Film and Faith - Hildegard von Bingen

Had the opportunity to watch VISION with my wife and friends this weekend.  Review of the film here:

Hildegard von Bingen was truly a woman ahead of her time. A visionary in every sense of the word, this famed 12th-century Benedictine nun was a Christian mystic, composer, philosopher, playwright, poet, naturalist, scientist, physician, herbalist and ecological activist. New German Cinema auteur Margarethe von Trotta reunites with star Barbara Sukowa to bring the story von Bingen to life. Sukowa portrays von Bingen’s fierce determination to expand the responsibilities of women within the order, even as she fends off outrage from some in the Church over the visions she claims to receive from God. Lushly shot in the original medieval cloisters of the fairytale-like German countryside, Vision is a profoundly inspirational portrait of a woman who has emerged from the shadows of history as a forward-thinking and iconoclastic pioneer of faith, change and enlightenment. In German with English subtitles.

It was great to watch the movie with friends so that we could talk about the content of the film after it was over. 

In truth, I thought the film was too long (111 minutes) - and while some of the views/scenes were great - some transitions for sequencing between large blocks of time were awkward.

Most importantly, though, for myself and for those with me - we had opportunity to talk about how and where (in history) important persons of faith have shaped communities of faith.  We were able to talk about what it means to lead to and for communities of faith.

The movie created a great opportunity to share with others about challenges and opportunities for working to and for people of faith.

Always happy for students I have worked with to progress!

I have been blessed to mentor many great students - and to share extended relationship with many!  Happy for many who go on to do great things!

http://snu.edu/snu-senior-theology-student-accepted-into-duke-divinity-school

SNU Senior Theology Student Accepted into Duke Divinity School

BETHANY, Okla. (April 4, 2011) - Southern Nazarene University Senior Theology major Josiah Daniels has been accepted to the Master of Divinity program at Duke Divinity School, Duke University, Durham, NC. After completing the three-year M.Div. program Daniels plans to apply to doctoral programs in pursuit of his goal of earning a Ph.D. in Biblical Studies. Daniels wants to become a professor of Bible.

During his years at SNU Daniels has served as a ministerial intern at Tulakes Church of the Nazarene, and at Reaching Our City, two Nazarene outreach centers that provide ministries to serve disadvantaged populations in the Oklahoma City metro area. He also is a member of the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program, which helps prepare first-generation college students to succeed in graduate school. As part of this program he completed a research project under the direction of Dr. Marty Michelson entitled, “Jubilee Made Evident in Luke 4:18-20: A Biblical, Historical and Social Look” which he presented at several undergraduate research conferences around the country.

On his reason for pursuing graduate school Daniels says, “I have a particular interest in Christian work with the poor in a pastoral setting. I also hope to be able to teach theology and significantly contribute to the work of Biblical Studies and Christian Theology. While I have a strong commitment to academia, I believe that the world of academia must be fused with the life of the local church.”

Duke Divinity School is consistently ranked among the top five graduate programs in theology in the nation and is home to some of the most prominent writers and thinkers in the areas of biblical studies and Wesleyan theology.

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And, delighted to know of four other great students I remain friends with - who have finished other work at DUKE in the past decade!  Delightful!