tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14410967.post6533335783970256824..comments2024-03-25T19:00:40.046-06:00Comments on The Constructive Curmudgeon: Integrity, Technology, and GodDouglas Groothuis, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08766692378954258034noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14410967.post-24884645225475548722007-10-16T23:33:00.000-06:002007-10-16T23:33:00.000-06:00Righteousness continues to baffle me.1. This artic...Righteousness continues to baffle me.<BR/><BR/>1. This article is not "a trial run." It is from The Denver Seminary journal, as it says. It is not an academic article per se, but does have footnotes!<BR/><BR/>I am not a Fundamentalist, nor are most of my readers, I suppose. My gender egalitarian will scare most of them off.<BR/><BR/>Where does AAR (American Academif of Religion) discredit me? Do you mean the writing of Douglas Cowan against me in his book, "Bearing False Witness?" That didn't discredit me, but misrepresented my views on the New Age movement. Moreover, if he belongs to AAR, he is only one member. He doesn't speak for the group.Douglas Groothuis, Ph.D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/08766692378954258034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14410967.post-17102006011460362912007-10-16T09:36:00.000-06:002007-10-16T09:36:00.000-06:00Jer:I fail to see how promoting integrity in minis...Jer:<BR/>I fail to see how promoting integrity in ministry/work/writing/et al. (the overall theme of this thread, by the way) is "glib" or "anecdotal" and warrants the thought that "this site should come down." <BR/><BR/>Why not engage the dialog, encourage discourse, and help advance the discussion forward?<BR/><BR/>nwprodigal:<BR/>Welcome to the kingdom! You've everything to be thankful for in being among the "converted." May the truth of God's Word have its way in you.Paul D. Adamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18213551311029058377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14410967.post-35032006172320196982007-10-16T09:23:00.000-06:002007-10-16T09:23:00.000-06:00I very much appreciated this post/article. I've be...I very much appreciated this post/article. I've been looking for some good Bible software (suggestions most welcome), but Dr. Groothuis has articulated well the difference between digital information and "the book". There is a significant difference in the way that we read and process information on a screen vs words printed on paper. As people of "The Book", it is crucial that we be aware of, and understand, this distinction.Lainie Petersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08336378792785324740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14410967.post-82469369638972143742007-10-16T08:50:00.000-06:002007-10-16T08:50:00.000-06:00Jer:As Sarah said, your comment doesn't even begin...Jer:<BR/><BR/>As Sarah said, your comment doesn't even begin to merit a response, but I too will respond anyway.<BR/><BR/>1. This is a blog, not an academic journal. That is why the points are often not thought out--it's a collective place to lobby ideas. Groothuis does not write this type of stuff in actual publications, these are just "trial runs." Judge him on that basis. <BR/><BR/>2. His article never claimed to say anything new. He's just consolidating ideas to a new audience. All of us are aware that the ideas presented in his rough draft have already been said a million times (just as everything else pretty much has). Just because it's unoriginal, doens't mean it isn't important.<BR/><BR/>3. As for anecdotal, I think it's good for Groothuis to infuse some folksy personality into his writing. Sure, at times he comes across as very harsh and unrelenting, but you should give him credit in this respect.<BR/><BR/>4. Yes, this blog is for fundamentalists. And that's fine. We aren't trying to convert, we aren't trying engage "intellectuals" we are merely using this website for conservatives. <BR/><BR/>5. As for the tone being negative, I'm ambivalent about this. Yes, his tone is almost always angry and frustrated, but that is okay. Groothuis takes a lot of flak from academics and people in the AAR--often his ministry is discredited; furthermore, he has a passion to not see Christians ensnared in what he perceives to be a pernicious culture. So his anger (I would say passion, though) stems from his frustration with academic credibility and the emptiness of some cultural morays. I'd hasten to add that Jesus was also very angry at times for the same reason: the intellectuals didn't invite Jesus into their coterie and he saw the problems of this world--and they crucified him. Don't crucify Groothuis, just recognize that his negative tone is completely justified.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14410967.post-80620079093772358362007-10-15T21:43:00.000-06:002007-10-15T21:43:00.000-06:00Jer, While your intentionally provocative comments...Jer, <BR/><BR/>While your intentionally provocative comments do not even begin to merit a response, you are apparently unaware that this is a BLOG. As such, if you do not like it, there are multitudes of other options on the blogosphere. Though I challenge you to find one as astute and discerning (among other things) as this one...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14410967.post-14308180097146985782007-10-15T21:16:00.000-06:002007-10-15T21:16:00.000-06:00I may be converted, but I appreciate the sage advi...I may be converted, but I appreciate the sage advice concerning moderation in using omputer aids for Bible studies.<BR/>I have found myself learning much about certain specialized areas, but with such a scattergun approach that I must take this advice to heart.<BR/><BR/>I have only been a Christian for 11 months and I have had many people, whom I'd assumed were mature in the faith, tell me the same thing that Paul Adams heard concerning his grasp of scripture. <BR/>I have been disappointed at the illiteracy of many Christians and encouraged by a very few. I don't say this to brag. It's just the sad truth, apparently.<BR/><BR/>I have a tactile and emotional attachment to my Bibles and much prefer to read God's Word that way versus using a Bible program. I'm afraid I've fallen victim to technology and agree with this idea that technology is cheating us out of a wholesome understanding of what the Bible really is in all it's glorious uniqueness. Unfortunately, and while I am no "KJV Only" person, I feel the plethora of translations has also made it more difficult to imprint the Word in our minds and hearts. NIV at church, ESV in my pocket, NASB for devotions, etc, etc. Amazingly, I find most of my scripture quoting pops out in the KJV even though it's been 25 years since I last read that version solely as a young church-goer.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the exhortation, Dr. Groothius!Prodigal Knothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15414230356322258269noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14410967.post-47386437243587519052007-10-15T20:01:00.000-06:002007-10-15T20:01:00.000-06:00Unoriginal, glib, and anecdotal. I thik this sit...Unoriginal, glib, and anecdotal. I thik this site should come down, as you are really only preaching to the converted. Further, the tone is generally negative; and to my finely-tuned nose tends to hint at legalism....I'm out!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14410967.post-27299138398821218652007-10-15T12:17:00.000-06:002007-10-15T12:17:00.000-06:00Dr G says:"...knowing where a text can be found is...Dr G says:<BR/>"...knowing where a text can be found is an integral part of being biblically literate, of having God’s truth at our command. One should have this indispensable knowledge of Holy Scripture in one’s soul, not simply on one’s laptop."<BR/><BR/>AMEN!!<BR/><BR/>Two comments (and I do not say these things to boast but to demonstrate my sheer sadness at the state of the Church)<BR/>1. When I entered seminary ('94), a multiple choice Bible quiz comprised of almost 100 questions was required with a passing grade. The test was given to me and when I opened the booklet of questions to begin, I noticed the answers on the first page were faintly circled, having been erased. I thumbed through the remainder of the booklet and saw that every answer had been circled. Before answering the first question, I gave it back to the person who administered the exam, noted the concern of the circled answers, and asked for another booklet. The new exam was gladly re-administered as a tabula rasa and appreciation for noting the tainted exam was mentioned. I passed (with a perfect score). Who would have circled the answers only to have them distributed to the next person? <BR/><BR/>2. During multiple systematic theology classes I would regularly quote Scripture when offering input. During a break one day, a student turned to me and said something like "You have an amazing grasp of Scripture! I'm so impressed by how much you know about what the Bible says." While I was a bit encouraged to hear this, I was more amazed and impressed at the comment. I thought to myself, "Doesn't everyone who goes to seminary know at least as much as I do about what the Bible says?!". <BR/><BR/>Jeremiah 15:16 <BR/>When your words came, I ate them;<BR/>they were my joy and my heart's delight, for I bear your name, LORD God Almighty.<BR/><BR/>"Oh God. Put your words into our souls that we may feast on your heart!!"Paul D. Adamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18213551311029058377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14410967.post-89412615266453247122007-10-15T07:52:00.000-06:002007-10-15T07:52:00.000-06:00I think it's better to "steal" from the Fathers of...I think it's better to "steal" from the Fathers of the Church, esp. Origen and John Chrysostom.<BR/><BR/>I'm reading de Lubac's book on Origen, History and Spirit, The Understanding of Scripture according to Origen, just reprinted this year by Ignatius Press.<BR/><BR/>A great read which will give me excellent background when I do read the commentaries and homilies of Origen.<BR/><BR/>I've already read his "First Principles", "Peri Archon" but that's not where the meat of Origen is. It's in his sermons.evagriushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00229271781498386096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14410967.post-69043408891680322252007-10-15T00:43:00.000-06:002007-10-15T00:43:00.000-06:00Abu:You make an arresting point, one with which I ...Abu:<BR/><BR/>You make an arresting point, one with which I agree and will meditate on. Thank you.Douglas Groothuis, Ph.D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/08766692378954258034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14410967.post-49335902472275285422007-10-14T22:44:00.000-06:002007-10-14T22:44:00.000-06:00Sermon "borrowing" is indeed widespread. One of my...Sermon "borrowing" is indeed widespread. One of my seminary profs noted that the traffic to his website (which contains a large archive of transcripts of his sermons, www.victorshepherd.on.ca) spikes every Saturday evening, as desperate and/or lazy preachers search for sermons. On one hand he despaired that so many preachers were doing this, either due to being overworked, or just plain lazy. On the other hand, he said, at least he knew they would be speaking doctrinally solid, biblically based material the following morning. :) I hope that preachers who use others' sermons at least give proper credit when speaking to their congregations, but I suspect that often doesn't happen.emmzeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16890906596361712543noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14410967.post-9230971472926382802007-10-14T21:27:00.000-06:002007-10-14T21:27:00.000-06:00Is it not true that, in general, evangelical Chris...Is it not true that, in general, evangelical Christianity has lost its sense of sacramentality? Since this is the case, we should not be surprised that the the Bible, a books which in itself is sacramental and fundamentally related to the Sacraments, has lost its significance as a physical and tangible object?<BR/><BR/>I think this article can be summarized like this: We must not forget the Bible is a sacramental book.<BR/><BR/>But that summary is in many ways beyond the vocabulary of today's evangelicalism.Abu Daoudhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18399746942963002389noreply@blogger.com