Ryan, thanks for posting this excerpt from your time with Peter Rollins. I wish I could have joined you all.

When I read his books and listen to him speak my response vacillates between "Brilliant, the most creative, insightful, and important theologian I have ever read," and "that makes no sense whatsoever." The more I read and listen to him speak the more I think the former which either means he is making more sense or I am ready to go beyond just hearing what he is saying. Undoubtedly (hopefully) the latter.

Pete loves to tell the story of these soldiers who are in a trench and their commander calls, "All right men, up and over the edge!" After three such calls with not one of them moving a muscle, one of the soldiers turns to another and says, "Doesn't he have a beautiful voice?" That story hits close to home as my response to Pete's presentation here in Birmingham is similar, "Doesn't he have a lovely Irish Brogue? And, didn't he say some interesting things?" I don't know how and I lack the motivation, ability, and community support to go beyond that. (To which Pete would probably say, "Good, go do that!")

I am interested to hear more of your thoughts as your synopsis of Pete's point of church as fetish gave me a clearer picture of what he is describing with religion as a release valve which allows us to continue living untransformed lives. However, I am even more intrigued to know and I really wish I could experience how this interaction will impact your leadership and affect your communal practice.