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Rick Warren Get’s Publicly Challenged by a Naturalistic Scientist
Rick Warren spoke at the well known secular venue TEDTalks. After he was done, a naturalist scientist challenged him on some of the things in his book “The Purpose Driven Life,” which has sold a gigatrillion copies. *I think PDL is the most popular book in history outside the Bible (or, at least that’s what I’ve heard people say … not sure how they get stats on that).*
It’s incredibly naive to think that religion could be taught unbiasedly–either by secularists or by religious leaders. Who determines the criterion for “facts”? Presuppositions will determine what one accepts as “facts,” which means to even approach teaching a course on religion based on “facts only,” you already have to use your presuppositions in determining what’s legitimate for a class in religion. Thus, there would be no such thing as an objective look at the “facts” about religion. That such is possible is an enlightenment myth.
Also, he picks on Rick Warren’s belief in intelligent design (which is different than creationism, but he doesn’t seem to be aware of these sorts of distinctions) rather than engaging, say, the Oxford/Cambridge/Berkley/Harvard Scientist’s who have tried to argue for intelligent design. That’s not good protocol, and it makes his critique of things weak. Rick isn’t a scientist or a philosopher, he’s just a pastor.
Finally, he took Rick’s comment in a way that Rick probably never meant it, and read into it certain motives that may or may not have been present (even IF his interpretation was correct)—namely, the motive of throwing down a “wild card” to trump any “reasonable” inquiry or questioning of religious beliefs. Such an understanding of Rick’s comment is not only a misinterpretation of what a statement like that tends to mean to Christians like Rick Warren (again, demonstrating his ignorance of religious philosophy), but it also is guilty of reading motives into the statement, as if such motives could be accessed even if they were present.
Sloppy engagement.
You Might Be A Blog Troll If …
Go here to read Denny Burk’s post “Don’t Feed the Blog Troll’s.”
Calvin meets the Block, things will never be the same …
Christian Hip Hop artists are starting to get more attention and appreciation from Reformed leaders because “Reformed theology” is actually making inroads through their ministries. Lecrae, who is probably my favorite rap artist, was interviewed by Mark Driscoll about the missional aspect of Christian Hip Hop, Lecrae’s life, false doctrine, and “Reformed theology.” Listen to it: HERE.
Spreading the Gospel in the Inner City of Richmond
My friend Josh Soto planted and now pastors a church in downtown Richmond. I haven’t had a chance to visit there yet, but my friend Ricky visited once and he says it’s thunder (well … he doesn’t actually say thunder, he says “awesome,” but you understand). The church is blowin’ up.
idiscover: Steve Brown Etc.
Have you ever heard of Steve Brown Etc? He’s a seminary proff who does a talk radio show that’s a mixture of comedy and theology. I find most Christian comedy corny and unappealing, but this guy rattled my giggle box the whole talk show! He’s hilarious! Good humor. Good conversation.
Prophetic Comedy
The A-word and the BAILOUT
October 1st’s Boston Globe had a thought provoking quotation from Juan Enriqez on the BAILOUT. I discovered it on the TEDBlog.
Love is Better Felt Than Defined
Mark 12:28-34 (NASB)
One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “What commandment is the foremost of all?” Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.‘ There is no other commandment greater than these.” The scribe said to Him, “Right, Teacher; You have truly stated that He is One, and there is no one else besides Him; and to love Him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as himself, is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” When Jesus saw that he had answered intelligently, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” After that, no one would venture to ask Him any more questions.
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“Let all that you do be done in love.” – The Apostle Paul
“If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy going or a clanging symbol. …. But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.” – The Apostle Paul
“Love is the fulfillment of the law.” – The Apostle Paul
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. … We love, because he first loved us.” – The Apostle John
“The law of faith … is the love of him.” – St. Augustine
“The Scriptures do represent true religion, as being summarily comprehended in love, the chief of the affections and fountain of all other affections.” – Jonathan Edwards
“But if the duty of the heart, or all due dispositions of hearts, are all summed up in love, then undoubtedly all grace may be summed up in love.” – Jonathan Edwards
“[Love is] the essence of all Christianity. … [Love is] the quintessence and soul of all grace.” – Jonathan Edwards
“The apostle [Paul] doesn’t only represent love or charity as the most excellent thing in Christianity, and as the quintessence, life, and soul of all religion, but as that which virtually comprehends all holy virtues and exercises.” – Jonathan Edwards
“As for a definition of divine love, things of this nature are not properly capable of a definition. They are better felt than defined.” – Jonathan Edwards
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