Comments for Seeing the Forest... from the trees

Comment on Theology after Google by Brett

Brett — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:04:28 +0000

In my opinion the world remains much the same, people are still struggling with many of the same issues they always have, perhaps in new forms. Issues of morality, purpose and identity remain big on the agenda even if unacknowledged.
At its heart theology is a practical subject which attempts to understand all of life and human endeavor in view the real God. It is grounded in reality, shaped by the truth of God and is inherently beautiful infused with the beauty of its creator. All Christians are theologians, even if they are unaware of it. The challenge is for them to live consistently with their understanding of God.
I agree that the market is flooded but a lot of that is more like junk food than a well cooked meal. There are many Christians writing but that is most likely because there are more people than ever before. The challenge is to look for the stuff that’s good.
Good theology, orthodox theology, comes from a deep and thoughtful reflection of the Bible and the way others have interpreted it over the ages guided prayerfully by God’s Holy Spirit.

Comment on No faith in their hatred. by Brett

Brett — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 22:45:07 +0000

Personally I don’t rate Andrew Bolt as an authority but I believe his observation that most Christian academics will not play the game the same way as the new atheists on moral grounds is accurate. I don’t think the new atheists are motivated by hatred, more their choice of arguments create that impression. If anything it seems that they are motivated by a conviction that religion is one of the major evils in society, which to me is like throwing the baby out with the bathwater.
I agree that the conference was a good thing and am profoundly for free speech. Anything that brings healthy discussion of issues of religion in a secular society is a step in the right direction.

Comment on No faith in their hatred. by John

John — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 06:00:33 +0000

How do you know that any of these people are motivated by hatred?

Such emotionally manipulative buzz-words are used by both sides to prevent any REAL investigation of these great all important matters.

Did you attend any of the presentations, or personally interview any of the speakers?

Did you, have you, interviewed any of the 2500 people who attended this forum?

If not you are talking through your ignorant hat.

A forum which in a free country is entirely lawful, and appropriate too.

Comment on Theology after Google by John

John — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 05:20:37 +0000

Does theology have anything to do with Reality, Truth and The Beautiful?

The world is groaning under the weight of all the theology that now exists. There are more people, writing and doing, plus reading, theology than at any time in human history.

There is more Christian propaganda flooding the earth than in any time in human history. Plus there are now more Christians that ever before–over 2 billion.

And yet the world is becoming more insane every day.

Comment on No faith in their hatred. by John

John — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 05:14:31 +0000

Andrew Bolt as an “authority” on the great matters of human culture?

Including the all important matter of Reality, Truth and The Beautiful.

You must be joking.

Comment on Should we teach the Bible in Schools? by Brett

Brett — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 10:58:33 +0000

Thanks Bernie, I personally love sarcasm and find your take on the Bible and the churches superficial. You have listed a number of random incidents from the Bible. Each has it place and I don’t think any of those are supposed to be taken as predicative for our behaviour today.
I do teach the Bible in schools and think it is more interesting to bring up lots of the things you have listed and others too. I am conscious that fundamentalist atheists, and others, often quote them without understanding their significance in the big picture of the Bible and have little idea what they mean to real Christians. I also want them to know that Christians are generally aware of such things and they do not provide any significant issue to understanding and following God.
If you would like me to explain any of the above incidents please let me know which one.

Comment on Should we teach the Bible in Schools? by Bernie

Bernie — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 08:17:58 +0000

Wonderful idea. They’ll eventually get to Moses reaching the promised land and finding it occupied. They’ll learn that he ordered his followers to slaughter everybody there. When his followers spared the women and children he really told them off. But he relented. Everybody but the virgin women were killed, the virgin women he allowed his followers to keep and do with as they wished. An earlier section will detail how, after Lot’s wife was turned into a pillar of salt, Lot had sex with both of his daughters. Sort of explains the modern priesthood, except that they don’t have daughters so yours or anybody elses will suffice. By the end of a thorough bible reading christianity should die a natural death.

Comment on Do we need to get drunk to show we care? by Brett

Brett — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 09:56:03 +0000

It seems to me that faked weakness is just as frustrating as faked strength. I think by masculine benevolence she means little more than ‘real’ men care for others.

Comment on Do we need to get drunk to show we care? by bonnie

bonnie — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 05:14:12 +0000

I could be wrong – this is just personal observation – but it seemed there was a time in our culture that women FAKED weakness for the sake of allowing men to serve them. That seems unnecessarily pretentious to me.
McCulley seems to be confusing Hollywood with our culture. Just because it’s that way in the movies does not mean it’s that way elsewhere. What on earth does she mean by “framework for masculine benevolence”? There are tons of ways to be nice, even to strong, self-confident people.
And why watch movies that make you pull out your hair?

Comment on Great Leaders… are humble? by bpeatman

bpeatman — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 01:50:29 +0000

Unfortunately they seem to have taken it down and replaced it with the next episode. I suggest you watch http://www.publicchristianity.org and see if they put anything more up.