Colossians Remixed - 1

Context Remixed: Colossians and Empire – A / Spring 2008 Discussion Series, Week 1

Preface and Chapter 1, “Placing Ourselves: Globalization and Postmodernity” (go to Coming Soon...Colossians Remixed! for an introduction to the discussion series)

In establishing context for a reading of Paul’s first century letter to the Colossians, authors Walsh and Keesmaat begin with the context of twenty-first century readers. They characterize that cultural context as one in which “postmodern disquiet” blends paradoxically with “cybernetic global optimism” in a “global consumerist empire.”

We are introduced to “William,” a law student who has worked in international finance, and who becomes the authors’ dialogue partner in grappling with the significance of the ancient New Testament letter in today’s world. Though alienated from the Christianity in which he was raised, William has returned to theism, but is having a problem with the Bible. He says that “as soon as I open it I bump up against the absolute. Actually it is more that the absolute punches me in the face whenever I read this book” (16). A text asserting Truth with a capital T grates harshly against a postmodern hermeneutic of suspicion and “incredulity toward all metanarratives.”

With regard to Colossians, particularly such passages as 1:9, 1:17, and passages on sex and the flesh in chapter 3, William has this to say:

You posit a divine authority that structures and orders the world in a certain way, attribute that authority to yourself as author of the letter, wipe out any opposition that suggests things might be looked at differently, put clear restrictions on personal and communal life, and then top it all off with a divine sanction for patriarchy and slavery. And you want a postmodern person at the beginning of the twenty-first century to read this text, learn from it and maybe even receive it as divinely inspired Scripture? I don’t think so! (18)

There we have it: the challenge – and what a challenge it is! – for our entire discussion series.

"Post a comment" below to express your questions and observations based on the Preface and Chapter 1 of Colossians Remixed. Does the cultural context portrayed there resonate with your own life experience and outlook?

Comments

[Zack Plantak]

We are excited to start this evening a new discussion class/group on this fascinating and challenging book. I have received numerous comments from our students and other community participants about the early impact Colossians Remixed has had on their thinking. The reading f the first chapter has been described as "amazing" and "wow-ing". The Religion Department of Columbia Union College is happy to partner with the History Department and Adventist Peace Fellowship in this venture of reading materials together and then meaningfully discussing it in the context of postmodern culture and many postmodern students that circle us. Let the journey of stimulation and provocation of Brian Walsh and Sylvia Keesmaat and, indeed, Paul's text in Colossians that "Subverts the Empire" begin. Zack Plantak

[Liz David]

I have read the Preface and Chapter 1 "Placing Ourselves" of this book and I have to admit that I am deeply "shakened." Shakened not because the reading invoked so many explanations and questions of what our culture has fully embraced in "beief pluralism," but also my personal faith in God. My Christian faith, really. Though I was born and raised in a very conservative Adventist home, am I like William in being rattled (and maybe into hopeless confusion)about what the Bible is about? Is it about "absolute truths" or relativeness? Is my own personal faith relative? Have I made it that way through the postmodernist thought? I hate to think that our American pop culture and "global consumerist empire" have alienated us - humans - from searching for truth in God and about ourselves. I look forward to tonight's discussion.

[Jacqueline Black]

I was excited to read the preface and chapter 1, post-class discussion and not just because I did not want to be ill-prepared again! I wanted to know what people were coming from--especially because of their almost distress about the issues that the book diverges.

After reading--I can understand how thinking is challenged and disturbed. I wondering where there would be a more clear presentation of Colossians. There is an assumption of the background of Colossians--already knowing the context; perhaps that is in the next chapter? The chapter made me want to keep reading and be able to journal at the same time because of all the thought that it created. I am interested to see where the book will take us!