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Evangelical

2021-03-17T11:08:37-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

On Ideas without Mind: Could Be, but Probably Not?

Last updated on: March 17, 2021 at 11:08 am By John Mark N. Reynolds

A cosmos of physical objects alone would lack justice. Ideas, say justice, seem a different sort of thing than building blocks of matter. One could have all the Legos one wished, of any shape or color, but one could never build a “justice.” Material or physical stuff (right down to the sub-atomic level) does not seem like numbers or ideas. Ideas seem to exist apart from stuff. If there had been no humans, then 1 would still be the loneliest number... Read more

Apologetics

Culture

On Books

2021-03-14T17:49:36-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

But Wait! (First Assumptions Count)

Last updated on: March 14, 2021 at 5:49 pm By John Mark N. Reynolds

I think the truth is out there, is knowable (more or less). Reason, spiritedness, and passion all count, as do our bodies, in a flourishing human life. Reason should referee, because there is an objective truth, goodness, and beauty out there to find. Call these the assumptions of global Christianity: Aksum to Rome. If you reject those, or even my description of global Christendom, then I will not persuade you from the start. Fair enough. When reading, consider the unstated... Read more

Spiritual Reflections

2021-03-13T11:53:15-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The Snark Overflows

Last updated on: March 13, 2021 at 11:53 am By John Mark N. Reynolds

The snark generally consumes us. Avoid too much snark. In a grad school lounge, at least in my ancient era, there was little lounging and a good bit of grading with maximum snark. The snark cup overflowed. A favorite tale was the professor, and this is true, who taught his seminar to an empty room, since all his students were sick. We had snark. This is the mode of the graduate student, our one power. This is seemly in that... Read more

Culture

2021-03-12T09:34:37-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Underdetermined

Last updated on: March 12, 2021 at 9:34 am By John Mark N. Reynolds

I never have a pass on making a bad argument. No scholar should claim more certainty than is warranted by the evidence. Explanations are easy, but sufficient explanations are hard. We can show why something might have caused something else, but showing that it did? Not so easy. Even a scientist must take care. WVO Quine suggested, and I think he was correct, that many ideas in science are underdetermined by the evidence presented. The amount of certainty claimed is... Read more

2021-03-12T00:09:09-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Necessarily Uncertain

Last updated on: March 12, 2021 at 12:09 am By John Mark N. Reynolds

The just will live by faith. Faith means we must be reasonable even when uncertain, we need substantial hope not just fantasy. We reject cockiness: we do not yet see. If I too cock-sure, then I have missed the Divine Word. This shadowland is full of mysteries. Whenever I read something that is hard, I look first for what is good, true, and beautiful. Sometimes I may think that something is wrong, badly argued, but the best response is to... Read more

Apologetics

Culture

Spiritual Reflections

2021-03-12T00:08:55-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The Limits of Unaided Reason

Last updated on: March 12, 2021 at 12:08 am By John Mark N. Reynolds

Human reason, yes, but give us also the revelation of reason that comes from God. Against the demonic, unaided human reason is impotent. Too often thoughtful people prepare as if the worst critic they will face is human. Human reason aspires to logic, even if falling short. This is not, so far as history can be trusted, the truth about the manual of the monstrous. Human reason can be countered by human reason, but the diabolical will smash the merely... Read more

Culture

On Books

On Education

2021-03-12T00:07:13-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

On Genuine Morality Without God?

Last updated on: March 12, 2021 at 12:07 am By John Mark N. Reynolds

Wisdom cries out, but we often miss her voice. We are too busy and too content in our lives to listen. Good questions inspire deeper reflection, while great questions never leave a person. When I find a person who asks great questions, I try to keep them around! A sometime contributor asked for a quick answer (one or two lines!) in response, but the question is so good that words multiply. Hopefully error will be lacking. His question: Is a... Read more

Apologetics

Culture

Philosophy

2021-03-08T08:53:00-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Losing is No Virtue, Victory at Any Cost Can Be Worse: An Argument in Favor of Civility in a Nation Seeking Justice

Last updated on: March 8, 2021 at 8:53 am By John Mark N. Reynolds

Are you tired of losing? Good. Any Christian citizen or subject of any nation will seek justice for all God’s children. Who wishes to see injustice spread? There can be grift, a money making operation, that can overtake our job of doing justice. The grift feels like winning, since the bank account or ministry is multiplying. The rotten religious right and left in America are dominated with such types of organizations. Otherwise sensible people become grifters when they trade “amens”... Read more

Culture

Politics

Spiritual Reflections

2021-03-07T00:49:30-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Vaccine!

Last updated on: March 7, 2021 at 12:49 am By John Mark N. Reynolds

I am thankful. I heard stories of what the polio vaccine was like, a bit before I was born: an amazing miracle that kept children from crippling injury or death. My Nana told stories about the pandemic after World War I and going to visitations and funerals for so many of her friends. I suffered from chicken pox, no joke that, and now am happy that no child need do so again. Vaccines are good. The vaccine for Covid is... Read more

Culture

Spiritual Reflections

2021-03-10T09:24:23-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

On Being Good at the Doorway

Last updated on: March 10, 2021 at 9:24 am By John Mark N. Reynolds

Nessie waits. On the other side of the door is the human she knows as “Mom,” a bone treat, and water, but she waits. First, the leash will come off, then the door will open. I take off my shoes, having said as I do every time in humor that has built over the decades (in my mind) “Honey, I’m home.” She waits and hears: “OK.” and barrels in waggling with all her might rushing to Hope. Nessie is a... Read more

Apologetics

Spiritual Reflections

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