Papers by David M Wilmington
Lesser Ethics: Morality as Goodness-In-Relationship, 2023
This chapter presents accounts of the Threefold Way of the mystical tradition - exemplified in Bo... more This chapter presents accounts of the Threefold Way of the mystical tradition - exemplified in Bonaventure's classic text - and the classical Trivium (as transformed in contemporary Christian Classical Education) in terms of their harmonious effects on ethical/moral formation. By framing the ends of both traditions in terms of musical training, which keeps in mind the goal of forming "performers," I suggest that scholars, teachers, and parents invested in any of these three concerns (spiritual formation, CCE, and moral formation) should learn and draw from all three.
Modern Reformation , 2021
Perspectives in Religious Studies, 2017
Christian claims of divine transcendence present a God who is both absolutely transcendent and sc... more Christian claims of divine transcendence present a God who is both absolutely transcendent and scandalously immanent. At times, transcendence has been emphasized to the extent that God can seem not only removed entirely from His creation but defined over against it. Paul Fiddes offers Christian thinkers constructive resources for re-imagining faithful accounts of transcendence because he takes seriously the relational consequences of God’s ongoing fellowship with creation and of Trinitarian thought for any talk of God’s transcendence. This essay surveys Fiddes' efforts and aims (including his engagement with the thought of postmodern thinkers such as Derrida and Kearney), affirms much of his work, and also draws from musical harmony in order to challenge his account of the Trinity in terms of complete relationality.
Radical Orthodoxy: Theology, Philosophy, Politics, 2014
This is a slightly revised version of a paper given at the Centre of Theology and Philosophy conf... more This is a slightly revised version of a paper given at the Centre of Theology and Philosophy conference in Krakow in June 2011.
In this version, published in January 2014 but since greatly expanded (see below), I offer a close reading of Theodor Adorno's "culture industry" theory with special attention to his account of how it functions and to the anthropological presuppositions underlying his account of why it works.
By briefly looking at his reading of jazz as a test case, a move motivated entirely by his own insistence that jazz is one of two exemplars of the culture industry, I argue that his deeply flawed interpretation of this exemplar reveals fundamental weaknesses in the culture industry theory. In short, he falls victim to the same kind of epistemological and ideological filter he proposes as the substructure of the culture industry itself.
I end by arguing that Adorno's theory should carry significantly less authority due to his terrible mis-hearing and misunderstanding of jazz - failures based on his anthropology that reveal a fatally flawed reading of culture in general. Furthermore, 1) his operative anthropology is inextricable from the culture industry theory, 2) it will not harmonize with an orthodox Christian theological anthropology, and 3) that therefore, theologians, and anyone else unwilling to accept Adorno's anthropology, must be very wary of aligning themselves with his theory of cultural critique.
**This paper has been significantly revised and expanded since publication - especially with regard to the survey and analysis of Adorno's own writing on jazz and the critical scholarly treatment of his interpretation of jazz.**
Invited Book Chapters by David M Wilmington
Saint Bonaventure Friar, Teacher, Minister, Bishop A Celebration of the Eighth Centenary of His Birth, 2020
Invited chapter for the Franciscan Institute's conference and book - celebrating the 8th Centenar... more Invited chapter for the Franciscan Institute's conference and book - celebrating the 8th Centenary of St. Bonaventure's birth : : An interpretation of Bonaventure's understanding of hierarchy - a Christocentric and dynamically relational cosmic exemplarism - as a framework for virtues ethics. Analysis includes "The Three Ways," "Hexaemeron," the "Itinerarium," and Bonaventure's adaptation of Ps-Dionysius' "Mystical Theology." I propose that the Bonaventurean approach provides an excellent "harmonic structure" for the kind of improvisational performance (best observed in the performance of formation required for jazz improvisation) necessary for the virtues.
Invited Lectures by David M Wilmington
Ignatius Brady Lecture (Nov. 2021) for the St. Bonaventure University Franciscan Institute - "A H... more Ignatius Brady Lecture (Nov. 2021) for the St. Bonaventure University Franciscan Institute - "A Harmonious City: the Musical Hierarchy of Ethical Formation."
2018 Lecturer in the annual "BTS Lectures" series at Baptist Theological Seminary of Singapore (H... more 2018 Lecturer in the annual "BTS Lectures" series at Baptist Theological Seminary of Singapore (Hougang, Singapore).
Argument for churches and Christian schools to draw from the classical model of education (as articulated by Stratford Caldecott) and Richard B. Hays' "Echoes of Scripture in the Gospels" (re: how the Gospel writers interpreted and applied OT Scripture) in order to form disciples/students capable of faithful improvisation amidst contemporary challenges.
Part I - "Looking Backward: Learning from the Great Cloud of Witnesses" - delivered Aug. 16, 2018
Part II - "Looking Forward: Forming Improvisational and Fearless Disciples" - delivered Aug. 17, 2018
Brigham Young University, Wheatley Institution "Faith and Intellect Forum," January 21, 2016. ... more Brigham Young University, Wheatley Institution "Faith and Intellect Forum," January 21, 2016. This invited lecture explores training strategies for improvisation in jazz and soccer as models for re-thinking the goals and approaches to formation in virtues ethics. Presented to the assembled Philosophy and Political Science faculties and student cohorts in the "Faith and Intellect Forum" series. https://youtu.be/DrAJWz9xyIE?si=nFb-1uWFA_Rj2rFA ** The video clips I use for demonstration could not be included in this recording, but they are listed under the Comments on the YouTube post itself - and I would be happy to supply an index of the links on request!
Edited Journal Issues by David M Wilmington
RELIGIONS, 2020
Guest Editor for a Special Issue of the journal Religions. ---> Articles include: "Being Somepla... more Guest Editor for a Special Issue of the journal Religions. ---> Articles include: "Being Someplace Else: The Theological Virtues in the Anime of Makoto Shinkai" (Matthew John Paul Tan), "Wisdom’s Guiding Compass: Lady Prudence as a Pedagogical Model," (Lanta Davis), "Toward a Theology of the Imagination with S.T. Coleridge, C.S. Lewis, and J.R.R. Tolkien," (David Russell Mosely).
Public Presentations and Interviews by David M Wilmington
Presented at the American Academy of Religion National Meeting, "Politics and Religion" Group (Mo... more Presented at the American Academy of Religion National Meeting, "Politics and Religion" Group (Montreal, 2009).
Surveys (all?) of Douglass' published comments on Lincoln - from essays, journalism, and speeches - to track 1) his shifting assessments of Lincoln from 1858 onward and 2) the development of use explicitly Christian prophetic and messianic language to describe Lincoln. Also places Douglass in the context of familiar studies of religious language in politics and "civic religion."
The Episcopal Podcast, 2020
Conversation with Bishop Richard Umbers (Bishop of Sydney) on his "Episcopal Podcast" about Bonav... more Conversation with Bishop Richard Umbers (Bishop of Sydney) on his "Episcopal Podcast" about Bonaventure. Topics include: Grace & reason, the Three Ways of the mystical life , Bonaventure history and important texts, the relation between medieval theology and modern science, teaching Bonaventure as part of Classical Christian Education, formation in virtues ethics and jazz improvisation, and why all Christians - Catholic or not - should be reading Bonaventure. [Listen on Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/episode/62SOEZwrKUWgf3wZ7zaLmI?si=W2io8d4BSuaSSAVQuNKD-w
Podcast homepage Link: https://the-episcopal-podcast.captivate.fm/episode/s1ep12
and listed under "File" drop-down.]
Petra Academy Lyceum Lecture, 2020
https://vimeo.com/391321385 : Lecture at Petra Academy addressing the manipulative technology ... more https://vimeo.com/391321385 : Lecture at Petra Academy addressing the manipulative technology of Social Media, its impact on moral formation, and intentionally engineered conflict with a Christian understanding of desire. Link here : https://vimeo.com/391321385
Yellowstone Theological Institute Blog, 2019
Brief blog post drawing from Dorothy Sayers to critique the modern and post-modern cult of Releva... more Brief blog post drawing from Dorothy Sayers to critique the modern and post-modern cult of Relevance over Doctrine, Dogma, and strong arguments.
Yellowstone Theological Institute Blog, 2018
Brief piece on the considerations for discussing Theology & the Arts with examples of theological... more Brief piece on the considerations for discussing Theology & the Arts with examples of theologically-guided questions and observations we might draw from pop culture, medieval thought, contemporary poetry, and Renaissance era painting
Yellowstone Theological Institute Blog, 2019
Brief piece on Mary Lou Williams' sacred jazz as a model of "faithful harmonization" for focusing... more Brief piece on Mary Lou Williams' sacred jazz as a model of "faithful harmonization" for focusing our perspectives on the future of theological education.
Encyclopedia Articles by David M Wilmington
Encyclopedia of the Bible and its Reception, Vol. 19, 2021
See pp. 615-622 : Encyclopedia article on biblical reception in music in the modern epoch - inclu... more See pp. 615-622 : Encyclopedia article on biblical reception in music in the modern epoch - includes brief notes about classical, folk, jazz, bluegrass, and hip-hop music.
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Papers by David M Wilmington
An accesible critique of modern ethics, using pop culture engagement (esp. in "The Good Place") with "The Trolley Problem," that 1) argue in favor of virtues ethics when 2) understood as a training in Improvisation modeled on 3) a "jazz formation" that seeks to form people capable of performing their character in unexpected contexts.
In this version, published in January 2014 but since greatly expanded (see below), I offer a close reading of Theodor Adorno's "culture industry" theory with special attention to his account of how it functions and to the anthropological presuppositions underlying his account of why it works.
By briefly looking at his reading of jazz as a test case, a move motivated entirely by his own insistence that jazz is one of two exemplars of the culture industry, I argue that his deeply flawed interpretation of this exemplar reveals fundamental weaknesses in the culture industry theory. In short, he falls victim to the same kind of epistemological and ideological filter he proposes as the substructure of the culture industry itself.
I end by arguing that Adorno's theory should carry significantly less authority due to his terrible mis-hearing and misunderstanding of jazz - failures based on his anthropology that reveal a fatally flawed reading of culture in general. Furthermore, 1) his operative anthropology is inextricable from the culture industry theory, 2) it will not harmonize with an orthodox Christian theological anthropology, and 3) that therefore, theologians, and anyone else unwilling to accept Adorno's anthropology, must be very wary of aligning themselves with his theory of cultural critique.
**This paper has been significantly revised and expanded since publication - especially with regard to the survey and analysis of Adorno's own writing on jazz and the critical scholarly treatment of his interpretation of jazz.**
Invited Book Chapters by David M Wilmington
Invited Lectures by David M Wilmington
Argument for churches and Christian schools to draw from the classical model of education (as articulated by Stratford Caldecott) and Richard B. Hays' "Echoes of Scripture in the Gospels" (re: how the Gospel writers interpreted and applied OT Scripture) in order to form disciples/students capable of faithful improvisation amidst contemporary challenges.
Part I - "Looking Backward: Learning from the Great Cloud of Witnesses" - delivered Aug. 16, 2018
Part II - "Looking Forward: Forming Improvisational and Fearless Disciples" - delivered Aug. 17, 2018
Edited Journal Issues by David M Wilmington
Public Presentations and Interviews by David M Wilmington
Surveys (all?) of Douglass' published comments on Lincoln - from essays, journalism, and speeches - to track 1) his shifting assessments of Lincoln from 1858 onward and 2) the development of use explicitly Christian prophetic and messianic language to describe Lincoln. Also places Douglass in the context of familiar studies of religious language in politics and "civic religion."
Podcast homepage Link: https://the-episcopal-podcast.captivate.fm/episode/s1ep12
and listed under "File" drop-down.]
Exploiting the pop culture frenzy for theologians discussing apophaticism, the Mere Fidelity podcast invited me to join them for a rollicking good time. Listen on Spotify @ https://open.spotify.com/episode/7vzGtqNg3RD3kCmyUeGbqE?si=TJuwzaGUQZac8E1kep3Slw
SoundCloud Link: https://soundcloud.com/mere-fidelity/mere-fidelity-Wilmington and listed
under "File" drop-down.
Encyclopedia Articles by David M Wilmington
An accesible critique of modern ethics, using pop culture engagement (esp. in "The Good Place") with "The Trolley Problem," that 1) argue in favor of virtues ethics when 2) understood as a training in Improvisation modeled on 3) a "jazz formation" that seeks to form people capable of performing their character in unexpected contexts.
In this version, published in January 2014 but since greatly expanded (see below), I offer a close reading of Theodor Adorno's "culture industry" theory with special attention to his account of how it functions and to the anthropological presuppositions underlying his account of why it works.
By briefly looking at his reading of jazz as a test case, a move motivated entirely by his own insistence that jazz is one of two exemplars of the culture industry, I argue that his deeply flawed interpretation of this exemplar reveals fundamental weaknesses in the culture industry theory. In short, he falls victim to the same kind of epistemological and ideological filter he proposes as the substructure of the culture industry itself.
I end by arguing that Adorno's theory should carry significantly less authority due to his terrible mis-hearing and misunderstanding of jazz - failures based on his anthropology that reveal a fatally flawed reading of culture in general. Furthermore, 1) his operative anthropology is inextricable from the culture industry theory, 2) it will not harmonize with an orthodox Christian theological anthropology, and 3) that therefore, theologians, and anyone else unwilling to accept Adorno's anthropology, must be very wary of aligning themselves with his theory of cultural critique.
**This paper has been significantly revised and expanded since publication - especially with regard to the survey and analysis of Adorno's own writing on jazz and the critical scholarly treatment of his interpretation of jazz.**
Argument for churches and Christian schools to draw from the classical model of education (as articulated by Stratford Caldecott) and Richard B. Hays' "Echoes of Scripture in the Gospels" (re: how the Gospel writers interpreted and applied OT Scripture) in order to form disciples/students capable of faithful improvisation amidst contemporary challenges.
Part I - "Looking Backward: Learning from the Great Cloud of Witnesses" - delivered Aug. 16, 2018
Part II - "Looking Forward: Forming Improvisational and Fearless Disciples" - delivered Aug. 17, 2018
Surveys (all?) of Douglass' published comments on Lincoln - from essays, journalism, and speeches - to track 1) his shifting assessments of Lincoln from 1858 onward and 2) the development of use explicitly Christian prophetic and messianic language to describe Lincoln. Also places Douglass in the context of familiar studies of religious language in politics and "civic religion."
Podcast homepage Link: https://the-episcopal-podcast.captivate.fm/episode/s1ep12
and listed under "File" drop-down.]
Exploiting the pop culture frenzy for theologians discussing apophaticism, the Mere Fidelity podcast invited me to join them for a rollicking good time. Listen on Spotify @ https://open.spotify.com/episode/7vzGtqNg3RD3kCmyUeGbqE?si=TJuwzaGUQZac8E1kep3Slw
SoundCloud Link: https://soundcloud.com/mere-fidelity/mere-fidelity-Wilmington and listed
under "File" drop-down.