Spiritual Play: Theology, Joy, and Creativity

Date: Thursday, September 18 @ 7:00pm
Location: The Table Public House
Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83219357817
Curriculum: Coming Soon!
Password: brew

When we think about theology, we often imagine solemn truths, weighty doctrines, or cosmic struggles between good and evil. But across the world’s religions, there’s also a quieter—sometimes louder—thread: the idea that at the heart of existence is play, joy, and creativity.

In Hinduism, this shines through in the concept of līlā—the “divine play” in which the gods create, destroy, and love not out of necessity, but sheer delight. The world itself is not a grim task but a dance, a story, a game.

And Hinduism isn’t alone: Jewish rabbis “play” with scripture through midrash, Sufis whirl and sing in ecstatic celebration, Buddhists describe reality as the playful dance of emptiness, and Christian theologians like Jürgen Moltmann claim that a “theology of play” is essential to understanding God’s freedom.

This isn't to dismiss theological doctrine across the interfaith spectrum as overly serious distraction. Doctrine has been taken seriously for millenia and it's lasted for a reason. So, the most interesting question becomes how does creativity and play exist within, and interact with, our secular and theological humanity on a personal level, and within a culture?

Tonight, with a delicious beer from the flowing taps at The Table Public House - we’ll explore how different traditions invite us to see theological study not only as a heavy and serious endeavor, but also as divine creativity. Laughter, art, and joy are just as important to our theological lives as doctrine! Lace those shoes up, grab a beer, and let's get on this theological playground!