Sean the Baptist

I have just been finishing off the text for the Whitley Lecture that I am due to give on a number of occasions next year - and in the course of writing came across one of those really annoying things that the scholarly world sometimes throws up.

In David Tracey's book, Plurality and Ambiguity: Hermeneutics, Religion, Hope (London: SCM, 1987) on p.19, there is a lovely quote attributed to Bernard Lonergan: "Be attentive, be intelligent, be responsible, be loving, and, if necessary, change".  Its a nice quotation for an essay on hermeneutics, and Tracy foonotes a reference to Lonergan's Method in Theology, p.231.  Being the nerd I am I went and checked it.  The quotation isn't there.  What we do find there is the standard list of the 4 "transcendental precepts" that shape much of Lonergan's work" be attentive, be intelligent, be reasonable/rational, be responsible", but no reference to being loving or to changing.  Only the Tracy version also occurs on this website with the same page reference.

Does Tracy have access to an independent oral tradition (he knew Lonergan well, I think)?  Did he just make it up? Am I going mad?

So the quotation stays out, and my conclusion lacks the rhetorical panache that Tracy's version would have given it.  Oh, and I spent 40 minutes trying to hunt the thing down. 

After a mad end of semester, meetings galore and finally sending off the text for next year's Whitley Lecture, I can now come back up for air - for long enough to wish everyone a great Christmas and cracking start to 2007.

A few interesting things that I have seen over the past few days:

John Lyons' report on Philip Davis analysis of the SBL meetings (no John not shellshocked, but also not going to bust a gut to go every year - its a zoo)

Frank Rees' reflections on ministry: and a public congratulations to Frank on his new appointment. 

Discovering William Willimon's blog (and getting my story for the service on Christmas morning from it).

Simon Barrow's very special Christmas thoughts.

See you all next year! 

Andy has tagged me on the "Five Things You Don't Know About Me" meme.  Reluctantly (because one of the things people may well know about me as that I don't have a lot pf patience for such things), here goes.

1.  I worked for Barclays Bank for 2 years between 1984 and 1986.  The branch was in Clerkenwell, London, and last time I saw it it had become a fancy restaurant.  I remember the first names of only a few of my colleagues, Debbie, Tony and the wonderfully named Mr Munch, Assistant Manager.  I was briefly in love (unrequited) with a secretary with a Lady Di haircut, whose name I have completely forgotten.  When I went for interview at Bristol Baptist College, I entered the office of Keith Clements only to find myself facing a huge poster saying BOYCOTT BARCLAYS ... so I did and became a Baptist Minister

2.  While at College I appeared with Marc Owen in a police line up for armed robbery.

3.  I love opera, but get too little chance to listen/see any.  In particular I am a Wagner fan.  One of the highlights of this year for me was a stage performance of Act III of Siegfried at the Bridgewater Hall, the Halle, conducted by Mark Elder with Ben Heppner as Siegfried and Irene Theorin as Brunnhilde - I cried. (Here are the reviews)

4.  Talking of crying - just occasionally a reality TV show will bring a lump to my throat (X-Factor in particular - go Leona).

5.  I am a bloody good cook, if I do say so myself.