursory consideration of this key text notes that Jesus is committed to developing the ulti... more This cursory consideration of this key text notes that Jesus is committed to developing the ultimate eschatological community of those who enjoy undefeatable resurrection life. The temple allusions also are highly significant.
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Buddhism by Michael Kenneth Wilson
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This article demonstrates that the very foundation of the Four Noble Truths presupposes the reali... more This article demonstrates that the very foundation of the Four Noble Truths presupposes the reality of rebirth, of samsara, along with karma. Without the assumption that rebirth occurs the whole edifice of the Four Noble Truths crumbles. I also observe that the doctrine of rebirth is by its very nature dehumanising and compare and contrast this with the humanising truths of the gospel message.
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This short paper considers current scholarly views on the dating of the Buddha's life.
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Cross-Cultural Studies by Michael Kenneth Wilson
Michael K. Wilson: www.facetofaceintercultural.com.au; https://youtu.be/JWFr73KGKZc June 2020 Mod... more Michael K. Wilson: www.facetofaceintercultural.com.au; https://youtu.be/JWFr73KGKZc June 2020 Models for Understanding Culture Many and varied attempts have been made to present the essentials of culture in a diagrammatic way. In this video I will critically consider some of these attempts and recommend a particular model for understanding culture. One common way of trying to visualize culture is via the so-called 'iceberg model.' This is simply based on the idea that most of the mass of an iceberg is submerged, below the surface and not visible to the naked eye. In the same way, it is reasoned, the most fundamental things which make up culture lie 'below the surface', not immediately open to observation. Though very popular, this is an extremely simplistic way of thinking about culture. It has so many limitations that I do not include it among the models I will consider. It is in danger of mystifying culture and treating much of it as though it was virtually inaccessible. We err if we think of culture as a static entity, a thing. Culture is dynamic, involving fluctuating interactions between various key dimensions of culture. Further, the iceberg model, in emphasizing the importance of that which is unseen, makes much of underlying cultural values and worldview beliefs and ideas. Yet, as we will see, this is very much a Western way of approaching culture which fails to give adequate recognition to the foundational importance of social structures and the power relationships embedded in them. Social structures are very visible, even if, as with all phenomena, deeper insight is called for. This in turn highlights another major failing of the iceberg model. Challenging underlying cultural values and worldview many lead some members of a culture to change their behavior, but no amount of such tinkering will change the culture as such unless social structures are also impacted. Model #1. Barney's Model Model number one is the model proposed by G. Linwood Barney, an anthropologist and former missionary to the Hmong people of Laos and Vietnam. Look at this representation of his four-layer model of culture, which has proved influential. This model involves four concentric circles and Barney likened understanding culture to the peeling of an onion. Barney defines culture as "the acquired knowledge that people use to interpret experience and generate social behavior." At the heart of Barney's model of culture stands worldview. When Barney thinks of worldview he is thinking of cosmology, what people, as cultural beings, believe and think about the universe, what it is, it's origin or eternal nature, etc. He also included ideology, systems of ideas which, for example, may lie behind the views people have such things as economics and politics, e.g. Marxism, Liberation Theology. Worldview involves our fundamental presuppositions, our convictions and beliefs about God and about the nature of people, history and its meaning, and everything else that matters. In Barney's view, it is this core 'worldview' that gives rise to and finds expression in those things which people value. The institutions one finds in any particular cultural setting are organized and
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Introduction As soon as we recognise that language is central to culture we are forced to recogni... more Introduction As soon as we recognise that language is central to culture we are forced to recognise that cultural communication is very much tied up with the use of signs. In what follows, I will try to give some idea of what humans are capable of accomplishing through our use of signs and how our signs, always culturally conditioned, both enrich and complicate our ability to communicate as cultural beings.
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In a cursory manner, this paper considers a selection of key biblical texts which inform our unde... more In a cursory manner, this paper considers a selection of key biblical texts which inform our understanding of what it means for a church to operate in a culturally diverse context.
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The reality and experience of gravity precedes the development of the concept of gravity and the ... more The reality and experience of gravity precedes the development of the concept of gravity and the adoption of the word "gravity". Similarly, the reality and experience of culture long precedes the development of the modern concept of culture and the adoption of the word "culture". Every human is not merely a biological being but also a social being. Every person is born into a particular context of social relationships. Every person learns how to behave and how to think in a manner that is particular to the social entity or entities of which the person is a part. While there are myriad definitions of 'culture', that which is cultural is distinct from that which is merely biological. Since so little is purely biological, every one of us is profoundly shaped by culture, whether we are conscious of this or not. In modern times, 'culture' has become a central concept in many social sciences. The complexity of cultural reality, together with the absence of any final external determinative authority, has led to myriad attempts to encapsulate the essentials of culture in pithy definitional statements. An analysis of culture and of cultural dynamics has become a very sophisticated enterprise which must consider a vast array of factors that play a part in explaining how humans can be so varied in how they view reality, in what they believe and value, and in the ways they think, act, speak and relate to others and the world around them. We would not expect to find, and we do not find, such intensive and focused analysis of cultural reality until quite recent times. My interest in this paper is on locating conscious pre-modern attempts to articulate ideas that are relevant to and/or anticipate our contemporary conceptions of culture. What follows is not comprehensive but notes some of the major contributions in history up to and including Tylor's famous definition of culture in 1871. RUDIMENTS OF CULTURE Ancient Chinese Foundations Throughout much of Chinese history a basic distinction has been made between fa and li. Fa is conventionally translated as 'law', while li is conventionally translated as 'rites' or 'rituals', but with traditional customs, mores and norms in mind. 1 The relationship between fa and li is a complex one and much debated, complicated by the way these terms assume different meanings in different contexts. But it can be said that Chinese history has been characterised by two contrasting approaches to creating political order. One clear approach, termed fazhi, has been that of the State using coercive power to force people to conform to laws, which sometimes have flown in the face of traditional culture. The alternative Confucian approach, lizhi, seeks social and political order by especially appealing to what might be thought of as traditional cultural values. 2 Indeed, especially in Confucian thought, li approaches a concept of culture. As Nilar observes, "The rites of li are not rites in the Western conception of religious custom. Rather, li embodies the entire spectrum of interaction with humans, nature, and even material objects. Confucius includes in his discussions of li such diverse topics as learning, tea drinking, titles, mourning, and governance." 3 The system of norms that constitute li govern a broad range of practices and involve ideal guidelines for behaviour, especially interpersonal interactions. 4 However, arguably, li falls short of a full conception of culture. It is a conservative conception which, given its stress on
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This book begins by providing a helpful understanding of cross-cultural conflict. Then, recognisi... more This book begins by providing a helpful understanding of cross-cultural conflict. Then, recognising cultural diversity, it considers different approaches to conflict resolution. The last major section of the book is concerned with the implications of the above for the gospel message, and ends by setting out some helpful principles for managing conflict..
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This is a useful book, with many helpful insights. As the title suggests, the focus is almost exc... more This is a useful book, with many helpful insights. As the title suggests, the focus is almost exclusively on developing positive relationships across cultures. However, in Chapter 3 Elmer shows that he does not have a naïve concept of cultural relativism, recognizing that there may be wrong cultural practices, though these are best addressed when the Holy Spirit guides the local church as it submits to the authority of Scripture. The bulk of what Elmer recommends is simply a matter of sanctified common sense. Throughout the book there are some glimpses provided of Elmer's underlying theological framework, though there are some cracks in this, e.g. his depiction of God feeling shame, and his belief that in worshiping God what matters is the best way for me to worship God.
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CQ, cultural intelligence is definable as "a person's capability to adapt effectively to new cult... more CQ, cultural intelligence is definable as "a person's capability to adapt effectively to new cultural contexts." In Acts 17 we see that Paul was possessed of considerable cultural intelligence. He displayed this while, at the same time, refusing to compromise the integrity of the gospel message he proclaimed.
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This excellent book provides a solid sociological basis for defining and analyzing multiethnic or... more This excellent book provides a solid sociological basis for defining and analyzing multiethnic or international congregations. In the US developing such a ministry or congregation necessarily involves confronting the white-black racial issue. Hence the book consistently uses words like race, racial, multiracial and interracial.
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Islam by Michael Kenneth Wilson
This is my summary of this intriguing book which provides insight into a wide range of Islamic ex... more This is my summary of this intriguing book which provides insight into a wide range of Islamic expressions in our modern world.
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This is an absorbing read, skillfully crafted by an accomplished author. Along the way, one gains... more This is an absorbing read, skillfully crafted by an accomplished author. Along the way, one gains valuable insight into Afghanistan's modern history and culture. Khaled Hosseini, now a California resident, is an Afghani who served as a US envoy to UNHCR, the United Nations Refugee Agency. The book's title comes from a poem written about Kabul by seventeenth century poet, Saib-e-Tabrizi, speaking of the glory of this city: "One could not count the moons that shimmer on her roofs, Or the thousand splendid suns that hide behind her walls."
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I've had the pleasure of attending a Cross and Crescent course led by Colin Chapman. I was highl... more I've had the pleasure of attending a Cross and Crescent course led by Colin Chapman. I was highly impressed by his scholarship, his integrity and his concern to present issues in a manner that presented the Islamic perspective truly and fairly in the mind of any reasonable Muslim who might be present. This book is a tremendous resource. It is a dense book, crammed with information and insights. I don't agree with everything Chapman says, though to a large extent I simply summarise what he has said with only limited indications of areas of disagreement.
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Ancient Texts by Michael Kenneth Wilson
Biblical Exegesis by Michael Kenneth Wilson
Buddhism by Michael Kenneth Wilson
Cross-Cultural Studies by Michael Kenneth Wilson
Islam by Michael Kenneth Wilson
*The Relevance of Epicurus to Modern Times
*Is the Pursuit of Pleasure the Ultimate Good?
*Types of Pleasure
*The Simple Life
*The Three Keys to Attaining Pleasure
*The Causes of Pain
*Materialism
*Freedom
*Empiricism
*Rationalism and Irrationalism
*A Missionary Philosophy