n
Archive for the ‘Theology’ Category
emember Richard Dawkins, prophet of the new religious atheism and author of The God Delusion
In a thoughtful and interesting article, Melanie Phillips at the Spectator points out that last month in public debate Dawkins observed that “a serious case could be made for a deistic God.” It’s not clear what that means for Dawkins’ debate so far. Admitting past error is likely to be one of the hardest things for a charismatic debater like Dawkins to do. But it will be interesting to see how Dawkins puts together his argument again, this time without simply discounting ‘the God delusion.’
This admission is no doubt in part to Dawkins’ involvement in lively debate with fellow scientists, for example this debate with John Lennox.
n theology, as in any academic discipline, there are games that ‘skilled’ practitioners sometimes play. One such is theological ping-pong, amusingly and ably described by Basil Mitchell in his essay “How to Play Theological Ping-Pong.”
his is not a new sentiment, but one worth repeating. Perhaps, also, it is the beginnings of a principled difference between the way the Bible speaks to the politician (as an individual) and the politician (as a legislator).
very insightful warning from Richard Baxter, in the aftermath of the English Civil War:
Abhor the popular spirit of envy, which maketh the poor, for the most part, think odiously of the rich and their superiors; because they have that which they had rather have themselves… They think that they are the maintainers of the commonwealth, and the rich are the caterpillars of it, that live upon their labours, like drones in the hive, or mice and vermin that eat the honey, which the poor labouring bees have long gathered. For they are unacquainted with the labours and cares of their governors, and sensible only of their own. This envious spirit exceedingly disposeth the poor to discontents, and tumults, and rebellions; but it is not of God…
Some words from Richard Baxter on holiness and passion. These words were intended to encourage those suffering from melancholy (depression) who found it difficult to feel as they thought they should–rather than to castigate those who are too passionate!
pples of gold in settings of silver:
beauty demands a moment to savour.
Come, take and eat the food on the salver;
duty delights in loving the Saviour.
Time is 0
n encouraging quotation from Jürgen Moltmann:
"Time is determined by what happens in it. ‘For everything there is a season’ (Ecclesiastes 3.1). Theologically, time is determined by the presence or absence of God — that is to say, by the different modes of his presence in time. There is a ‘time of the law,’ there is a ‘time of the gospel,’ there is a ‘time of the Messiah’ and there is a time of ‘the sabbath of the Lord’; and there is a ‘time of eternity.’ …
et me recommend a discussion on usury at Date-Dabitur between Thomas Renz, Scott C. Mooney and Chad Degenhart. (Renz’s position is summarised in his Theses on Usury Then and Now, developed out of the discussion.) I find Renz’s dialogue in particular to be a model of Christian scholarly engagement.
Torrance is an interesting writer who has grappled well with the relationship between an eternal God and a time-bound universe, particularly in the light of the incarnation. But at times he is remarkably difficult to understand. Take for example this argument:
