John H. Yoder as Augustinian Interlocutor Presented at conference on “Assessing the Theological Legacy of John Howard Yoder,” University of Notre Dame, 7-9 March 2002 For final published version see chapter 11 in Ollenburger and Gerber Koontz, eds., A Mind Patient and Untamed: Assessing John Howard Yoder’s Contributions to Theology Ethics and Peacemaking, Cascadia Publishing, 2004….
Author: Gerald Schlabach
In the belly of a paradox
Reflections on the Dubious Service of Reflecting on Service The Conrad Grebel Review 19, no. 4 (Fall 2001). First published in the Journal of Peace and Justice Studies 10:2 (2000) 65-78. Mennonites have had perhaps the most substantial experience of any Protestant tradition in the deployment of people for service – over against more conventional missionary work. Yet…
For the Joy Set Before Us:
Augustine and Self-Denying Love
Age-old debates over self-love and self-denial continue in the Christian community. Many regard self-love as incompatible with the self-sacrifice of Christ. Others, especially feminists and liberation theologians, contest the notion that self-sacrifice is the test of authentic Christian love. The resolution to this dilemma, argues Gerald Schlabach, lies with St. Augustine. In this engaging book,…
Continence, consumption and other abuses
Or Why an Augustinian Ethic is Worth the Bother Presented at the Society of Christian Ethics annual meeting, January 8, 2000, Washington D.C. Abstract: “Love is the problem in ethics, not the solution,” notes Christian ethicist Margaret A. Farley. St. Augustine has probably done more to shape Christian teachings on love than any other theologian, yet he…
Stability in the world: an oblate’s reflections
Benedictine oblates are people who are not monks but who dedicate themselves, in communion with a particular monastic community, to the service of God and neighbor according to the Rule of St. Benedict, insofar as their state in life permits.[1] Specific commitments include the practice of lectio divina, praying the Psalms through some portion of…
“Love is the hand of the soul”
The grammar of continence in Augustine’s doctrine of Christian love First presented at the North American Patristics Society. June 1, 1996. The full version is available in the Journal of Early Christian Studies 6:1 (Spring 1998): 59-92. The Grammar of Grasping The Grammar of Clinging Having by Not Having Conclusion Notes In recent years scholars have…
Faithfulness, temptation and the Deuteronomic juncture
Is Constantinianism the most basic problem for Christian social ethics? Marpeck Lecture, Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, 5 March 1998 For a fuller development of this lecture, see “Deuteronomic or Constantinian: What is the Most Basic Problem for Christian Social Ethics?” in The Wisdom of the Cross: Essays in Honor of John Howard Yoder, eds Stanley Hauerwas, et al. (Grand…
An Abrahamic community of respect
Bluffton College Faculty/Staff Retreat morning meditation, 28 August 1997 Texts: Deuteronomy 10:12-22 Romans 12:1-21 For background reading on the problems of community and respect today, see Benjamin R. Barber, “Jihad Vs. McWorld,” originally in the March 1992 issue of The Atlantic Monthly, or Barber’s 1996 book of the same name. A community of respect…. A…
Guy F. Hershberger and Reinhold Niebuhr on Christian love
Will the Real Augustinian Please Stand Up? Conference on “Anabaptists in Conversation: Mennonite and Brethren Interactions with Twentieth-Century Theologies,” 19-21 June 1997. Young Center for the Study of Anabaptist and Pietist Groups, Elizabethtown (Pa.) College. Agapeism and Hershberger Niebuhr and Augustine Sacrificial and Mutual Love Could Mennonite Theology Be Augustinian? Notes Agapeism and Hershberger In…
Dissertation
For the Joy Set Before Us: Ethics of Self-Denying Love in Augustinian Perspective Jean Porter, Director Department of Theology University of Notre Dame April 1996 Abstract Table of contents Defense presentation Appendix on Anders Nygren Order dissertation, # 96-21773 from UMI Published by U of Notre Dame Press Dissertation copyright © 1996 by Gerald W….
Beyond two- versus one-kingdom theology
Abrahamic community as a Mennonite paradigm for Christian engagement in society by Gerald W. Schlabach Conrad Grebel Review 11 (Fall 1993): 187-210. The Need for a Paradigm Paradigm Shift? Or Paradigm Breakdown? Sifting Through Two- and One-Kingdom Theologies Two-Kingdom Theology: Strengths and Limitations One-Kingdom Theology: Strengths and Limitations A Partial Integration Beyond Two- Versus One-Kingdom…
Friendship as adultery
Social Reality and Sexual Metaphor in Augustine’s Doctrine of Original Sin Augustinian Studies 23 (December 1992): 125-147. The Death of a Friend Through Death and Friendship Social Transmission, Social Procreation Conclusions Notes The only joy to be attained had the fragile brilliance of glass, a joy outweighed by the fear that it may be shattered…
Law, gospel and the irony of Martin Luther
Theo 635: Theology of Martin Luther, University of Notre Dame, 19 November 1992 Erasmus. “On the Freedom of the Will [De Libero Arbitrio].” Luther, Martin. “On the Bondage of the Will [De Servo Arbitrio].” In Luther and Erasmus: Free Will and Salvation, translated and edited by Ernest Gordon Rupp, in collaboration with A. N. Marlow….
The blessing of Abraham’s children
A theology of service Mission Focus 19:4 (December 1991): 52-55. In January 1986 Samuel Escobar, an evangelical leader from South America, was guest speaker at the annual meeting of the Mennonite Central Committee, the main North American Mennonite agency for relief, development and global education. After listening to a lengthy discussion of how MCC workers…
Relentless Persistence: Nonviolent Action in Latin America
Phil McManus and Gerald Schlabach, co-editors With an introduction by Leonardo Boff “A tremendous contribution toward documenting the courage of thousands of people throughout Latin America who struggle for a world of peace, justice and human dignity.” –Isabel Letelier “This is not only part of the Latin American story. It becomes part of the North…