Doctrines and Pubs

Hello again,

I hope you have enjoyed the first half of November. It has been a good month over here. The weather has been nice and windy as of late - perfect for a bit of tweed - and just cold enough to make me appreciate all of the tea.

On the academic front there is quite a lot going on. Last week I began the Doctrine, Context, and Practice section of my course. We started by reading about the doctrine of the Trinity. One quote from my reading was, "The more you reflect upon the mystery of the Trinity, the less you seem to understand it definitively" (Moltmann). I found this to be very true, but it was still a useful endeavor because we discussed topics such as God's agency in relation to free will, the concept of personhood, and the Trinity in terms of function, which makes more sense to me, or relationship. In addition, my first paper was assigned. I will need to select a model of applied theology and show how I would use it to explore any doctrine of my choice. Needless to say, I have a lot of options, but I am leaning toward either the doctrine of the Eucharist or the doctrine of conversion, particularly in relation to the Holy Spirit. It's not due until early January, but I'll decide soon.

Inside the White Horse

In quite drastic contrast, I also want to share my thoughts on a few Oxford pubs due to popular demand. I gave some history on the Eagle and Child in a previous post, but this time around I just want to give a brief assessment of a few pubs. One that I really like is the Lamb and Flag. I went there a few days ago and it has a great atmosphere. The seating continues on and on, yet it is very snug at the same time. The Mitre is another good pub. It is a bit bigger than most pubs in the sense that it isn't essentially a Hobbit-hole like many are, but it is a good place for larger groups. One that is certainly like a Hobbit-hole is the White Horse. It is very small and feels crowded, but that is what an English pub is all about - having a drink with friendly strangers. Lastly, I have been to the King's Arms. It is the biggest of the pubs that I've been to, which makes it a nice place for a meal, but they don't have Guinness so I'm not a big fan.

Outside The Mitre

If you ever plan a trip over here, I'd say if you want traditional, try the White Horse. If you want best overall, try the Eagle and Child or the Lamb and Flag. And if you have a larger group, try the King's Arms or The Mitre. Of course, there are many more, I just haven't tried them yet.

I hope you enjoyed the mix of topics this time. If you are curious about anything in particular just let me know and I will write about it! Just post a comment below or comment of Facebook. I might post again before Thanksgiving, but, if not, enjoy it!

Truly,

Tim