Theological Matrix: Worldviews Exposed
Welcome… What is “the matrix?” The matrix is the space that we as humans develop culturally. We are all human social beings, we are born into community, a world that exists beyond us, yet we influence it as we choose. The matrix is inescapable. To exist in isolation biologically the human would die off. To [...]
How Paul Tillich Helped Me Matter
I recently received an email from the fine editorial staff at State of Formation informing me that I am officially a lapsed contributor and my posting account might be deleted. This is very true. I have lapsed in my public reflections about all things religious. When I ask myself why I lapsed, my answers are [...]
Finding the Divine on the Road
At the ripe young age of 15, I contracted a chronic affliction: the travel bug, that continual burning desire to go somewhere new, to experience something new. Those who suffer from this affliction know that it is a constant cycle of being in the midst of an expedition or planning the subsequent trip once they [...]
Dealing with Mental Illness as a Person of Faith
The end of 2012 was marred with the tragic events that took place at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut on December 14, 2012. While the community reeled with the shocking loss and the rest of the country attempted to deal with this heartbreak, discussions ignited on Capitol Hill, on topics from media violence [...]
Recoding the Conflict: What Chanukah Has to Teach Us About How We Speak
When I was young, my dad used to tell us stories. The stories always involved two young children, a girl and a boy, adventurous analogues for my brother and me, who would be sent off by their parents to undertake great adventure. When the going got rough and the children couldn’t go on, they would [...]
Why Are You Here?
Why are you here? It is an ambiguous statement because it relates to both your ultimate existence and life here on this earth, but it could also be a question in reference to a contextual situation. While existential questions are important, today I am interested in a less cosmic question: Why did you decide to [...]
It is a Shame for Women to Speak in the Church?
This article was first published at “The Bloviating Ignoramus,” a blog for politics and culture. I understand the Church of England’s stance against the ordination of women as an example of blatant gender oppression by a male-dominant Church that participates in the perpetuation of inequality. The Church of England’s recent decision to not ordain women to the bishopric is [...]
Interreligious Angst
I’ve recently come to identify an area of experience which I am here naming “interreligious angst.” It first came up last year, when I had my first experience of it, and since has recurred with increasing frequency, such that I am now able to observe a pattern of certain elements involved. What happens is that, [...]
State of Formation and Inter-Religious Prophetic Leadership
My work with State of Formation is exhilarating, mainly because it is built upon a beautiful model of emerging leaders empowering emerging leaders. We are an interreligious vocal minority rising to the pluralistic demands of our globalized society. And my work, as humbly as I walk, is to help recruit, inspire, enhance, and further the [...]
Introducing the New RRD Program at State of Formation
Dear State of Formation, I am very pleased to announce that we as a national and international community are continuing to grow and unfold, as we enter the third year of State of Formation! This year we are excited about a new program that seeks out Regional Recruiting Directors (RRDs) to help discover and connect [...]
Contributing Scholars
Caitlin Michelle DesjardinsCaitlin Michelle Desjardins is a 3rd Year M.Div Student at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary. Her academic interests include Children's Spirituality, Death and Grief, Food Justice/Agrarian Issues, intersections of Literature and Theology, Contemplative Spirituality and Sexual Ethics. After spending a summer with the Sisters of Grandchamp, an ecumenical community of Sisters in Switzerland, she has a burgeoning interest in monastic expressions of faith. She also enjoys exploring the history and practices of Buddhism. Caitlin is a classical harpist, teaches gardening and writing in local elementary schools, and can often be found drawing with chalk or in the children's section of the library. Caitlin was a 2011 Fund For Theological Education Ministry Fellow and she drinks copious amounts of tea. You can contact her via e-mail (caitlin.desjardins@gmail.com).
Elizabeth BonneyElizabeth is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity degree from Yale Divinity School. Although she recently converted to Judaism, she comes from an ecumenical background; she was raised in the Presbyterian Church (USA), attended a Catholic high school, and graduated from a Baptist college, where she took interest in interfaith dialogue, gender studies, and equality advocacy.