Showing posts with label metablogging. Show all posts
Showing posts with label metablogging. Show all posts
Friday, May 13, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Dialectic on Catholicism: Introduction
I grew up an evangelical Protestant, which is perhaps as far removed from Catholicism as you can get within the Christian community. However, I recently came to the realization that I share a fundamentally Catholic approach to certain doctrines and issues in Christian theology, which made me take a second look at Catholic doctrines and disciplines (particularly those I don't particularly agree with) to see what I might learn from their tradition.
I'm calling this series a "dialectic" because I hope to reflect that process in these notes: state my background and my original beliefs on a given issue (thesis), engage the Catholic approach to the same issue (antithesis), and identify my preferred approach based on the comparative strengths of both (synthesis). I'd also like to identify any commonalities that might reliably point us to the rudiments of "mere Christianity," that wonderful phrase coined by C.S. Lewis that must be at the heart of any efforts at ecumenical unity and dialogue.
The series will wrestle with the teachings on the Eucharist and other sacraments, the principles and practice of canonization, the dogma of Mary, papal authority, and (if time permits or interest prevails) other issues such as church structure, eschatology, and purgatory. Sounds like fun, at least to the ears of a theology nerd.
I'm calling this series a "dialectic" because I hope to reflect that process in these notes: state my background and my original beliefs on a given issue (thesis), engage the Catholic approach to the same issue (antithesis), and identify my preferred approach based on the comparative strengths of both (synthesis). I'd also like to identify any commonalities that might reliably point us to the rudiments of "mere Christianity," that wonderful phrase coined by C.S. Lewis that must be at the heart of any efforts at ecumenical unity and dialogue.
The series will wrestle with the teachings on the Eucharist and other sacraments, the principles and practice of canonization, the dogma of Mary, papal authority, and (if time permits or interest prevails) other issues such as church structure, eschatology, and purgatory. Sounds like fun, at least to the ears of a theology nerd.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
A Sacramental World
Names are important. Many instances in the Old and New Testaments, God seems to go out of his way to name or rename certain individuals. Abram becomes Abraham; Sarai becomes Sarah; Zachariah became the father of John; Saul becomes Paul. Certainly this emphasis on names was shared by the culture -- Adam named the beasts and Jacob named his sons, and these names had real meaning. My own name is meaningful: my parents named me Alexander David, meaning "leader of men, beloved of God."
Whether names are primarily social constructs, or whether they hearken to something spiritually or metaphysically real, I can't really say. But, though Shakespeare reminds us that a rose by any other name would smell as sweet, we should remember that we would not remember the smell if a rose went by another name. Words have a rhythm and a timbre, and some words just mesh perfectly with they object they denote.
All that to say, I've struggled with the name of this blog.
It was originally "Confessions of a Protestant Medievalist" -- the latter being my personal self-description, based on my encounter with medieval (Catholic) theology and doctrines. But it was so much of an "inside joke" that it won't convey the meaning of this blog to those not already conversant in those doctrines.
At times I considered switching it to "Heterodox Reflections" or something along those lines, indicating that my approach to certain problems and doctrines tend to shy away from the norm of my evangelical Protestant background. But I find value in tradition, and I wanted to emphasize that I believe any shift away from my Protestant roots would arise in conformity to a deeper or earlier Christian tradition.
Thus, most recently, the name changed to "Orthodox Reflections." But I was not contented. For one, the title was so staid -- so boring -- that it didn't really describe anything significant about this blog. It would discuss issues, and it would be grounded in Christian principles, but the name lacked any information to differentiate this blog from any other.
However, I think I finally found the name, a phrase to suit this blog's purpose. After a lot of theological reflection I've found that perhaps up to half of my theology is now rooted in Catholic understandings of God and the Church. I can't consider myself Catholic, when I still diverge so strongly from certain doctrines of theirs, but I am increasingly influenced by Catholic ideas.
Chief among these is the notion of "sacrament" -- of physical objects or deeds being not only signs but also vessels of God's grace. The Roman Catholic Church officially recognizes seven such sacraments -- baptism, confirmation, communion, confession, last rites, ordination, and marriage. However the doctrine of sacraments is far broader than that. While these seven rites carry unique importance in Catholic tradition and Christian practice, they are by no means exclusive. The world itself is a Sacrament. It was not necessary that God create, and therefore Creation itself was a vessel of His grace bestowed upon the created for His glorification.
We live in A Sacramental World. And now my blog has a name.
Whether names are primarily social constructs, or whether they hearken to something spiritually or metaphysically real, I can't really say. But, though Shakespeare reminds us that a rose by any other name would smell as sweet, we should remember that we would not remember the smell if a rose went by another name. Words have a rhythm and a timbre, and some words just mesh perfectly with they object they denote.
All that to say, I've struggled with the name of this blog.
It was originally "Confessions of a Protestant Medievalist" -- the latter being my personal self-description, based on my encounter with medieval (Catholic) theology and doctrines. But it was so much of an "inside joke" that it won't convey the meaning of this blog to those not already conversant in those doctrines.
At times I considered switching it to "Heterodox Reflections" or something along those lines, indicating that my approach to certain problems and doctrines tend to shy away from the norm of my evangelical Protestant background. But I find value in tradition, and I wanted to emphasize that I believe any shift away from my Protestant roots would arise in conformity to a deeper or earlier Christian tradition.
Thus, most recently, the name changed to "Orthodox Reflections." But I was not contented. For one, the title was so staid -- so boring -- that it didn't really describe anything significant about this blog. It would discuss issues, and it would be grounded in Christian principles, but the name lacked any information to differentiate this blog from any other.
However, I think I finally found the name, a phrase to suit this blog's purpose. After a lot of theological reflection I've found that perhaps up to half of my theology is now rooted in Catholic understandings of God and the Church. I can't consider myself Catholic, when I still diverge so strongly from certain doctrines of theirs, but I am increasingly influenced by Catholic ideas.
Chief among these is the notion of "sacrament" -- of physical objects or deeds being not only signs but also vessels of God's grace. The Roman Catholic Church officially recognizes seven such sacraments -- baptism, confirmation, communion, confession, last rites, ordination, and marriage. However the doctrine of sacraments is far broader than that. While these seven rites carry unique importance in Catholic tradition and Christian practice, they are by no means exclusive. The world itself is a Sacrament. It was not necessary that God create, and therefore Creation itself was a vessel of His grace bestowed upon the created for His glorification.
We live in A Sacramental World. And now my blog has a name.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
New Beginnings
My life is in a state of flux. For instance, I turned 21 today. I also might get a new job, new house, and new life within a few weeks. And then there's the annual celebrations of the birth of Christ and beginning of a New Year that always seem to brighten the mood.
This blog is in the middle of a fairly long (and admittedly dry) series of notes on epistemology -- treating ideas of evidence, proof, logic, judgment, and most recently certainty. Once that series is over, I want to turn towards more theological (rather than philosophical) topics. There are so many possibilities weighing on my mind, however, I've decided to put the choice to the few who read my blog and my Facebook notes.
A few potential topics for a note or series of notes:
1) Medieval cosmology
You may have wondered why I describe myself as a "Protestant Medievalist." The insights of medieval theology were vital to my spiritual rejuvenation in the summer of 2007, and have remained a key driving force in my spiritual life since that time.
Related topics: joy, sorrow, contemplative life, love, human nature, relationships, peace, self-sacrifice, prophecy, enlightenment, general and special revelation, mythology, paganism, glorification
2) Catholic dogma
I am a Protestant. Being well aware of the many spiritual dangers and pitfalls to which Protestants are susceptible, I recognize Catholicism as a fully legitimate branch of Christianity, albeit one subject to different dangers and pitfalls than those arising from my own background. I want to explore the insights that I as a Protestant might glean from their theology, especially in areas of Catholic dogma that I don't easily relate to.
Related topics: canonization, communion of the saints, glorification, papal infallibility, authority, tradition, prophecy, Mary (mother of Christ), Church life, fellowship, transubstantiation, sacraments
3) Spiritual gifts
Quite a few years ago my church suffered a split over the very issue of spiritual gifts, and the emphasis that ought to be placed on them. As many of you are no doubt aware, contentious and difficult issues seem to have a particularly strong pull on me. I was apathetic at the time, but now I have an approach to the issue, and also have a few experiences that may be worth sharing.
Related topics: prayer, leadership, teaching, healing, discernment, prophecy, evangelism, apologetics, tongues, miracles, Holy Spirit,
4) Spiritual warfare
I am profoundly uncomfortable with the subject of spiritual warfare, and I think that is just how it ought to be. I think that we ought to educate ourselves, but keep our focus on the worthy things ("Whatever is noble, whatever is pure...") I've had some past experiences that may be worth sharing.
Related topics: Holy Spirit, angels, demons, prayer, love, courage, Armor of God
5) Doctrine of freedom
Galatians is one of my favorite books of the Bible, and also one of the more challenging. The doctrine of freedom it presents is one of the more compelling and intriguing aspects of Christian theology.
Related topics: Holy Spirit, discernment, prayer, Church life, virtues, purification, glorification
6) Predestination
I grew up firmly entrenched in a mentality of "free will." However, I know many devoted Christians who believe in predestination or election, and many other devout Christians who have no idea what to think. I have been fortunate enough to stumble upon thinkers and thoughts who provide answers to crucial aspects of this issue, and am quite comfortable with my answer for the rest.
Related issues: free will, sovereignty of God, divine foreknowledge, divine election, Presence of God, divine creation, love, goodness, evil, heaven, hell
7) Other topics
I view this blog as a ministry, an outreach to those who try to follow Christ's command to love the Lord thy God with all your mind. If you struggle with a particularly thorny, knotty, or in some way challenging question of theology, let me know and I might be able to open up a conversational thread.
God bless you all!
This blog is in the middle of a fairly long (and admittedly dry) series of notes on epistemology -- treating ideas of evidence, proof, logic, judgment, and most recently certainty. Once that series is over, I want to turn towards more theological (rather than philosophical) topics. There are so many possibilities weighing on my mind, however, I've decided to put the choice to the few who read my blog and my Facebook notes.
A few potential topics for a note or series of notes:
1) Medieval cosmology
You may have wondered why I describe myself as a "Protestant Medievalist." The insights of medieval theology were vital to my spiritual rejuvenation in the summer of 2007, and have remained a key driving force in my spiritual life since that time.
Related topics: joy, sorrow, contemplative life, love, human nature, relationships, peace, self-sacrifice, prophecy, enlightenment, general and special revelation, mythology, paganism, glorification
2) Catholic dogma
I am a Protestant. Being well aware of the many spiritual dangers and pitfalls to which Protestants are susceptible, I recognize Catholicism as a fully legitimate branch of Christianity, albeit one subject to different dangers and pitfalls than those arising from my own background. I want to explore the insights that I as a Protestant might glean from their theology, especially in areas of Catholic dogma that I don't easily relate to.
Related topics: canonization, communion of the saints, glorification, papal infallibility, authority, tradition, prophecy, Mary (mother of Christ), Church life, fellowship, transubstantiation, sacraments
3) Spiritual gifts
Quite a few years ago my church suffered a split over the very issue of spiritual gifts, and the emphasis that ought to be placed on them. As many of you are no doubt aware, contentious and difficult issues seem to have a particularly strong pull on me. I was apathetic at the time, but now I have an approach to the issue, and also have a few experiences that may be worth sharing.
Related topics: prayer, leadership, teaching, healing, discernment, prophecy, evangelism, apologetics, tongues, miracles, Holy Spirit,
4) Spiritual warfare
I am profoundly uncomfortable with the subject of spiritual warfare, and I think that is just how it ought to be. I think that we ought to educate ourselves, but keep our focus on the worthy things ("Whatever is noble, whatever is pure...") I've had some past experiences that may be worth sharing.
Related topics: Holy Spirit, angels, demons, prayer, love, courage, Armor of God
5) Doctrine of freedom
Galatians is one of my favorite books of the Bible, and also one of the more challenging. The doctrine of freedom it presents is one of the more compelling and intriguing aspects of Christian theology.
Related topics: Holy Spirit, discernment, prayer, Church life, virtues, purification, glorification
6) Predestination
I grew up firmly entrenched in a mentality of "free will." However, I know many devoted Christians who believe in predestination or election, and many other devout Christians who have no idea what to think. I have been fortunate enough to stumble upon thinkers and thoughts who provide answers to crucial aspects of this issue, and am quite comfortable with my answer for the rest.
Related issues: free will, sovereignty of God, divine foreknowledge, divine election, Presence of God, divine creation, love, goodness, evil, heaven, hell
7) Other topics
I view this blog as a ministry, an outreach to those who try to follow Christ's command to love the Lord thy God with all your mind. If you struggle with a particularly thorny, knotty, or in some way challenging question of theology, let me know and I might be able to open up a conversational thread.
God bless you all!
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Welcome to the Blog
Teleology, or the study of ends and purposes, plays a vital role in classical and medieval philosophy. It simply asks: what is the point? I'm being slightly ironic, since that was an awfully roundabout way to introduce this blog's mission statement.
I am a Christian, and I seek to be a thoughtful Christian. My faith arises first from reason, and only then from personal experience, so this blog will explore theological questions with an analytical eye. My role models in this endeavor are St. Thomas Aquinas and C.S. Lewis.
I am an intellectual omnivore. I truly love wisdom and knowledge, however it manifests itself. I enjoy abstract questions, though I generally try to understand and present such ideas in applicable ways. Thus, this blog will also explore a range of topics -- not just philosophical theology -- with an eye towards broad themes.
Lastly, I am dedicated to an ideal of the public forum, to the notion that humans are political creatures who find their fulfillment in thought and in community. Is this not the lesson of Matthew 22:36-40? "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind" necessitates a life of the mind, just as "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" entails a life within a broader community.
This pretty well encapsulates the purpose of this blog, and might also serve as a mission statement for my life. I wish to spur myself and others to the more noble path, to a life of contemplation and community.
God bless you all.
I am a Christian, and I seek to be a thoughtful Christian. My faith arises first from reason, and only then from personal experience, so this blog will explore theological questions with an analytical eye. My role models in this endeavor are St. Thomas Aquinas and C.S. Lewis.
I am an intellectual omnivore. I truly love wisdom and knowledge, however it manifests itself. I enjoy abstract questions, though I generally try to understand and present such ideas in applicable ways. Thus, this blog will also explore a range of topics -- not just philosophical theology -- with an eye towards broad themes.
Lastly, I am dedicated to an ideal of the public forum, to the notion that humans are political creatures who find their fulfillment in thought and in community. Is this not the lesson of Matthew 22:36-40? "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind" necessitates a life of the mind, just as "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" entails a life within a broader community.
This pretty well encapsulates the purpose of this blog, and might also serve as a mission statement for my life. I wish to spur myself and others to the more noble path, to a life of contemplation and community.
God bless you all.
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