Table Fellowship and Table Manners: Guarding Against Food Fights and Culture Wars
This article reflects upon the theological significance of table fellowship in moving beyond culture war divisions in our society. The author draws attention to how his pastoral work at "The Table" in Bozeman, Montana seeks to account for Jesus' revolutionary practice of dining with o...
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Institution
2022
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| In: |
Cultural encounters
Year: 2022, Volume: 17, Issue: 1, Pages: 97-104 |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | This article reflects upon the theological significance of table fellowship in moving beyond culture war divisions in our society. The author draws attention to how his pastoral work at "The Table" in Bozeman, Montana seeks to account for Jesus' revolutionary practice of dining with outsiders, which challenged religious purity codes. Jesus's practice should serve as the basis for overcoming the outrage and indifference on full display in many sectors of US culture, beginning with the church, where we tend to treat "the other" on the left or on the right as impure, calling them "disgusting," and "despicable." The author highlights the importance of inquisitive listening as a key theological practice in his diverse ecclesial body. His ecclesial community cherishes the practice of breaking bread together and making sure they lend their ears as they pass the bread to one another at Jesus's fellowship table. As is true of good table manners, which includes not talking with our mouths full, similarly, we must not talk first or have our mouths full of words constantly but ensure that we are listening fully to others of opposing views. Bringing our best selves to the meal entails listening well to others so that we can proceed toward understanding and foster healthy community inside and outside our church gatherings in society. |
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| ISSN: | 1550-4891 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Cultural encounters
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