I've heard him speak one other time and came away impressed. Today's lecture didn't disappoint. I wish we could tap into his expertise more, but I'll take what I can get.
He is working on what it means to understand scripture as narrative and then what it means to live within a world that is understood through that biblical narrative. At this point some of you are saying, "Of course!," while others of you are saying, "What?".
We all make sense of our lives and of the world through the stories we tell. This is nothing new. In fact, story is fundamental to the human condition. So, if it is fundamental to our condition, why would we approach theology and scripture in ways that deny our reliance on story?The beginning of the scriptural story is creation, the center is the cross and resurrection, the "end" of the story is the restoration of God's world. For Christians this narrative becomes the controlling story for how we read scripture.
Green brings something to the theological table that, as far as I know, is unique. He has studied neuroscience in order to understand better how the human brain receives and interprets narrative. This blending of disciplines has born fruit in his "day job."
One of things Green pointed out is that the things we do (i.e. prayer, worship, participation in the sacraments) actually play a role in determining our "brain mapping," which means that prayer physically affects which synapses join together within our brains.
I have only scratched the surface of the lecture. Suffice it to say that there was lively discussion and I wish we had more time to consider the implications of narrative and neuroscience on the preaching and practice of ministry.I'm looking forward to the Summer of 2008 when the North American Christian Convention goes to Cincinnati. Dr. Green has agreed to be the speaker at the European Evangelistic Society's annual breakfast.
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