School: October 2004 Archives

I'm finally getting around to thinking about my senior paper, the culmination (of sorts) of my learning in the Peace, Justice and Conflict Studies department at Goshen College.

My thesis, so far, is that peace work needs to start on the local level in community before it can be effective on a larger scale. I hope to argue that by developing right relationships in our communities through institutions (civic society) we can foster the redemptive work of the Spirit, thereby leading to redemptive systemic change.

I realize the idea is a little nebulous; hopefully I can pull everything together that's whizzing around my head. Here's the beginning of the book list I'm working with:

• The Great Good Place: Cafes, Coffee Shops, Bookstores, Bars, Hair Salons and other Hangouts at the Heart of a Community by Ray Oldenburg


• Celebrating the Third Place: Inspiring Stories about the "Great Good Places" at the Heart of Our Communities edited by Ray Oldenburg


• Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community by Robert D. Putnam


• Sex, Economy, Freedom and Community by Wendell Berry


• Civic Revolutionaries: Igniting the Passion for Change in America's Communities by Douglas Henton, John Melville and Kim Walesh


• Suburban Nation: The Rise of Sprawl and the Decline of the American Dream by Andres Duany, Elixabeth Plater-Zyberk and Jeff Speck


• Sidewalks in the Kingdom: New Urbanism and the Christian Faith by Eric O. Jacobsen


• The Unconquerable World: Power, Nonviolence, and the Will of the People by Jonathan Schell


• Engaging the Powers: Discernment and Resistance in a World of Domination by Walter Wink


• In the Fields of the Lord: A Calvin Seerveld Reader edited by Craig Bartholomew


• The Calvinistic Concept of Culture by Henry Van Til

I'm not sure if anything here sparks a connection to other materials, but I'd be interested if you have any other relevant resources.

after writing the last blog entry during lunch yesterday about how thursdays are usually miserable for me, i proceeded to have quite a wonderful thursday.

first, i spent a few hours with fellow peace, justice and conflict studies majors, discussing some of the recurring themes from our junior seminar class (yes, i'm taking junior seminar as a senior): the honor/shame system, redeemable powers, liberal/conservative political idolatry, etc. i can't believe how often we get into really deep theological discussions in class; it's been a really rewarding semester so far.

then i ran into alyssa, kirstin's sister (a freshman at goshen), studying on the lawn outside of the union building and talked to her for about an hour.

all in all, an enjoyable day.