Is Ultimate Truth Cross-Cultural and Trans-Historical?
Brian's writing is always rooted in a firm sense of what he believes is not his to know, what is knowable only to God, and as a result of this what should be allowed to reside in mystery. His quotation of G.K. Chesterton's Orthodoxy is especially powerful in this regard: "Imagination does not breed insanity. Exactly what does breed insanity is reason. Poets do not go mad; but chess players do … Poetry was not the disease, but the medicine … Poetry is sane because it floats easily in an infinite sea; reason seeks to cross the infinite sea, and so make it finite … The poet only asks to get his head into the heavens. It is the logician who seeks to get the heavens into his head … Mysticism keeps men sane. As long as you have the mystery you have health; when you destroy mystery you create morbidity." (page 149)An Apology for Apologetics
Apologetics are to the mind what spirituality is to the heart. Both have value, but both exist best in tension with the other. Each of us is the product of a complex interaction of in-born, familial and experiential realities. For some of us, uncertainty in a familial relationship as children created a very deep need to know the facts behind our beliefs.Political Liberty or Starbucks?
Few things are more important than an underlying policy of engagement with China that is not exploitive. If China's importance to the world is, as I suspect, ultimately motivated much less by a desire for Western companies to benefit from development of Chinese consumers and much more by companies’ desire to benefit from very low cost labor and relaxed environmental and general regulatory standards, then I fear our policy of engagement, as is any relationship built on exploitation, ultimately destined for failure. China is one of the most profoundly moving civilizations history has ever produced, its own leaders, philosophers and scientists standing side by side with the best of the Greeks. A country that today stands as a low cost manufacturing source may stand tomorrow for the hope of a world grown dissatisfied with the excesses of capitalism and the vagaries of a republic. This hope will only be realized when the Chinese break away from the world’s expectations that they serve others with low cost production and begin the process of serious innovation and internal growth.You Have to Work For It
Our age is marked by a social dialogue that proposes easy answers to terribly complex situations. We are uncomfortable with political, social, or spiritual discussions that can not be easily wrapped up into a simple set of "how-to" steps. Our media institutions carelessly search out sound bites: pithy statements that show insight and intelligence - all within the shortest period of time as is possible. As a nation we honestly think we can have meaningful discussion about troublesome issues like AIDS in Africa and drug resistant super-flu bugs. Or do we? Do we really think simple answers are the right ones to complex questions? Or have we so fixated on the comforts of today, that any discussion or dialogue that requires thought, work and initiative is unnecessary. And so we accept simple answers, not because we think they are right, but because they are convenient.Looking for Help
I am attempting to locate a copy of Peter Abelard's Sic et Non (Yes and No). I have attempted on-line out of print book stores and am having no luck. If you know of a better way of finding a copy, please email me.October 2004 Bookshelf
A not so hot review of what it means for America to return to its "glory days", a powerful book by today's leading New Testament theologian, several important books about how the West is perceived by the rest of the world, and a wonderful biography of Alexander Hamilton all sandwiched into October's reading schedule.About MysteriousFaith
“If anyone can show me, and prove to me, that I am wrong in thought or deed, I will gladly change. I seek the truth, which never yet hurt anybody. It is only persistence in self-delusion and ignorance which does harm.”
Themes
Now Reading
Search
Favorites
Personal Writing
Theology
Categories
Meta Data