Week 3 – Cobb, Ch. 3 (Theology and Culture)

Can we be open to the vitality of popular culture and “suspect of its congenital defects?” Tertullian view – what does Athens have to do with Jerusalem? Tertullian and Chrysostom see theater making normal life boring and perverting God’s creation. Augustine – aspects of culture should be put into the service of the church. Just because a pagan did something does not mean we should avoid it. Tillich = “Theology of Culture.” Church not always the ultimate bearer of truth – God reveals where and through whom God desires. After WWII, Tillich became less romantic about culture and the nature of people.