Which came first - culture or individual?

Today I took notes on chapters in From the Heart of Our People, ed. by Orlando O. Espin and Miguel H. Diaz. The book is a collection of essays on Latino/a Catholic Systematic Theology; specifically U.S. Hispanic theology. I think one of the premises of the book is that there is a difference between U.S. Hispanic theology and Central American theology. One of the essays I particularly enjoyed was “Fiesta - life in the subjunctive” The author spoke about praising God for that which is going to happen. Another author spoke of the nuance of time and agency. In that essay, the historical presence of Christ makes the sad and the happy more holy - it is a very incarnational theology. I wonder about the heavy reliance upon the experience of the people. I wonder if one could fall into the Tillician correlational trap of being led by culture in our theological queries. Yet on the other hand, I think these authors would argue that one cannot escape the impact culture has on theology, and it is the job of the theologian to be aware of that effect. Hence the essay about hermunatics from a Western or an indigenous point of view. I have not yet finished the work.
The other work I read today was Ordination: Celebrating the Gift of Ministry by Stephen Sprinkle. I have only read the introduction. The author speaks of the “oddness” of Christianity and of ordination. The Free Church approach (I.e. priesthood of all believers) does not make sense from the eyes of the world, yet works with the Holy Spirit. I am interested to see what Sprinkle offers, and assume that it will have a hierarchal edge to it.

making snail-like progress

I have been working, but not as quickly as I would like. So far I have finished Hartshorne’s book, I’ve read Dominus iesus, and am almost finished with Doyle’s Communion Ecclesiology. Hopefully later today I can offer some thoughts on those readings.

Taskmaster

I am trying to prepare for my doctoral exams so I can write a book that no one will leave. Unfortunately, my diligence is less then I would hope, and my reading wanes from time to time. So I'm going to try to use this blog as an academic journal of sorts. To the best of my ability, I will summarize the day(s) readings/research. So all you who are reading this can keep up on the edge-of-the-seat work I am engaged in. Hopefully this will help me keep to task.

With that said, yesterday I read a chapter from Hartshorne's book "Omnipotence and other theological mistakes" about creation ex nihili. Hartshorne thinks it is a "magic" idea that emphasizes the transcendence of God to much. I don't think I can completely agree. I think is polemic is based upon an exaggerated anthropomorphic notion of God.
I also read a section from Doyle's book, "Communion Ecclesiology," looking at views appropriation of Communion Ecclesiology language in things like Lumen Gentium and Gaudium et Spes. The Sacramental notion of the church caught my eye - it is through the Eucharist that the local church is connected with the universal. So how is that different from the Orthodox? Volf's "After Our Likeness" offers some decent insight.

Hopefully today I'll finish the chapter from Doyle, and finish Hartshorne's book. Yet it is my anniversary, so I may not get to read today.