17 December 2011
18 November 2011
12 November 2011
08 November 2011
Alister McGrath, Why God Won't Go Away
Alister McGrath's work
introduces us to the New Atheism, engaging the ideas of its four leading
representatives—Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, Sam Harris, and Christopher
Hitchens. McGrath's goal seems to be to place the New Atheism in its historical
context, to provide a way of dialoging with it, and to provide a trajectory of
the future of the New Atheism.
McGrath has developed
a work that is both accessible and challenging. His ideas are plainly laid out
and thoroughly explained without being wordy and unapproachable. If you have
been curious about what the New Atheism is all about, certainly this book will
find you well. One of the features that might be overlooked but is extremely
valuable is the “Further Reading” section in which McGrath provides excellent
resources in order to engage in the debate further. Overall, McGrath’s work is
convincing and a great stepping off point to the New Atheism.
28 October 2011
20 September 2011
22 July 2011
07 July 2011
Oh How Time Flies...
Here are some highlights from the last few days. Notice how amazing this paper presentation is going...
03 July 2011
30 June 2011
The Strike Can't Keep Us from Having a Good Time!
Well, our plan for much of the day was thwarted by the public workers' strike--most of the British Museum was closed. Did that stop us? Nope. Here's the proof:
29 June 2011
London 2011
We've been awake for a loonnggg time now...but we're having fun so far! (until public workers go on strike tomorrow...) Here's some preliminary pics:
21 May 2011
15 May 2011
05 May 2011
04 May 2011
04 April 2011
Jesus Manifesto
Claiming that the church is at a pivotal crossroad, Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola have captured the essence of what it means to have a faith centered around Jesus Christ. What is lacking, they say, is the groundbreaking revelation of Christ that boggles the mind and enraptures the heart.
Sweet and Viola provide much to digest, but quotations from poets and philosophers break up the text and help readers grasp somewhat complicated abstract concepts. Though some might suggest that the work is aimed at pastors and seminarians, all Christian readers will discover a new perspective and deeper purpose.
The authors make what are seemingly broad claims about the “church” in general throughout the work, yet they do not spend time developing their case for the lack of focus on Christ in specific situations. In this regard, the authors seem to be stating universal claims in hopes that sentiment is shared among other unsatisfied Christians.
The book claims to be a manifesto, and it serves such a role. It is a public proclamation of the need for the church to focus on Christ as the central figure of the faith and the impetus for religious practice. But as a manifesto, the work does not venture very deep into the subject matter. As such, Sweet and Viola’s work provides an excellent starting point in returning to the sovereignty and supremacy of Christ in the life of the church. The practical and pragmatic aspects will need to be further explored in other areas.
19 March 2011
13 March 2011
07 March 2011
24 February 2011
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