Below is an imagined faith graph for first-year seminary students. As many of us know, seminary students face tremendous pressure in their first year of studies. Often they may be surprised by the academic requirements, sometimes they are shocked by the “big reveals” in biblical studies, they may find systematic theology immensely boring, or they may even face an external crisis. Many students grow through such testing of their faith. However, sadly, some do not. The main suggestion to seminary students starting their journey? “Be prepared!”
This image is part of the “Indian Christians Get It!” meme series.
This image was AI-generated using Adobe Firefly with the prompt “child and critical thinking”
We often associate critical thinking with being “critical”. However, critical thinking can be seen as a positive activity that helps us navigate the world, as people and even as students. Here, I offer five ways of having positive critical thinking. This we will see when we look for a balance. The balance would be between what is traditionally considered “critical,” with aspects more commonly associated with faith and trust.
The first aspect of positive critical thinking is the balance between independence and dependence. Typical critical thinking may encourage the student/thinker to use their mind to find the correct view. However, students (and regular human beings) need also to remember that we are not alone in the world. We are meant to learn from each other. So, it is not just appropriate to be individualistic, but it is also appropriate to be social in our thinking and learning. When we look at a work or listen to a speech, or watch a movie, we can ask ourselves positive questions. Like, what can we learn from this? Or, how does this help me? The critical thinker must never shy away from acknowledging their debt to others, including other texts.
The second aspect of positive critical thinking is to balance between suspicion and trust. We are typically told that critical thinking is about being critical of what we read or are told. We must not simply accept what we read or listen to. It is true that we must be willing to question what we are told. However, there is also the need to trust. We need to know the difference between what is trustworthy and what must we be suspicious of. In the Western intellectual context, everything must be distrusted (aka. Descartes). In the Indian intellectual context, we can trust and also ask questions. We can believe, but also ask questions about that belief. In some sense, it is the theological statement, “faith seeking understanding.” So we balance our beliefs with questions about those beliefs.
So, for example, when we see a news report on TV, we can ask whether this news outlet is trustworthy or not. The lack of trust, suspicion, is not the end in itself, but a desire to find something worthy of trust. We may arrive at the view that what we are seeing is true, or partially true, or even false. However, the goal of critical thinking remains to not stay suspicious but to find some reliability. If one news outlet keeps reporting what is false, then we keep trying to find who reports the news correctly, at least better. That would be positive critical thinking.
A third aspect of positive critical thinking is to balance between curiosity and discovery. Curiosity is an important aspect of critical thinking. This is when we ask questions about what is before us. We ask, “why” something is the way it is. Almost like children, we wonder how the world works, or even what words and ideas mean. However, if we only ask why… we will only question. We also need to discover. This means that critical thinking is a process that helps us discover, we should know when we found something. We should know that we found what we are looking for. We should know that we have made a discovery.
So imagine if one person says it is raining, while another person says it is snowing. Curiosity means asking, who is right? Discovery means to go out and check for yourself, to discover what is right.
A fourth aspect of positive critical thinking is the balance between being an intellectual and being a problem-solver. Often, we think of critical thinking in thinking terms. So, we associate critical thinking with having a certain way of thinking when they are posed with questions, books, or even life in general. However, there is a purpose to thinking.
For instance, when it comes to reading or research, or even writing, there is a purpose for why we must think. So yes, we must think, but this thinking is to achieve a particular purpose. In research, we think to address a problem, to find a solution. We need to be clear that critical thinking not only helps us find the problem or question but also helps us to find the solution/answer.
A fifth aspect of positive critical thinking is the balance between critique and self-correction. Here, the reader/listener does not just look at the flaws of other texts but is intentional in how the texts could possibly correct the reader/self. Critique is important as we find the strengths and weaknesses of the work we are reading. However, beyond critique, we must see how the work challenges, or even critiques us. Maybe the work challenges our worldview or something more simple that gives me something I did not have before (like new knowledge). Regardless, the focus on the possible personal impact and even usefulness of the work must also be a sign of critical thinking. This does not mean that every work must challenge the reader, however, the possibility must remain open.
We see this most naturally in reading the Bible. Where, while we must study the text, we must also be open to reading the Bible as scripture, as God speaking to us. However, even in “worldly” texts, there are chances that what we read challenges us or gives us new knowledge.
(I may add more aspects or examples to this post. For now, this is the June 2023 draft)
This is an AI created image using Adobe Firefly with the prompt “robot playing the guitar and singing in a church”
Can AI (artificial intelligence) be used to create meaningful worship songs to praise God? I have a feeling, that it has already been done, and will continue to be done. For instance, I used ChatGPT to create this “worship” song below. I used ChatGPT with the prompt “Make a Christian praise and worship song that focusses on God greatness, love and mercy.”
Seeing the result, I know with a little bit of editing and musicianship… this could easily be refined into something quite meaningful, perhaps even more meaningful than a few worship songs that are currently being sung out there.
I’m putting the plain unedited version just to show what comes out with that ChatGPT prompt.
(Verse 1)
In awe we stand before Your glorious throne,
Where mercy and grace abundantly are known.
You’re the Creator, the Alpha and Omega,
The God of love who holds our every endeavor.
(Chorus)
Oh, Lord, Your greatness fills the highest skies,
Your love, so vast, it reaches far and wide.
With hearts lifted high, we sing of Your glory,
Forever we’ll worship and tell Your story.
(Verse 2)
You spoke and darkness turned into light,
You breathed life into the dead of the night.
Your love, a beacon that guides our way,
You’re the Shepherd who leads us every single day.
(Chorus)
Oh, Lord, Your greatness fills the highest skies,
Your love, so vast, it reaches far and wide.
With hearts lifted high, we sing of Your glory,
Forever we’ll worship and tell Your story.
(Bridge)
Your mercy, a river that never runs dry,
Your grace, a refuge where we can’t deny
That You’re the God who loves us endlessly,
Your arms open wide, You set the captives free.
(Chorus)
Oh, Lord, Your greatness fills the highest skies,
Your love, so vast, it reaches far and wide.
With hearts lifted high, we sing of Your glory,
Forever we’ll worship and tell Your story.
(Outro)
We’ll sing of Your love, Your greatness, and Your mercy,
With grateful hearts, we surrender completely.
In awe, we stand, forever we’ll proclaim,
That You’re the God of love, and we’ll praise Your name.
Here’s another podcast on the topic of Theology and Culture. My friend Heigomzoing Zeliang interviewed me on my views on theology, culture, and media. It’s over one hour long. But it’s mixed content, so you can use the table of contents below to go directly to what you may be interested in.
Table of contents:
0:00 Opening byte 1:30 Introduction 3:13 What is Theology and culture? 8:22 On Paul Tillich 11:41 What is the role of theology in culture (Responding to Anushree Gupta’s question about self-love) 17:05 On Richard Neibuhr 18:51 How to keep the authenticity of theology in the midst of culture (Answer: scripture, community, experience) 25:30 What is the role of pop-culture (Bollywood, etc) for understanding culture 31:13 On the article “Bollywood Spirituality and Audience Desires” 37:09 What about the negative influence of media on culture? (the problem of celebrity culture) 43:30 When celebrities share their views and influence society 46:48 When celebrities influence the dress sense of a culture 49:29 Can Christianity influence media positively? (Answer: it’s not that easy to influence media. Rather the local church should help the local community engage with local issues, including media) 55:04 Challenges of engaging with the grassroot 58:00 Revisiting Anushree Gupta’s question, “what is self love”? 1:02:07 What question for the next podcast?
Here’s a video from the Delhi School of Theology (DST), who interviewed me for a podcast about “Theology and Culture.” I’ve tried to be more “church”-oriented rather than “academics”-oriented. But these are still difficult concepts that take time to grapple with. So, I won’t be offended if people don’t sit through the 50-minute long video!!!
The full video is found on their YouTube channel here:
This is a long video. So, hopefully, the below time-stamps will help viewers to get to the questions they may be most interested in.
Understanding what the Bible says, and especially what Jesus really means for us and the world today, can be tough. Even for Bible College graduates. Here’s a reminder to keep searching and not get distracted in our pursuit of truth. Or maybe it’s too late, and we’re already too distracted. haha.
Have we weaponised “Satyameva Jayate”? (Thoughts about Republic Day and beyond).
One of the most significant slogans of India is “Satyameva Jayate which means “truth will prevail” or even “only truth will prevail”. But I wonder if we have weaponised this quotation.
We, who are/feel oppressed, use this quotation to affirm our positions and criticise our oppressors hoping that truth will eventually prevail… when we will be vindicated, and they will be judged.
What’s interesting is that even the so-called oppressors use this same quotation to justify their actions because they are participating in righteousness… doing the work of truth, to help it prevail.
So, who is right? What is true?
I know for sure… that many of us who feel victimised see oppression even within our own communities… perhaps we too oppress others. There are very few who are truly innocent.
Which leads me to question… what if my actions are exposed as lies? What if my oppressive actions are exposed. Even Republic Day, which celebrates the formation of the Constitution of India, becomes a reminder of all the laws we (I) may have broken, or the spirit of the law that remains undone by us (me).
Thus, for me, “truth will prevail” becomes a fear of judgement, when I will have to ultimately face God’s wrath for all that I have done and not done.
In view of all this… I can only hope and pray for “Anugrah aur Daya Jayate” (that “grace and mercy will prevail”). For who can stand the judgement of the Lord, when it comes?
Theologians have a bad habit of using jargon, and thinking that everyone understands!
As a result, following the previous video on “what is spiritual formation”, where I talk about how spiritual formation is becoming like Jesus, this video identifies what spiritual formation would look like in a more practical and visible sense.
The first part of the video shows the eight spiritual maturity markers we discussed at the ICETE conference led by Dr. David Wang. I then highlight a simplified division, of three categories of spiritual maturity markers. These (and their sub-categories) are useful as we assess ourselves. And, if we are teachers, to help our students.
These are specialist videos, aimed mainly at those who are interested in teaching Spiritual Formation and guiding/mentoring others. This is also featured in my “teaching about teaching” series.
Even after the ICETE conference was over, I have been thinking deeply about its discussions about Spiritual Formation, especially as it is pertinent for the non-formal theological training programme that a group of us are designing in India.
I will be putting up videos (mainly for “oral learners”) to discuss some of the issues that were raised, including “what is spiritual formation”, “what are the markers of spiritual formation”, “what are the challenges to spiritual formation”, and “how to address some of those challenges”. Especially for the later videos, I hope to use some of the wisdom gained from the ICETE group discussions.
In this first video, I try to define spiritual formation, again, thinking from a non-formal context. I do also differentiate how spiritual formation is addressed in a formal seminary and the church. I think the seminary has advantages in assessing spiritual formation, and the church can do better in the way in it is intentional in encouraging spiritual formation in the congregation. Hence, this video also offers a possible approach to help non-formal (and informal) theological educators to be more intentional in how to do spiritual formation. And basically, I define spiritual formation as discipleship, and I offer that spiritual formation is positively achieved through modelling (learning from life examples, and being a life example). The link for the first video is below. Hope the discussions can continue.
But it’s mixed content, so you can use the table of contents below to go directly to what you may be interested in.
Regeneration NAyK 