Please read this first.
A few quotations
“All truth is God’s truth.”
-- Anon.
“The mark of a mature mind is the ability to make distinctions.”
-- Anon.
“Where courage is not no other virtue can survive except by accident.”
-- C.S. Lewis (1)
“Whoever thinks that in this mortal life a person may so disperse the mists of bodily and carnal imaginings
as to possess the unclouded light of changeless truth,
and to cleave to it with the unswerving constancy of a spirit wholly estranged from the common ways of life --
such a person understands neither what he seeks, nor who he is who seeks it.”
-- St. Augustine of Hippo (2)
“It is not simply advantageous to love the Lord with the mind;
it is also good, sweet, holy, beautiful, and honoring to God.
The last reward to be had from the exercise of a Christian mind is to know God better,
and that reward requires no other justification."
-- Mark Noll (3)
“All truth is God’s truth.”
-- Anon.
“The mark of a mature mind is the ability to make distinctions.”
-- Anon.
“Where courage is not no other virtue can survive except by accident.”
-- C.S. Lewis (1)
“Whoever thinks that in this mortal life a person may so disperse the mists of bodily and carnal imaginings
as to possess the unclouded light of changeless truth,
and to cleave to it with the unswerving constancy of a spirit wholly estranged from the common ways of life --
such a person understands neither what he seeks, nor who he is who seeks it.”
-- St. Augustine of Hippo (2)
“It is not simply advantageous to love the Lord with the mind;
it is also good, sweet, holy, beautiful, and honoring to God.
The last reward to be had from the exercise of a Christian mind is to know God better,
and that reward requires no other justification."
-- Mark Noll (3)
An important note
To understand the written word you must read it.
To understand writing that aspires to a moderate degree of intellectual sophistication,
you will likely need to read it more than once.
To understand such writing but which is no doubt poorly written,
then you may need to read it more than more than once.
To understand the written word you must read it.
To understand writing that aspires to a moderate degree of intellectual sophistication,
you will likely need to read it more than once.
To understand such writing but which is no doubt poorly written,
then you may need to read it more than more than once.
Some disclaimers and fair warnings
The opinions expressed by the author are not necessarily those of his wife.
This website contains language (e.g., occasional swearing and Latin etymologies)
and topics (e.g., sex and politics) that will require the squeamish to hold his or her nose.
The author begs your indulgence.
This website uses, from time to time, “big words.”
The author likes to use such words, as it helps him to explain himself pellucidly.
Many interesting things are said in the footnotes.
The author makes no claim to being an especially original thinker.
He has learned much from others.
He is quite careful to acknowledge his debts.
The opinions expressed by the author are not necessarily those of his wife.
This website contains language (e.g., occasional swearing and Latin etymologies)
and topics (e.g., sex and politics) that will require the squeamish to hold his or her nose.
The author begs your indulgence.
This website uses, from time to time, “big words.”
The author likes to use such words, as it helps him to explain himself pellucidly.
Many interesting things are said in the footnotes.
The author makes no claim to being an especially original thinker.
He has learned much from others.
He is quite careful to acknowledge his debts.
A preemptive apology
The author realizes that some of what he writes will be surprising -- shocking even! -- to some persons who are very dear to him. That is to say, many of his family, friends, fellow church members, professors, and mentors will read it and exclaim: “What?!” After their initial astonishment, it is likely that concern over his spiritual welfare will ensue. It is also possible, for some at least, that a sense of hurt, perhaps even of betrayal, may follow. The author is sincerely grateful for any prayers on his behalf. He also deeply regrets any pain he may cause.
The author realizes that some of what he writes will be surprising -- shocking even! -- to some persons who are very dear to him. That is to say, many of his family, friends, fellow church members, professors, and mentors will read it and exclaim: “What?!” After their initial astonishment, it is likely that concern over his spiritual welfare will ensue. It is also possible, for some at least, that a sense of hurt, perhaps even of betrayal, may follow. The author is sincerely grateful for any prayers on his behalf. He also deeply regrets any pain he may cause.
(1) From Surprised by Joy.
(2) As quoted by Robert Louis Wilken in The Spirit of Early Christian Thought.
(3) From The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind.
Original 1/26/14. Minor revisions 7/31/18; 9/11/19.
Credits for images:
"State Library of NSW [Explored]" by Martin Snicer
https://www.flickr.com/photos/126483205@N08/46956800701
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/
(2) As quoted by Robert Louis Wilken in The Spirit of Early Christian Thought.
(3) From The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind.
Original 1/26/14. Minor revisions 7/31/18; 9/11/19.
Credits for images:
"State Library of NSW [Explored]" by Martin Snicer
https://www.flickr.com/photos/126483205@N08/46956800701
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/