Comments for Fides Quaerens Intellectum http://johnbasie.com Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither. -C.S. Lewis Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:52:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 Comment on Protestant Atheism by Jon Furst http://johnbasie.com/2008/06/09/protestant-atheism/#comment-36 Jon Furst Mon, 09 Jun 2008 14:24:44 +0000 http://johnbasie.com/?p=50#comment-36 Your title reminds me of a quote from Flannery O'Connor: "[I]f you live today you breathe in nihlism, in or out of the Church it's the gas you breathe. If I hadn't had the Church to fight it with or to tell me the necessity of fighting it, I would be the stinkingest logical positivist you ever saw right now." Looking forward to your upcoming thoughts on the new "positive atheism". Your title reminds me of a quote from Flannery O’Connor:
“[I]f you live today you breathe in nihlism, in or out of the Church it’s the gas you breathe. If I hadn’t had the Church to fight it with or to tell me the necessity of fighting it, I would be the stinkingest logical positivist you ever saw right now.”

Looking forward to your upcoming thoughts on the new “positive atheism”.

]]> Comment on Launching by Mike Barnett http://johnbasie.com/2008/05/03/launching/#comment-33 Mike Barnett Mon, 05 May 2008 20:14:34 +0000 http://johnbasie.com/2008/05/03/launching/#comment-33 Congratulations to this Impact 360 class! I'm thinking they will be major influencers as they continue to find and connect with that God-called station that is divinely interwoven into his master plan and mission among all peoples on earth. Well done! Congratulations to this Impact 360 class! I’m thinking they will be major influencers as they continue to find and connect with that God-called station that is divinely interwoven into his master plan and mission among all peoples on earth.

Well done!

]]> Comment on War, Pacificism & “Miami Virtue” by P.D. Young http://johnbasie.com/2008/04/12/war-pacificism-miami-virtue/#comment-31 P.D. Young Thu, 24 Apr 2008 18:14:01 +0000 http://johnbasie.com/2008/04/12/war-pacificism-miami-virtue/#comment-31 "live by the sword die by the sword"... “live by the sword die by the sword”…

]]> Comment on Ethics and the “whatever” generation by John B. http://johnbasie.com/2008/03/02/ethics-and-the-whatever-generation/#comment-27 John B. Wed, 16 Apr 2008 19:36:32 +0000 http://johnbasie.com/2008/03/02/ethics-and-the-whatever-generation/#comment-27 Not that I have all the answers, Parker, but remember that the law written on our hearts is sufficient to give us a conscience and thus can convict us, but the law is impotent to inspire to new life. This is true regarding eternal life as well as the way in which an architect is suddenly inspired to draw up plans for his career's defining work. We find it impossible to self-inspire...something that transcends must move our hearts and minds to a new way of thinking and acting. Keep the comments coming! Not that I have all the answers, Parker, but remember that the law written on our hearts is sufficient to give us a conscience and thus can convict us, but the law is impotent to inspire to new life. This is true regarding eternal life as well as the way in which an architect is suddenly inspired to draw up plans for his career’s defining work. We find it impossible to self-inspire…something that transcends must move our hearts and minds to a new way of thinking and acting.
Keep the comments coming!

]]> Comment on Ethics and the “whatever” generation by David Parker http://johnbasie.com/2008/03/02/ethics-and-the-whatever-generation/#comment-26 David Parker Wed, 16 Apr 2008 18:38:57 +0000 http://johnbasie.com/2008/03/02/ethics-and-the-whatever-generation/#comment-26 John, poignant question to pose; and one I have been dealing with myself as I come to greater understanding of our sin nature and depravity. One thought I wrestle with is the instillation of 'objective moral values' through the medium of culture and society. If I am born depraved, and there is no good in me without the redemption of Christ, how is it possible that I know of such a thing as good and objective absolutes? How do I learn of these values? How do others who haven't met with Christ's redemption learn of them? If we cannot get very far by reasoning from Scripture (special revelation) to the fact of moral objectivity, how can we get any farther with general revelation? Yes, God works himself and shows himself (goodness) in and through his creation, but my question is this... How can the law of God 'written on our hearts' coexist with depravity? As I search the scriptures I find posts such as yours thought-provoking and encouraging. Thanks for your work. John, poignant question to pose; and one I have been dealing with myself as I come to greater understanding of our sin nature and depravity. One thought I wrestle with is the instillation of ‘objective moral values’ through the medium of culture and society. If I am born depraved, and there is no good in me without the redemption of Christ, how is it possible that I know of such a thing as good and objective absolutes? How do I learn of these values? How do others who haven’t met with Christ’s redemption learn of them? If we cannot get very far by reasoning from Scripture (special revelation) to the fact of moral objectivity, how can we get any farther with general revelation? Yes, God works himself and shows himself (goodness) in and through his creation, but my question is this…

How can the law of God ‘written on our hearts’ coexist with depravity?

As I search the scriptures I find posts such as yours thought-provoking and encouraging. Thanks for your work.

]]> Comment on On Your Way to the Ph.D.? Take the Left Fork in the Road by John B. http://johnbasie.com/2008/03/11/on-your-way-to-the-phd-take-the-left-fork-in-the-road/#comment-25 John B. Tue, 15 Apr 2008 23:53:37 +0000 http://johnbasie.com/2008/03/11/on-your-way-to-the-phd-take-the-left-fork-in-the-road/#comment-25 Paul, Thanks for this real-life example. Some professors on faculty at Christian institutions point out that they actually have MORE academic freedom in the faith-based classroom than they once did at secular teaching posts. Nick Wolterstorff has made a similar case for the value of teaching in a faith-based institution vs. a state institution. Thanks for the comment! Paul,
Thanks for this real-life example. Some professors on faculty at Christian institutions point out that they actually have MORE academic freedom in the faith-based classroom than they once did at secular teaching posts. Nick Wolterstorff has made a similar case for the value of teaching in a faith-based institution vs. a state institution. Thanks for the comment!

]]> Comment on On Your Way to the Ph.D.? Take the Left Fork in the Road by Paul http://johnbasie.com/2008/03/11/on-your-way-to-the-phd-take-the-left-fork-in-the-road/#comment-24 Paul Tue, 15 Apr 2008 13:37:59 +0000 http://johnbasie.com/2008/03/11/on-your-way-to-the-phd-take-the-left-fork-in-the-road/#comment-24 At a theology conference I attended this week I met an adjunct professor of theology from Princeton. We talked about the state of PhDs today as he just finished his last year and now serves as adviser to PhD candidates. I was surprised, not by what he said, but that someone on the "inside" would say it. He said that the system was broken (and so much so) that universities would be better off not requiring that the professors it hires have attained PhDs. The current system, he said, is simply a series of hoops that candidates are supposed to jump through, **all the while saying nothing that would rock the ideological boat.** He told me (as an example) that if I came to Princeton and said all the right (left) things and none of the wrong (right) things I could get through just fine. If I decided to draw my proverbial line in the sand regarding any matter of Biblical orthodoxy they'd have me out of there in a minute. The end result, he claimed, were a bunch of politically-savvy yes-men. At a theology conference I attended this week I met an adjunct professor of theology from Princeton. We talked about the state of PhDs today as he just finished his last year and now serves as adviser to PhD candidates. I was surprised, not by what he said, but that someone on the “inside” would say it. He said that the system was broken (and so much so) that universities would be better off not requiring that the professors it hires have attained PhDs. The current system, he said, is simply a series of hoops that candidates are supposed to jump through, **all the while saying nothing that would rock the ideological boat.** He told me (as an example) that if I came to Princeton and said all the right (left) things and none of the wrong (right) things I could get through just fine. If I decided to draw my proverbial line in the sand regarding any matter of Biblical orthodoxy they’d have me out of there in a minute. The end result, he claimed, were a bunch of politically-savvy yes-men.

]]> Comment on War, Pacificism & “Miami Virtue” by Doug Moorhead http://johnbasie.com/2008/04/12/war-pacificism-miami-virtue/#comment-23 Doug Moorhead Mon, 14 Apr 2008 19:05:03 +0000 http://johnbasie.com/2008/04/12/war-pacificism-miami-virtue/#comment-23 Thoughtful response to the young lady with the pacifist heritage John. I would be interested in your thoughts on the following. I am a just war proponent myself, though I have struggled most of my adult life with the application of this as it is utilized in the states. We have consistently ignored many countries where we could apply the just war theology (Rawanda, Rangoon, Darfur, and should we dare say China who still persecutes at a very high frequency) While applying it to wars where there may also be mixed motives. I understand and hold to the theology, yet struggle to see it as the true/complete answer instead of a justificatiomn when convenient. Secondly in a policy of not cutting and running, it is another sound bite that is valid .... with the exception that it appears we have done that in every inner city in America. Poor minoroties move in, wealthy and middleclass whites move out (cut and run), moral, civil, educational, and legal decay occurs at a high rate occurs until even the health care system wants to move out. Law enforcement agents avoid going in and have little effect when they do. It seems some of the money (1/10th) spent on the war could radically impact some educational systems across America. Does the just war theology ever bump up against prioroties at home. My sense is that The applications of theological principles must be evenly applied and not simply used when convenient or it hurts the name of Christ and the theology. I would love to hear some feedback on these thoughts. God bless brother. It is exciting what your program is doing. What a needed opportunity for the students to think through a biblical worldview before they are thrust into a pond filled with pirahna's waiting to consume all vestiges of a christ followers faith. Thoughtful response to the young lady with the pacifist heritage John. I would be interested in your thoughts on the following. I am a just war proponent myself, though I have struggled most of my adult life with the application of this as it is utilized in the states. We have consistently ignored many countries where we could apply the just war theology (Rawanda, Rangoon, Darfur, and should we dare say China who still persecutes at a very high frequency) While applying it to wars where there may also be mixed motives. I understand and hold to the theology, yet struggle to see it as the true/complete answer instead of a justificatiomn when convenient. Secondly in a policy of not cutting and running, it is another sound bite that is valid …. with the exception that it appears we have done that in every inner city in America. Poor minoroties move in, wealthy and middleclass whites move out (cut and run), moral, civil, educational, and legal decay occurs at a high rate occurs until even the health care system wants to move out. Law enforcement agents avoid going in and have little effect when they do. It seems some of the money (1/10th) spent on the war could radically impact some educational systems across America. Does the just war theology ever bump up against prioroties at home. My sense is that The applications of theological principles must be evenly applied and not simply used when convenient or it hurts the name of Christ and the theology. I would love to hear some feedback on these thoughts. God bless brother. It is exciting what your program is doing. What a needed opportunity for the students to think through a biblical worldview before they are thrust into a pond filled with pirahna’s waiting to consume all vestiges of a christ followers faith.

]]> Comment on War, Pacificism & “Miami Virtue” by Brian Davis http://johnbasie.com/2008/04/12/war-pacificism-miami-virtue/#comment-22 Brian Davis Mon, 14 Apr 2008 18:28:23 +0000 http://johnbasie.com/2008/04/12/war-pacificism-miami-virtue/#comment-22 Great blogpost, Basie! This raises some questions in my own mind about war and pacifism...let's talk soon. BAD Great blogpost, Basie! This raises some questions in my own mind about war and pacifism…let’s talk soon.
BAD

]]> Comment on Teen Commits Suicide After Parents Threaten To Punish Over Grades by John B. http://johnbasie.com/2006/12/14/teen-commits-suicide-after-parents-threaten-to-punish-over-grades/#comment-19 John B. Thu, 27 Mar 2008 07:09:50 +0000 http://johnbasie.com/academics/34#comment-19 You're right to be deeply concerned about your friend. The pressure she feels to perform is not only thwarting the true purposes of her college education, but it sounds like it is also endangering her well-being. The best thing you could do for her at this point is try to persuade her to go see the campus counselor. You’re right to be deeply concerned about your friend. The pressure she feels to perform is not only thwarting the true purposes of her college education, but it sounds like it is also endangering her well-being. The best thing you could do for her at this point is try to persuade her to go see the campus counselor.

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