July 23, 2006 Thinking about thinking
The Three R's-Revelation, Reason,
and Research (How holding to a revelatory epistemology affects critical
inquiry.)
Alvin Plantinga comes to mind here. He has suggested that scientific
method posits that there are basically three ways of knowing: perception,
memory, and rational intuition. Logic , mathematics, and observation
certainly attain for the Christian researcher as well. However, while
they can lead us to true conclusions, they are by their very nature
limited.; I do not believe that these three ways of knowing are exhaustive
in nature, nor should they claim to be.
A revelatory epistemology is not to be relegated as non-reason in opposition
to the perception, memory, and rational intuition; a culture dominated
by the latter approach to knowledge is on very shaky grounds historically
and logically. In reality humans made in the image of God make sense
of their experience physically, ethically and spiritually. The existence
of revealed, objective knowledge pulls together many things not able
to be explained by non-revelatory approaches to knowledge. So I see
the Christian as having a distinct advantage rather than a limitation
in this regard. We must unambiguously pursue the potentiality of what
Jonathan Edwards held as "rational revelation". Faith and
reason are not in opposition.
Holding to a revelatory epistemology has a transformative impact on
our view of research, from our valuation of what should be researched
to our view and evaluation of current theories. As George Marsden has
written, (cf.The Outrageous Idea of Christian Scholarship) the
revealed doctrine of creation and the doctrine of man changes the epistemological
questions we face dramatically. First, it means that truth can be known
and verified. This is in opposition to what postmodern critical theory
holds to.It means that the pursuit of truth is in fact an act of worship
and is transformative. If what Dostoevski said is true: "If God
does not exist, then everything is permissible" (if he even said
it), then the opposite is true as well- God's existence and his revelation
changes everything- there are real boundaries and areas that are open
to inquiry and others that will remain a mystery.
I agree with Marsden's take: If we hold to the authority of revealed
truth, we will not fall into the temptation of making absolute those
things that are temporal, relative, and fallen. We will have an accurate
evaluation of human ability. If we understand the deceitfulness of the
human heart, we will approach inquiry with humility and a healthy dose
of skepticism over our own abilities to know of our own accord. For
the Christian researcher, truth is not an epistemological fiction.
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Spoiler alert: We went to see Lady in the Water. but she hid out in the shower and flew away on an big bird after the big lawn dog chased her for a while... |
I was told by the ticket taker- this movie is going
to scare you to death. he surely was not speaking of this movie.
There was little that was scary, or even suspenseful in this movie.
The word "contrived" comes to mind again and again. It is
about as far removed from "The Sixth Sense" as is possible.
No plot twists evidence themselves; it is all very predictable. In fact
the movie itself slips into explaining itself time and times again,
as if to ask whether the audience is tracking with it.
What is supposed to be an affirmation of the power of myth (which worked
in "Finding Neverland", for instance) drowns in the authors
musings along the way. In fact the self-aggrandizing , self-referential
quality was irksome at times. The Disney execs were right not to buy
it.
Along the way the critic who believes there is no creativity left in
the world, and who dares to offer critique of the mundane, is eventually
hoisted upon his own petard. He claims to be able to wrap up the plot
and characters in a neat little package succumbs to his own arrogance.
It is asked, "Who would be so arrogant as to discern what another
person's purpose is?"
Ah but the answer- esoteric knowledge from one who has gnostic abilities,
expressed a story from Eastern mysticism framed as a fairy tale. A melange
of mytholical creatures invade our world-from a messianic sea nymph
to evil Hindu monkey-gods of retribution to the child-oracle, mythic
themes are interwoven into a story that makes you forget its moral.
The fact that the narrative of the plot is stiltedly revealed in the
telling of this"bedtime story" is the biggest disappointment
of all. The only plot twists are in the mistakes Cleveland makes in
discerning who is who in the story. It is pretty obvious that he, as
the doctor who needs healing will be the healer in the end. Physician,
heal thyself.
I have been seeing the trailer for the better part of six months and eagerly anticipated it. Seems I was waiting for an experience that never could happen;community was never really realized, there were no real surprises. The scariest moment was when the sprinkler system kicked on. I'm not sure I still believe in M. Night Shyamalan.
| But I do believe in the Trunk-Monkey. Check his hilarious videos out here... and here is the anti-road rage one... |  |
Every Color
Dark was the cross where Jesus died
Black was the sin that was crucified
Grey was the stone that sealed His grave
Deep was the darkness of that cave
White is the lamb who died in our place
Crimson the blood that was shed by grace
Gold is His mighty mercy seat
Blue is the sky where soon we'll meet
We are covered in a coat of many a varied hue
We can apprehend each one in this world we view
And every shade will tell salvation's story
Every color can remind us of the beauty of His glory.
Scarlet, the blood that Jesus bled
Brown is the blessed and broken bread
Red was the cup of covenant wine
Green is the true and living vine
Silver is the crown that was given to me
Purple the robes of royalty
Amber the fire that burns in my bones
These are all within His rainbow shown
We are covered in a coat of many a varied hue
We can apprehend each one in this world we view
And every shade will tell salvation's story
Every color can remind us of the beauty of His glory.
Anthony Foster
July 22, 2006
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Blog-Rant Alert!! Put-down humor is used to criticize and manipulate others through teasing, sarcasm, and ridicule. It may be harmless enough in small doses, but some Christians are far too practiced and adept in this dark art. |
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I have been noticing the proliferation in Christian
circles of put- down humor. I can think of many descriptive adjectives
to describe what I think of this: irksome, shameful, mean-spirited,
juvenile, shameful, small-minded, unsophisticated, shameful, demeaning,
destructive, stultefying, unchristian, and yes, shameful are a few that
spring to mind.
We are to think of others as better than ourselves. We are to build
up one another, be kind and tenderhearted one to another and to pay
close attention to our tongues. An old adage, "if you can't think
of anything positive to say, keep quiet" attains in this regard.
Our words should be acceptable to God. Put down humor? Put it away,
Christian. Life is too short.
Time for a Break
| It has been a great ten days with the impostors (our cohort name). Every one has gone back to their home and loved ones and we get some down time. Well, not really. I am off to the National Sales Meeting next week and THEN we will get some down time. Here is the crew in miniature, so no one will hopefully object. I want my friends and prayer supporters to see the group... |  |
I was riding home today and this song filtered into my head as the rain pounded the windshield along the way- so to the tempo of the wipers...
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Deep Love, Vast Love Deep love, vast love,
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Black and White
Black was the lie that made us die.
Black was the sin that did us in.
Black was the hole within my soul
Black was the night where I had no sight.
But the darkness cannot comprehend
Nor overcome, not put to an end
The glorious radiance of his light
It shines abroad to give us sight.
White is the lamb who can save each man
White are the fields His planting yields
White was the light on the path that's bright
White is the stone where my name's made known.
But the darkness cannot comprehend
Nor overcome, not put to an end
The glorious radiance of his light
It shines abroad to give us sight.
Anthony Foster
July 27, 2006
Seven God-things...
This past ten days has revealed connections back to the past and evidenced God's sovereignty...it is not just a small world, methinks...
1. One cohort member's church is across the street from my pastor's brother's house. Why in the world would something this obscure even come up?
2. Another cohort member just graduated from the Seminary my project manager's husband is attending. He received his diploma from my former pastor's mentor.
3. Unbeknownst to either of us, one of my prof's and I attended the same church (Reinhart Bible Church) in Dallas at the same time, and he drove by my house each day going to work at Criswell College.
4. The same prof grew up in the SBC, left the SBC intentionally and went the PCA/Bible Church route before returning to the SBC-just like me.
5. Same prof had a communications course with my former pastor, Duane Litfin.
6. Today we referenced an article Dr. Litfin wrote a year before he became my pastor and I was able to report first hand on how his ideas worked out in praxis.
7. Two cohort members attended Mid-America, where I first attended in 1987. One of us shared the same favorite prof...