From those who have read *IRON BOY* or my Substack article about the Ecumenical Institute’s signature weekend course for lay people, Religious Studies 1 <https://open.substack.com/pub/marshallbooks/p/abcs-of-holy-spirit-and-church?r=23ftwm&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false> (RS-1), you know that four of these theologians made major contributions to
What Is a Theologian Anyway & Why Should We Care? ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ Forwarded this email? Subscribe here <https://substack.com/redirect/2/eyJlIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9tYXJzaGFsbGJvb2tzLnN1YnN0YWNrLmNvbS9zdWJzY3JpYmU_dXRtX3NvdXJjZT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249ZW1haWwtc3Vic2NyaWJlJnI9MjNmdHdtJm5leHQ9aHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZtYXJzaGFsbGJvb2tzLnN1YnN0YWNrLmNvbSUyRnAlMkZteS1tZWRpdGF0aXZlLWNvdW5jaWwtc2V2ZW4tdGhlb2xvZ2lhbnMiLCJwIjoxNzI4MjQ0MTgsInMiOjQ5MjQ1MjEsImYiOmZhbHNlLCJ1IjoxMjY3MDk3OTgsImlhdCI6MTc1NzAyMjM5MSwiZXhwIjoyMDcyNTk4MzkxLCJpc3MiOiJwdWItMCIsInN1YiI6ImxpbmstcmVkaXJlY3QifQ.VD_h71WJvMN7Z-iMEMAkWy5E9ZcNuj0Ctq6dyiVRAiA?> for more My Meditative Council: Seven Theologians from Kierkegaard to Marshall <https://substack.com/app-link/post?publication_id=4924521&post_id=172824418&utm_source=post-email-title&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=false&r=23ftwm&token=eyJ1c2VyX2lkIjoxMjY3MDk3OTgsInBvc3RfaWQiOjE3MjgyNDQxOCwiaWF0IjoxNzU3MDIyMzkxLCJleHAiOjE3NTk2MTQzOTEsImlzcyI6InB1Yi00OTI0NTIxIiwic3ViIjoicG9zdC1yZWFjdGlvbiJ9.S-uJHtXHjlKB-YqJOgnX0tqfXFQwjdtRo0Zo8W8QtCk>What Is a Theologian Anyway & Why Should We Care? David Marshall <https://substack.com/@davidmarshall571181> Sep 4 <https://substack.com/@davidmarshall571181> <https://substack.com/app-link/post?publication_id=4924521&post_id=172824418&utm_source=substack&isFreemail=false&submitLike=true&token=eyJ1c2VyX2lkIjoxMjY3MDk3OTgsInBvc3RfaWQiOjE3MjgyNDQxOCwicmVhY3Rpb24iOiLinaQiLCJpYXQiOjE3NTcwMjIzOTEsImV4cCI6MTc1OTYxNDM5MSwiaXNzIjoicHViLTQ5MjQ1MjEiLCJzdWIiOiJyZWFjdGlvbiJ9.G13rF78A-gM-iYFlQDiHAj7Wxu4oG2v78jCzf99DsN8&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=email-reaction&r=23ftwm> <https://substack.com/app-link/post?publication_id=4924521&post_id=172824418&utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&isFreemail=false&comments=true&token=eyJ1c2VyX2lkIjoxMjY3MDk3OTgsInBvc3RfaWQiOjE3MjgyNDQxOCwiaWF0IjoxNzU3MDIyMzkxLCJleHAiOjE3NTk2MTQzOTEsImlzcyI6InB1Yi00OTI0NTIxIiwic3ViIjoicG9zdC1yZWFjdGlvbiJ9.S-uJHtXHjlKB-YqJOgnX0tqfXFQwjdtRo0Zo8W8QtCk&r=23ftwm&utm_campaign=email-half-magic-comments&action=post-comment&utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email> <https://substack.com/app-link/post?publication_id=4924521&post_id=172824418&utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&utm_campaign=email-share&action=share&triggerShare=true&isFreemail=false&r=23ftwm&token=eyJ1c2VyX2lkIjoxMjY3MDk3OTgsInBvc3RfaWQiOjE3MjgyNDQxOCwiaWF0IjoxNzU3MDIyMzkxLCJleHAiOjE3NTk2MTQzOTEsImlzcyI6InB1Yi00OTI0NTIxIiwic3ViIjoicG9zdC1yZWFjdGlvbiJ9.S-uJHtXHjlKB-YqJOgnX0tqfXFQwjdtRo0Zo8W8QtCk> <https://substack.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.gEqtdGsNob1p7ebPidGM4NUYVMTVnb4rYJFGt_d2M7U?&utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email> READ IN APP <https://open.substack.com/pub/marshallbooks/p/my-meditative-council-seven-theologians?utm_source=email&redirect=app-store&utm_campaign=email-read-in-app> <https://substack.com/redirect/e8f0ebcf-3527-471a-9ca6-7c9991d0f6bb?j=eyJ1IjoiMjNmdHdtIn0.hKkCvVGlLJm6z0dqBoJYtARzogrA-ZHkwDj74vxviBc> I grew up in the Order: Ecumenical hearing the term “Meditative Council” a lot. This meant a group of people in my head who helped direct my actions. Sometimes I intentionally placed them there, but sometimes they weaseled in on their own. This article covers seven people on my “Meditative Council of Theologians”: S*ø*ren Kierkegaard, Rudolf Bultmann, Paul Tillich, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, H. Richard Niebuhr, Joseph Wesley Mathews, and Gene Wesley Marshall. The last two I knew personally—one was my father. The first five came to me from books, lectures, seminars, videos and conversations with fellow students. If you have been following my Substack articles, you know I wrote earlier this year about seven Christian men who helped shape me in *IRON BOY: Searching for Freedom Inside a Family Religious Order <https://substack.com/redirect/5b4b7428-e008-42f2-b6e6-b219237029d7?j=eyJ1IjoiMjNmdHdtIn0.hKkCvVGlLJm6z0dqBoJYtARzogrA-ZHkwDj74vxviBc>*. You also know my father, Gene Wesley Marshall, who passed away last month at the age of 93, was one of them. He died with gusto, engaged in an hour long conversation with fellow 90-something Ben Ball about theology just a week before he died. Which brings me to the topic of this article: *What is a “theologian” anyway, and why should anyone care?* And what’s the difference between an ordained “minister” and a “theologian.” And importantly to my life, and maybe yours, of these seven theologians, now all deceased, *what was their main impact on Christian theology and how did they differ?* Let’s start with a chronology of the life spans, locations, and overlap of these seven theologians: S <https://substack.com/redirect/643be40c-7222-4cb5-a357-6b5d89c5efd5?j=eyJ1IjoiMjNmdHdtIn0.hKkCvVGlLJm6z0dqBoJYtARzogrA-ZHkwDj74vxviBc>*ø <https://substack.com/redirect/643be40c-7222-4cb5-a357-6b5d89c5efd5?j=eyJ1IjoiMjNmdHdtIn0.hKkCvVGlLJm6z0dqBoJYtARzogrA-ZHkwDj74vxviBc>*ren Kierkegaard <https://substack.com/redirect/643be40c-7222-4cb5-a357-6b5d89c5efd5?j=eyJ1IjoiMjNmdHdtIn0.hKkCvVGlLJm6z0dqBoJYtARzogrA-ZHkwDj74vxviBc> (1813-1855, died at 42 years old - Denmark) Rudolf Bultmann <https://substack.com/redirect/e8b30ad0-681b-4458-9a6a-fe77cb348dfb?j=eyJ1IjoiMjNmdHdtIn0.hKkCvVGlLJm6z0dqBoJYtARzogrA-ZHkwDj74vxviBc> (1884-1976, died at 92 years old – Germany) H. Richard Niebuhr <https://substack.com/redirect/b367c97c-c660-43df-943b-cf6e0392b81d?j=eyJ1IjoiMjNmdHdtIn0.hKkCvVGlLJm6z0dqBoJYtARzogrA-ZHkwDj74vxviBc> (1884-1962, died at 78 years old – United States) Paul Tillich <https://substack.com/redirect/d90ad0e1-983e-46cf-9f73-dab7d971cddd?j=eyJ1IjoiMjNmdHdtIn0.hKkCvVGlLJm6z0dqBoJYtARzogrA-ZHkwDj74vxviBc> (1886-1965, died at 79 years old – Germany, United Stated) Dietrich Bonhoeffer <https://substack.com/redirect/3e5c137b-14e6-49d8-a3ee-f9eb2d9e606e?j=eyJ1IjoiMjNmdHdtIn0.hKkCvVGlLJm6z0dqBoJYtARzogrA-ZHkwDj74vxviBc> (1906-1945, died at 39 years old - Germany) Joseph W. Mathews <https://substack.com/redirect/a149b570-e0d7-48f9-9172-07ca3a56780c?j=eyJ1IjoiMjNmdHdtIn0.hKkCvVGlLJm6z0dqBoJYtARzogrA-ZHkwDj74vxviBc> (1911-1977, died at 66 years old – United States) Gene W. Marshall <https://substack.com/redirect/37aa4540-32d0-4f0b-9a84-7a743e2cf297?j=eyJ1IjoiMjNmdHdtIn0.hKkCvVGlLJm6z0dqBoJYtARzogrA-ZHkwDj74vxviBc> (1932-2025, died at 93 years old – United States) <https://substack.com/redirect/75b63e77-5360-451d-98bd-13c7d6156d8a?j=eyJ1IjoiMjNmdHdtIn0.hKkCvVGlLJm6z0dqBoJYtARzogrA-ZHkwDj74vxviBc> Of these seven theologians, only Kierkegaard was both born and died in the 19th century. Bultmann, Niebuhr and Tillich were born in the 19th century and died in the 20th century. Bonhoeffer and Mathews were born and died in the 20th century. Marshall was born in the 20th century and died in the 21st century, just last month. This inquiry started from me a few weeks ago when the aforementioned Amazing Ben Ball wrote to an Order: Ecumenical online alumni group saying he wished to make a large donation to a dedicated room in the Ecumenical Institute building on the Near North Side of Chicago to my father. He said: ““Without question, he is by far the greatest and most effective living theologian.” That got me thinking. Dad stopped preaching from the pulpit of the Methodist Church many moons ago, and I thought of him as a “Recovering Minister” in the same way as we hear about “Recovering Lawyers.” So I didn’t really consider him to be a clergyman in the traditional sense anymore, nor as a theologian in the same sense as some of the other bigger names with wider audiences whom we all studied in the Order. So I dug in, partially with the help of fellow Order/EI/ICA alumnus James Wiegel, who sent me some of his recent ChatGPT inquiries about my father and Joseph Wesley Mathews, and partially based on my own Google AI and ChatGPT questions. My brother Wayne had also done some ChatGPT inquiries about both Joe Mathews and Dad a few weeks ago. Some of what follows is from the AI engines, as indicated by italics. What Is a Theologian Anyway? Here is how ChatGPT answers the question about the definitions and differences between a Christian “minister” and a “theologian”: *1. Christian Minister* · *Definition: A person officially recognized and authorized by a church to lead worship, preach, administer sacraments, and provide pastoral care.* · *Distinguishing Characteristics:* o *Primary role is practical and pastoral.* o *Focuses on serving a congregation and guiding people in faith.* o *Often performs rituals like baptisms, weddings, funerals, and preaching weekly sermons.* o *Emphasis is on applied theology—putting faith into action in daily life.* *2. Christian Theologian* · *Definition: A person who studies, interprets, and systematizes the doctrines of Christianity, often in an academic or scholarly context.* · *Distinguishing Characteristics:* o *Primary role is intellectual and analytical.* o *Focuses on understanding and explaining faith, scripture, history, and doctrine.* o *Often writes books, essays, or teaches in seminaries/universities.* o *Emphasis is on theoretical theology—exploring ideas about God, Christ, the Spirit, and the Church.* *✅ Key Difference: A minister leads and nurtures a community of believers in practice; a theologian studies, interprets, and teaches the ideas behind the faith. Many individuals, like Tillich or Bonhoeffer, can be both minister and theologian, but their primary emphasis differs.* Okay, so far this tells me that a theologian can also be a minister, in most cases is ordained, and probably spent part of their careers preaching to their local congregations. But a minister is not necessarily a theologian unless they study, interpret, and systematize Christian documents, frequently in an academic or scholarly way. But many ministers do this was well. Distinguishing characteristics of theologians seem to be writing books and teaching in seminaries. Joseph Mathews taught as Perkins Theological Seminary at Southern Methodist University, but he did not publish any books (to my knowledge). My father, Gene Wesley Marshall, wrote twelve books, mostly on religion and theology, but did not teach in universities. The other five members of my Meditative Council wrote numerous books, had books written about them, and most taught in academic settings. One, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, notably died in prison resisting the Nazis in World War II. What Does Each New Theologian Bring to the Party? My second line of inquiry is why not just teach the Bible using the words of Jesus and his disciples as documented by the Mark, Mathew, Luke, John, and Paul? My answer to this important question was ingrained into me from a young age by my father and mother: the folks who wrote the New Testament part of the Christian bible in the first century spoke in parables and mythology, so modern scholars needed to interpret these stories for our own lives. Otherwise, we had to believe everything literally happened, which didn’t make any sense. If that was true, we had to believe in magic and the supernatural. So here come the well-known modern theologians, Kierkegaard, Bultmann, Tillich, Bonhoeffer, and H. Richard Niebuhr (distinguished here between his brother Reinhold Niebuhr, who was also a theologian), and two lesser-known theologians, Mathews and Marshall. Realizing that the AI language model can be long-winded unless boundaries are set, my question to Google AI and ChatGPT was the same in all cases: “What is <person’s name> main contribution to Christian theology in one sentence?” Here are the answers I received: *“Søren Kierkegaard's main contribution to theology is his emphasis on the individual's subjective relationship with God, characterized by a passionate "leap of faith" beyond the limitations of reason and a critique of institutionalized Christianity that, in his view, had become too complacent and impersonal.”* (source: Google AI) *“Søren Kierkegaard’s emphasized the individual’s subjective relationship with God, stressing personal faith, existential choice, and the necessity of confronting doubt and anxiety in the journey of authentic Christian life.”* (source: ChatGPT) <https://substack.com/redirect/84905c7c-25fe-4ef1-8375-4f6beac8a83e?j=eyJ1IjoiMjNmdHdtIn0.hKkCvVGlLJm6z0dqBoJYtARzogrA-ZHkwDj74vxviBc> *“Rudolf Bultmann's main contribution to theology is his demythologization program, which aims to strip away the mythological elements of the New Testament to reveal its core existential and theological meaning for modern people.”* (source: Google AI) “*Bultmann translated biblical myth into modern, existential meaning.”* (source: “ultra-short sentence” per ChatGPT) <https://substack.com/redirect/2912a954-4e9a-4bfb-81fb-9d7f74b0de5d?j=eyJ1IjoiMjNmdHdtIn0.hKkCvVGlLJm6z0dqBoJYtARzogrA-ZHkwDj74vxviBc> *“Paul Tillich's main contribution was developing a theology that engages with modern existentialism, particularly by defining God as "being-itself," the ground of all being, rather than a being among others. He also emphasized that religious symbols and doctrines point to existential truths, not literal ones.”* (source: Google AI) *“Tillich said that God is not just another being out there in the universe, but the very ground of being itself—the depth of everything that exists and the source of ultimate meaning.”* (source: “ultra-short sentence” per ChatGPT) <https://substack.com/redirect/86a2512b-2f44-4fdc-b436-a9e5e40ab7b3?j=eyJ1IjoiMjNmdHdtIn0.hKkCvVGlLJm6z0dqBoJYtARzogrA-ZHkwDj74vxviBc> *“Dietrich Bonhoeffer's primary theological contribution can be summarized as his call for a "religionless Christianity," which emphasizes that authentic Christian life requires living and engaging with the secular world, serving others, and participating in God's suffering in the world, rather than retreating into traditional religious practices or institutions for personal salvation.”* (source: Google AI) “*Bonhoeffer taught that real Christian faith is not cheap or easy, but a matter of costly discipleship, lived out in community and in courageous, responsible action for others.”* (source: “ultra-short sentence” per ChatGPT) <https://substack.com/redirect/32426f33-3c1d-43a9-a977-7c219d9972a9?j=eyJ1IjoiMjNmdHdtIn0.hKkCvVGlLJm6z0dqBoJYtARzogrA-ZHkwDj74vxviBc> *“H. Richard Niebuhr's primary contribution to theology is his development of a typology outlining five different models for understanding the relationship between Christianity and culture: Christ against Culture, Christ of Culture, Christ above Culture, Christ and Culture in Paradox, and Christ the Transformer of Culture.”* (source: Google AI) “*Niebuhr explored the many ways Christians have responded to culture through history, showing that Christ can stand against, above, or within culture—and that faith is always lived in tension with the world.”* (source: “ultra-short sentence” per ChatGPT) <https://substack.com/redirect/7d3df8a7-83cf-4bb1-94e3-082d7e6a6495?j=eyJ1IjoiMjNmdHdtIn0.hKkCvVGlLJm6z0dqBoJYtARzogrA-ZHkwDj74vxviBc> the three parts of the Holy Trinity and the role of the “Church”: · GOD – demythologized as MYSTERY by Bultmann · CHRIST – demythologized as GRACE by Tillich · HOLY SPIRIT – demythologized as FREEDOM by Bonhoeffer · CHURCH – redefined as SOCIAL PIONEER by H. Richard Niebuhr If Kierkegaard loomed so large in the Ecumenical Institute staff’s thinking, why didn’t he warrant his own module in RS-1? To hear my father talk about it, Kierkegaard was the father of RS-1, or the root theologian from whence the others came. Google AI did not have a one-sentence summary for Mathews or Marshall, but ChatGPT did: *Joseph W. Mathews’s main contribution to modern theology was to move theology out of the classroom and into the world, shaping it as a lived, communal discipline where the church confronts social, political, and economic realities through structured methods of engagement and action.* And here’s my crack at it:* Joseph W. Mathews’s* main contribution to theology is in synthesizing the works of the aforementioned five theologians from the 19th and 20th centuries, and bundling their work in understandable language for clergy and lay people, which included the Religious Studies 1 course using Christian symbols and the Other World and Odyssey curriculum using secular language, together with his commitment to put the “social pioneering” church to work in underserved communities. (source: David Marshall from reading GWM’s writings about JWM) <https://substack.com/redirect/ddb1f85c-8eee-44c2-836d-87c3393c19e4?j=eyJ1IjoiMjNmdHdtIn0.hKkCvVGlLJm6z0dqBoJYtARzogrA-ZHkwDj74vxviBc> ChatGBT on my father (I let it go to three sentence, because, hey, he’s my dad!): *“Gene Wesley Marshall has contributed significantly to modern theology through his exploration of Christian consciousness and the integration of religious experience with profound human awareness. His main contribution to modern theology can be summarized as follows: Gene Wesley Marshall reimagined Christian theology as a dynamic interplay between profound human consciousness and the sacred, emphasizing the transformative power of awareness in spiritual practice. This perspective positions theology not merely as doctrinal study but as a lived, conscious experience that engages deeply with the mysteries of existence.”* And here’s my version:* Gene W. Marshall’s* main contribution to theology is taking the work of the Ecumenical Institute and Institute of Cultural Affairs in the 20th century to new levels in the 21st century through the Realistic Living <https://substack.com/redirect/395da107-1c0e-4ecc-9eb4-afe0f1922ab7?j=eyJ1IjoiMjNmdHdtIn0.hKkCvVGlLJm6z0dqBoJYtARzogrA-ZHkwDj74vxviBc> curriculum that stressed co-pastor circles of engaged community members practicing demythologized religious principles together in radical and active service to the world. These included leadership in the bioregional movement, and embracing world religions and other more secular spiritual expressions. (source: David Marshall from reading GWM’s writings and discussions with him) <https://substack.com/redirect/81e3ccc0-c0b3-4c2b-8c3e-d467097663c5?j=eyJ1IjoiMjNmdHdtIn0.hKkCvVGlLJm6z0dqBoJYtARzogrA-ZHkwDj74vxviBc> Marshall After Mathews - Measuring Impact This last section is courtesy of James Wiegel, who sent this to me soon after my father died last month. He asked ChatGPT several penetrating questions about Dad. Wiegel’s Question: Gene Wesley Marshall died this morning at 93 years of age. What did he contribute to contemporary theology? Answer: *I’m sorry to hear about the passing of Gene Wesley Marshall this morning. While I couldn’t locate a published obituary just yet, I did find credible sources detailing his life’s work and contributions to contemporary theology. Here’s what stands out:* *Contributions of Gene Wesley Marshall to Contemporary Theology* *1. Championing an Interpretive Theology of “Approximate Knowing”* *Marshall’s recent work “Approximate Knowing: The End of our Dogmatic View of Religion,” reframes theological understanding around humility and mystery. He encourages readers to embrace uncertainty and curiosity instead of rigid doctrinal certainty. According to the description, he argues that our knowledge of reality—including spiritual and religious truth—is inherently “approximate,” and that recognizing this opens us to deeper insight and spiritual growth.* *2. Merging Science, Faith, and Social Ethics* *His background in mathematics and physics (initially educated at Oklahoma State University) later became foundational to a nuanced, interdisciplinary approach to theology. After entering seminary at Perkins School of Theology in 1953, he served as a pastor, army chaplain, and led an ecumenical institute supporting diverse leadership for social engagement.* *3. A Voice for Freedom and Liberation Theology* *In “So Be Free: Pastoral Discourses on Freedom,” Marshall explores the nature of freedom—human, spiritual, and ethical—through a lens that blends secular and Christian vocabularies. His 24 essays invite readers into deep reflection, asserting that freedom is not just a concept but a lived relationship with the “Profound Reality.”* *4. Visionary Integration of Activism and Theology* *From the early 1960s, Marshall was active in the civil rights movement, serving as the Protestant executive for the National Conference on Religion and Race. In the 1980s, he helped organize the bioregional movement, an ecological and cultural approach to community living. Starting in 1983, he co-founded the nonprofit Realistic Living with his wife Joyce, through which they designed innovative educational programs, workshops, and published numerous theological and ethical writings.* *5. Producing a Rich Tapestry of Theological Works* *Over many decades, Gene Wesley Marshall authored multiple books including:* - *“The Thinking Christian” — exploring religion as a social process linking humans to “Profound Reality,” and calling for a revitalized, activist form of Christian practice. * - *“Radical Gifts: Living the Full Christian Life in Troubled Times,” “From Empire to Eco-Democracy,” and “The Enigma of Consciousness”—though less detailed in online descriptions, these titles suggest thoughtful intersections between faith, societal challenges, and consciousness.* *In Summary* *Gene Wesley Marshall’s legacy is one of bridging disciplines, movements, and spiritual depths:* - *Theologically, he urged humility and wonder—seeing theological knowledge as “approximate,” and faith as a dynamic, interpretive process. * - *Practically, he combined activism and theology, engaging in civil rights, ecological reform, and spiritual formation through the Realistic Living movement. * - *Creatively, he produced a broad body of writing that fused rational inquiry, spiritual reflection, and social ethics. * *Would you like to explore any of his works in greater depth—perhaps excerpts from “Approximate Knowing” or themes in “The Thinking Christian”? Let me know, and I can help dig deeper.* Wiegel’s Question: That’s a really thoughtful question. Let’s look at it in two parts — impact on established Christianity and on progressive social movements — and weigh the likelihood in each sphere. *1. Established Christianity (mainline or institutional churches)* - *Opportunities for impact * - *Gene Wesley Marshall’s emphasis on “approximate knowing” and humility before mystery resonates with many theologians and clergy who are trying to move their congregations away from rigid dogma toward a more open, exploratory faith. * - *His engagement with civil rights, ecology, and freedom mirrors themes in mainline Protestantism (United Methodist, UCC, ELCA, PCUSA) that are already shifting toward social justice and ecological awareness. * - *His writings provide fresh language for clergy and lay leaders who want to ground activism in theological depth. * - *Limitations * - *Established Christianity is struggling with declining membership, polarization, and an aging base. Institutions often adopt theological innovations slowly, and “approximate knowing” may feel destabilizing to those seeking certainty. * - *Evangelical and Catholic traditions—together representing the bulk of global Christianity—are less likely to adopt his framework, since it softens dogma and authority. * - *Likelihood of positive impact: Moderate (around 40–50%) His thought will likely shape progressive clergy, seminary students, and adult education circles in mainline denominations, but is unlikely to move the broader institutional church as a whole. * *2. Progressive Social Movements* - *Opportunities for impact * - *Marshall’s integration of faith, science, ecology, and liberation is exactly the sort of theological grounding that progressive activists often seek but lack. * - *His emphasis on freedom, justice, and ecological democracy dovetails with climate activism, racial justice work, and grassroots democratic movements. * - *Because he wrote accessibly, his works may circulate in networks of faith-based activism, eco-justice movements, and interfaith organizing. * - *Limitations * - *Progressive movements are increasingly secular in their language and may be suspicious of explicitly Christian frameworks, even if the theology is open and non-dogmatic. * - *His influence may be strongest in small, intentional communities and networks (like Realistic Living or eco-spiritual collectives) rather than in mass movements. * - *Likelihood of positive impact: Moderate-to-High (around 55–65%) His work is well positioned to inspire progressive religious activists, eco-theologians, and interfaith educators. While unlikely to transform mass secular movements, it could deeply shape pockets of committed leaders. * *3. Where his greatest impact may lie* - *Seminary and adult theological education — providing frameworks for open-ended, justice-focused Christianity. * - *Faith-based eco-activism — grounding bioregional and ecological movements in spiritual depth. * - *Small networks and intentional communities — where his writings can be studied and practiced more fully than in hierarchical institutions. * *Overall likelihood of lasting impact: Moderate (about 50–60%)* *Marshall’s legacy will likely endure less as a mainstream theological shift, and more as a seedbed of ideas nourishing small but influential progressive Christian and eco-justice circles. Over time, his concepts (especially “approximate knowing” and freedom as a theological horizon) may filter into broader Christian thought through those networks.* *Would you like me to map out which current networks, seminaries, or movements are most likely to carry his thought forward? That might give a clearer picture of his lasting influence.* *Here’s a clearer map of where Gene Wesley Marshall’s thought—especially his ideas on approximate knowing, social ethics, ecology, and liberation—might resonate most strongly:* *1. Progressive Christian Networks & Organizations* *Progressive Christianity, as a movement, emphasizes interpretive theology, social justice, environmental stewardship, mystery, and inclusivity.* *Marshall’s theology—highlighting curiosity, humility before mystery, orthopraxy (right action over right belief), and ecological awareness—aligns well with these values and could find a natural home among congregations and individuals in networks like Progressive Christianity (the organization).* *Likelihood of adoption: High* *Why: His ideas dovetail with core progressive Christian emphases on metaphorical biblical interpretation, ecological justice, and faith as ethical practice rather than doctrinal purity.* *2. Ecotheology & Eco-Justice Movements* *Theologians increasingly advocate for an ecological reformation within Christianity—integrating science, stewardship, justice, and new ways of relating to creation.* *Marshall’s fusion of theology, science, and activism—particularly through his Realistic Living endeavors—could enrich conversations among eco-theologians, green seminaries, and faith-based environmental organizations.* *Likelihood of adoption: Moderate to High* *Why: His emphasis on ecological awareness, grounded in theological ethics and social responsibility, offers robust material for eco-justice curricula and spiritual formation.* *3. Seminary Classrooms & Theological Education* *Even though Marshall isn’t yet widely cited in academic journals, his book “Approximate Knowing” (2024) deliberately reframes theology toward curiosity, humility, and interpretive practice.* *Seminaries—especially liberal ones exploring progressive theology, eco-justice, or interdisciplinary ethics—could incorporate his language and concepts into courses on public theology, pastoral formation, or contextual theology.* *Likelihood of adoption: Moderate* *Why: His fresh theological vocabulary and activist orientation suit progressive academic environments, though wider institutional uptake may develop gradually.* *4. Intentional Faith-Based Communities & Eco-Spiritual Networks* *Marshall’s hands-on legacy—through Realistic Living, civic engagement, and bioregional ecological projects—positions his ideas to thrive within small, intentional communities that integrate spiritual formation, activism, and ecological practice.* *Likelihood of adoption: High (within these niches)* *Why: These communities value experiential theology and often seek frameworks that clarify the integration of faith, justice, and environment—precisely where Marshall’s work shines.* <https://substack.com/redirect/aa914f35-b5c2-44ed-a364-7cb8876366c5?j=eyJ1IjoiMjNmdHdtIn0.hKkCvVGlLJm6z0dqBoJYtARzogrA-ZHkwDj74vxviBc> *Bigger Picture Impact* *While mainstream churches may be slower to adopt his ideas, Marshall’s influence could ripple outward via:* - *Progressive Christian networks influencing clergy, laity, and educators. * - *Eco-theology initiatives shaping green spirituality and social ethics. * - *Seminary dialogues introducing his thought to future religious leaders and scholars. * - *Niche spiritual communities exemplifying his values in lived practice. * *Over time, these conduits may infuse broader Christian discourse with renewed emphasis on mystery, humility, and ecological justice.* *Would you like help identifying specific institutions—such as particular seminaries, eco-justice organizations, or progressive publishing outlets—where his work would be welcomed or could gain traction? I’d be happy to dig further.* *Here’s a curated overview of specific institutions, networks, and initiatives where Gene Wesley Marshall’s theological vision—particularly his emphases on approximate knowing, ecological justice, social liberation, and spiritual humility—would likely find a receptive and fertile home:* *Seminaries Excelling in Progressive, Ecological, or Liberation Theology* *Pacific School of Religion (PSR), Berkeley, CA* - *A longstanding leader in progressive theological education, PSR fosters inclusive ministry, social transformation, and spiritual formation rooted in justice and equity. Their programs include the Master of Theological Studies with environmental theology components, Master of Arts in Social Transformation, and options focused on progressive ministry and activism. * *Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary – Center for Ecological Regeneration, Evanston, IL* - *This center integrates eco-theological understanding, earth-based spiritual practices, and social justice, grounded in theological education. It emphasizes bioregional solidarity and interconnection between ecological repair and communal healing. * *Starr King School for the Ministry, Oakland, CA* - *A Unitarian Universalist seminary committed to “Educating to Counter Oppressions (ECO).” While interfaith in nature, it strongly supports progressive spiritual leadership and activist theology that aligns with Marshall’s integration of mystery, liberation, and ecological care. * *Eco-Theological & Faith-Based Environmental Organizations, Creation Justice Ministries* - *A Christian ecumenical initiative offering worship-based resources—sermon starters, Bible studies, liturgical guides—to help churches integrate ecological care into faith communities. * *GreenFaith* - *A global interfaith coalition promoting faith-rooted climate justice through local organizing, divestment campaigns, training, and environmental advocacy. Their values mesh well with Marshall’s vision of theology in connection with justice and Earth care. * *A Rocha* - *An international network of Christian community-based conservation organizations. They combine conservation, research, education, and theology in pursuit of biodiversity care and ecological restoration. * *Evangelical Environmental Network (EEN)* - *Mobilizes evangelical Christians for creation care, combining environmental concerns with justice for vulnerable communities—bridging secular activism and explicit Christian frameworks. * *Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development (ICSD)* - *Based in Jerusalem, this organization connects religion with ecology, producing ecological commentaries of scripture (Eco Bible), trainings for clergy (EcoPreacher), interfaith conferences, and promoting faith-based sustainability globally. * *Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology* - *A transdisciplinary project promoting scholarly engagement and teaching at the intersection of religion and ecological justice. Offers publications, courses (e.g., on religious responses to ecology), and convenings that connect theology with environmental ethics. * *Faith in Place* *(Chicago & Midwest)* - *A nonprofit coordinating religious leaders in environmental sustainability projects—such as clean energy, sustainable food systems, and inter-congregational cooperation—rooted in ecological justice.* So What? So where does this all leave me, and perhaps you as well? My Big Takeaway is that what it means to be a Theologian is evolving just like spirituality, formal religions, and specifically Christianity. In both Joseph Mathews’s and my father’s case, I think one of their big contributions to the field of theology is to extend it beyond “theoretical theology” to *“practical theology.”* Joseph Mathews demonstrated that in the turn to the world in the early 1970s in moving the mission beyond the Christian work of the Ecumenical Institute to the more secular work of the Institute of Cultural Affairs, which included hundreds of Bicentennial Town Meetings in the United States in 1976 and scores of human and rural development projects around the world in the 1970s. The LENS course, using many of the group methodologies honed by Order: Ecumenical and Ecumenical Institute staff, helped commercial businesses forge new more human ways of operating, and continues to exist today in the Change Methods work of the Institute of Cultural Affairs on a global scale. My father was the dean of The Academy, an eight-week training program in the late 1960s and early 1970s that included almost all of the religious and secular curriculum from that era. I guess in that sense, it was his mini academic career. In my opinion, Dad was not as charismatic in his speaking and teaching style as his mentor, but he tried his best to emulate Joe. But Dad distinguished himself as a theoretical and practical theologian after Joe died in 1977 for the next 48 years in the fourteen books he wrote. In a future Substack article, I will list Dad’s books and give my summary of each one in case you are interested in finding out more about his work. I will also provide links to Dad’s favorite books by his predecessor theologians, Kierkegaard, Bultmann, Tillich, Bonhoeffer, and H. Richard Niebuhr. Meanwhile, here are links to the books referenced in this article, and to the biography written about Joseph Mathews by his brother James Mathews, who was a Bishop in the United Methodist Church in the United States. *Bending History: Selected Talks of Joseph W. Mathews <https://substack.com/redirect/5e8ca942-abdf-48ea-b0c6-65e149a74624?j=eyJ1IjoiMjNmdHdtIn0.hKkCvVGlLJm6z0dqBoJYtARzogrA-ZHkwDj74vxviBc>*, edited by John L. Epps *Brother Joe: A 20th Century Apostle <https://substack.com/redirect/7631c021-981b-4ea6-8765-60a5484abd4b?j=eyJ1IjoiMjNmdHdtIn0.hKkCvVGlLJm6z0dqBoJYtARzogrA-ZHkwDj74vxviBc>*, by James K. Mathews *The Thinking Christian: 23 Pathways to Awareness <https://substack.com/redirect/48b036b5-8dec-4791-bc99-36927e6116a7?j=eyJ1IjoiMjNmdHdtIn0.hKkCvVGlLJm6z0dqBoJYtARzogrA-ZHkwDj74vxviBc>*, by Gene W. Marshall *Approximate Knowing: The End of Our Dogmatic View of Religion <https://substack.com/redirect/650180ac-6929-472b-8784-f1f775f50976?j=eyJ1IjoiMjNmdHdtIn0.hKkCvVGlLJm6z0dqBoJYtARzogrA-ZHkwDj74vxviBc>, by Gene W. Marshall* *So Be Free: Pastoral Discourses on Freedom <https://substack.com/redirect/26a7cc16-f35d-46b1-b716-a43c1c7d2f7b?j=eyJ1IjoiMjNmdHdtIn0.hKkCvVGlLJm6z0dqBoJYtARzogrA-ZHkwDj74vxviBc>*, by Gene W. Marshall *Radical Gifts: Living the Full Christian Life in Troubled Times <https://substack.com/redirect/ee1b08fa-fd56-46c5-84a7-5ffc3ab300cf?j=eyJ1IjoiMjNmdHdtIn0.hKkCvVGlLJm6z0dqBoJYtARzogrA-ZHkwDj74vxviBc>*, by Gene W. Marshall *The Enigma of Consciousness <https://substack.com/redirect/5583e75c-ed68-45bf-8d2b-b54a59fb964c?j=eyJ1IjoiMjNmdHdtIn0.hKkCvVGlLJm6z0dqBoJYtARzogrA-ZHkwDj74vxviBc>*, by Gene W. Marshall *From Empire to Eco-Democracy <https://substack.com/redirect/d9ee8c6c-1cee-4f13-8685-2216ac26d1df?j=eyJ1IjoiMjNmdHdtIn0.hKkCvVGlLJm6z0dqBoJYtARzogrA-ZHkwDj74vxviBc>*, by Gene W. Marshall, Ben Ball, Marsha Buck, Ken Kreutziger, and Alan Richard *The Making of Religious Radical: a Memoir <https://substack.com/redirect/a78ca8c6-3168-4f0f-9b18-50dc4f0decb5?j=eyJ1IjoiMjNmdHdtIn0.hKkCvVGlLJm6z0dqBoJYtARzogrA-ZHkwDj74vxviBc>*, NEW by Gene W. Marshall *Iron Boy: Searching for Freedom Inside a Family Religious Order <https://substack.com/redirect/5b4b7428-e008-42f2-b6e6-b219237029d7?j=eyJ1IjoiMjNmdHdtIn0.hKkCvVGlLJm6z0dqBoJYtARzogrA-ZHkwDj74vxviBc>*, NEW by David Marshall Growing up in the Order, we used to say, “I claim the promise…” before wishing for something positive. I therefore “claim the promise” that you and I, if we believe in a theology, that we PRACTICE it in our daily and weekly lives. Grace, Peace, & Love, David Paul Marshall Share <https://substack.com/app-link/post?publication_id=4924521&post_id=172824418&utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&utm_campaign=email-share&action=share&triggerShare=true&isFreemail=false&r=23ftwm&token=eyJ1c2VyX2lkIjoxMjY3MDk3OTgsInBvc3RfaWQiOjE3MjgyNDQxOCwiaWF0IjoxNzU3MDIyMzkxLCJleHAiOjE3NTk2MTQzOTEsImlzcyI6InB1Yi00OTI0NTIxIiwic3ViIjoicG9zdC1yZWFjdGlvbiJ9.S-uJHtXHjlKB-YqJOgnX0tqfXFQwjdtRo0Zo8W8QtCk> Like <https://substack.com/app-link/post?publication_id=4924521&post_id=172824418&utm_source=substack&isFreemail=false&submitLike=true&token=eyJ1c2VyX2lkIjoxMjY3MDk3OTgsInBvc3RfaWQiOjE3MjgyNDQxOCwicmVhY3Rpb24iOiLinaQiLCJpYXQiOjE3NTcwMjIzOTEsImV4cCI6MTc1OTYxNDM5MSwiaXNzIjoicHViLTQ5MjQ1MjEiLCJzdWIiOiJyZWFjdGlvbiJ9.G13rF78A-gM-iYFlQDiHAj7Wxu4oG2v78jCzf99DsN8&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=email-reaction&r=23ftwm> Comment <https://substack.com/app-link/post?publication_id=4924521&post_id=172824418&utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&isFreemail=false&comments=true&token=eyJ1c2VyX2lkIjoxMjY3MDk3OTgsInBvc3RfaWQiOjE3MjgyNDQxOCwiaWF0IjoxNzU3MDIyMzkxLCJleHAiOjE3NTk2MTQzOTEsImlzcyI6InB1Yi00OTI0NTIxIiwic3ViIjoicG9zdC1yZWFjdGlvbiJ9.S-uJHtXHjlKB-YqJOgnX0tqfXFQwjdtRo0Zo8W8QtCk&r=23ftwm&utm_campaign=email-half-magic-comments&action=post-comment&utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email> Restack <https://substack.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.gEqtdGsNob1p7ebPidGM4NUYVMTVnb4rYJFGt_d2M7U?&utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email> © 2025 David Marshall 548 Market Street PMB 72296, San Francisco, CA 94104 Unsubscribe <https://substack.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.bcDGKCtoOMdVmu_fgw_JIEp4nZbOcpiIIQyto-WygGw?> [image: Start writing] <https://substack.com/redirect/2/eyJlIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9zdWJzdGFjay5jb20vc2lnbnVwP3V0bV9zb3VyY2U9c3Vic3RhY2smdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fY29udGVudD1mb290ZXImdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPWF1dG9maWxsZWQtZm9vdGVyJmZyZWVTaWdudXBFbWFpbD1kYXZpZHBhdWxtYXJzaGFsbDE5NTZAZ21haWwuY29tJnI9MjNmdHdtIiwicCI6MTcyODI0NDE4LCJzIjo0OTI0NTIxLCJmIjpmYWxzZSwidSI6MTI2NzA5Nzk4LCJpYXQiOjE3NTcwMjIzOTEsImV4cCI6MjA3MjU5ODM5MSwiaXNzIjoicHViLTAiLCJzdWIiOiJsaW5rLXJlZGlyZWN0In0.4ByiYrZk-eaEgRwKIDqJsePNoejjrBBLwv2rlUyHlUc?>