I am a philosopher, poet, theologian, and professional web developer and this website is where all of my personalities meet.
“The philosopher has not done philosophy until he has acted upon the mere conviction of his idea; for proof of the theory is in the act, not the idea.”
For Those Who Know
A modern parable
It may have occurred to you as strange my friend when the ravenous vultures began to circle and their constant heckle seemed to contradict their once ominous cry. Even then they cried with the same retched tone, without ever saying anything of substance, which could have provided an explanation for their dogma. I suppose if our great teacher had figured it all out as theirs did, we all would be one big happy family. However, when our teacher came he created instability through his nonsensical ramblings, which resulted in our estrangement.
I once circled overhead as they do now staring at the ground from above. But then I found the ground. And when I landed I knew how to walk only because I had been instructed on the practical applications of walking – even when it made no sense as a vulture. I have been walking for several years now and have felt anguish for those who still fly around only one day hoping to walk. However, I must confess my apathy has turned to disdain as those who continue to circle around us have become more violent in tone.
I recall when I began learning the basic steps how absurd it felt. In fact, I completely revolted. But, my teacher was full of grace and allowed me to make many mistakes along the way. He led me through the dense forest of certainty toward the open plains of uncertainty where I had the freedom to fly or walk. When I attempted to speak to my fellow vultures about what I had been learning they warned me of the danger. I inquired into how they knew of this supposed danger? They responded with the sort of arrogance vultures are known for – certainty. I inquired further, as those uncertain are accustomed to doing, and asked whether or not this sort of questioning is valuable for creating a more robust existence? They looked at me with the sort of look a mother vulture shows her child for asking a cute yet ignorant question. I still wonder to this day how they were able to “just know”. Apparently, they were wrong, for it is now that I can not only fly, but walk if I choose, but in either I have experienced the joy of both.
I left the family of vulture’s years ago now, but I can still hear their voices in the quiet moments and see them circle overhead in my dreams. I can only pray that one day they will understand this: it is never about either this, or that, but instead, it is always about the possibility of another.
Newest From the Blog
Kierkegaard on the problem of evil
Kierkegaard was not an advocate for traditional apologetic methodology. Instead, he used a Socratic dialectic approach in order to present a particular case. As we will be discussing here that case is the problem of Evil.
To be blunt there is no problem of evil in the eyes of Kierkegaard. To relate the problem of evil to the existence of God is like comparing apples and oranges. Why is there any sort of problem as it relates to evil? In what world does the aforementioned problem go to the existence of being? How is a divine mind or consciousness related to the problem? In Kierkegaard’s mind its not entirely clear how any of these events are related to existence.
Therefore, the answer to the proposed question is simple for Kierkegaard. Assuming that the problem indeed is able to render God as non-existent (which is a premise he does not hold), then what of evil? does it in someway disappear as a problem now that you have rendered God non-existent? By no means! We are still left with the same problem. This means either the nature of the question is incorrectly stated; or more likely, the nature of the question has nothing to do with existence.
Again, like many other times, we have witnessed the genius of Kierkegaard. Namely, the ability he has to answer a profound question, with a profoundly simple answer.
A Prayer
This was a prayer that was prepared for our Sunday morning worship service.
Heavenly Father…
Creator and Sustainer of all things.
Grant us, your people, the opportunity to approach your blessed throne.
Lord…
Give us the courage to come before you;
For we know that by coming before you we are exposing ourselves for who we are.
Since we know we can only come before you as sinful;
And that we could never be worthy to be in your presence
Then we call upon the sufferings of Christ
Who, on our behalf, covered our sins by his grace and through his deep love.
Glory to God in the highest!
Lord…
We come before you in discord.
Create within us minds that are still
So that we might hear the gentle whisperings of your word.
Just as our bodies are in need of bread and water to survive
Make us long in this way for the bread of life.
Lord…Make known to us your truth.
And give us the strength to go out into a troubled world
For the advancement of the kingdom
And the glory of God.
Amen!
The Kingdom
I recently had one of those moments where something made sense. Sitting in church on Sunday the Kingdom of God seemed to come into clarity. The topic is heavily debated, in particular Dispensationalists versus Calvinists. To be honest I don’t really care which group believes what as I find myself belonging to neither.
It seems to me in reading scripture as a narratively unified work that the kingdom existed in the beginning. After our sin we were unable to subsist their any longer. God’s work in establishing Israel was an attempt at re-establishing that kingdom again (hence the reason for the unification of church and state). After Israel failed in accomplishing this, Jesus came proclaiming that he was the way to the kingdom of God and that in him the original kingdom would be established again.
Understanding the Kingdom in this light seems to bring about an even stronger narrative unity within scripture. It seems that what we are to understand regarding the kingdom today is that those who believe in Christ are those who are working to help bring about this kingdom. We should see the fall of Israel as a warning that the same fate is possible with us, though with Christ, we shall prevail where in the past we have failed.
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