The Soul in Cyberspace

Reflections on my book,The Soul in Cyberspace, 14 years later.

The March of the Clowns

I watch

the march of the clowns,

who began as soldiers,

who became clowns--and

forgot

that they were once soldiers,

and even...

forgot

that they are now

clowns.

A Sentence

"In the end, hope without truth is pointless."

--Douglas Groothuis, Christian Apologetics: A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith.

Prager's Confusions

This morning, I heard Denis Prager claim that his Jewish beliefs were non-rational, otherwise there would be no room for "faith." He said that these religious beliefs didn't do anyone any harm and had no public policy implications. His example was God's parting of the Red Sea. But, on the other had, secular liberals hold many non-rational non-religious beliefs that are deleterious, such as the idea than men and women are alike.

Prager's position is deeply confused. I agree that secular liberals hold much in (bad) faith without evidence; but the Bible never pits faith against reason or religious belief against knowledge. These are false dichotomies. When religious people accept these terms, they intellectually marginalize themselves. I just completed a large work, Christian Apologetics, arguing that Christianity is true, rational, and pertinent to life. Further, the Exodus is a key event in the Hebrew Bible, with tremendous significance for Jews and Christians. Through the release of God's people from Egyptian bondage, God makes himself known as the liberating Lord of the nations.

Ironically, later in the program, Prager had a guest arguing that God was the best explanation for the origin of the universe, life, humans, and human meaning. As much as I like Prager, this was one confused radio program.

The Poison of Selfishness

Insensitivity is no virtue, since love patient kind and is not rude (I Corinthians 13). Being callous to people's pain only hurts them more. Some insensitivity is rather minor: it hurts a soul's feelings or frustrates the one who is not understood. The chronically ill face this repeatedly, since so few of the healthy can put themselves in their place. They lack the moral imagination for it.

Yet in some cases, a lack of empathy can have dire consequences, effectively ruining a human being's life. Consider Jane (not her real name). Jane is extremely and dangerously sensitive to a common household product. If her neighbor uses it, Jane cannot go outside and becomes imprisoned in her own home. Further, her family has had to buy expensive air filters simply for her to survive in her own home.

Jane and her family have kindly asked--not demanded--that the neighbor change brands, even offering to buy a life-time supply of a similar product that Jane is not sensitive to. Instead of believing Jane, the neighbors called the police and put a restraining order on the family, claiming that Jane was lying about it all. One with even modicum of empathy would listen and respond with concern, not wrath.

This kind of selfishness is not merely rude; it is criminal. Yet the law (thus far) has done nothing to stop the ruination of a chemically-sensitive person's life by an emotionally-insensitive and calloused neighbor. Please pray for Jane all those who suffer in a similar way. Also, look into your own heart to see if you, too, may be callous to the suffering of others. I must do the same, day after day.

Jesus commands us to love our neighbors as ourselves, and to treat others as we would like to be treated by them. This demands empathy and special concern for "the least of these." Without this, those insensitive to the chronically ill may sentence them to an even more horrible life than what they have previously experienced. We are called to be our brother's keeper, not our brother's enemy.

The Gospel for Liberia: Please help

My dear friend, Tony Weedor, is working to bring the gospel back to Liberia. Please visit his page and seriously consider supporting his work. He rather desperately needs it at this time.

Groothuis Sermon on Line

On July 10, 2011, I preached a sermon at Scum of the Earth Church in Denver called, "Why do Good Things Happen to Bad People and Bad Things Happen to Good People?" (they gave me the topic and title). You can listen to it here. It is about an hour and I get quite cranked up.

Defining Charisma Down

Some special folk are known for having "charisma" or for being "charismatic." The Greek root refers to possessing divine favor, as in having a gift of the Holy Spirit. The more popular meaning refers to charm, magnetism, or the ability to leave a lasting impression on others or to command a following. Charisma is also closely linked to personality, the salient features of a self. Someone may be charismatic because he or she is a person of virtuous character (as in Jesus Christ, or, to a lesser extent, the Apostle Paul), but not necessarily. One may be known for charisma or personality and fail to exhibit any of the classical virtues (prudence, temperance, courage, and justice) or Christian virtues (faith, hope, and love). Consider Mick Jagger, for example.

While moral character is more important than charisma (which in the end will amount to no more than wood, hay, and stumble if not tempered and inspired by virtue), it seems that charisma itself is losing its charisma. In 1993, Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan wrote a famous essay in The American Scholar called "Defining Deviancy Down." The thesis is that moral were decaying so rapidly that what was considered socially deviant was losing its stigma or becoming acceptable. Thirty year ago, having an "illegitimate child" was quite a scandal, but not so much today, since illegitimacy rates have gone through the ceiling in recent decades. Now "partners" have children together and few think twice about it.

It strikes me that American culture is now defining charisma down just as it has defined deviancy down. That is, just as it is increasingly easier for vices to be deemed normal, less than charismatic people are now being defined as charismatic. It is difficult to explain why this is, but I offer two examples: Rob Bell and Barack Obama.

Bell is frequently hailed as charismatic, but I have no idea why. He does not have a distinctively attractive voice, is no wordsmith, and it not remarkable looking. Nor does he draw deep from the wells of wit or arresting intelligence. Rather, he has a smirking, joking demeanor that is something else entirely. It is not even the "coolness" of jazz (say Miles Davis).

Obama, who sadly now presides over the American decay he has so long desired, is also hailed as charismatic. But I have found nothing of that property. He thrives on catch phrases with no meaning; revels in absurd grandiosity (more so before taking office), has odd speech patterns; off teleprompter, he incessantly says "uh" (the bane of public speaking--or any speaking), draws out words during which he is, apparently, trying to come up with thoughts (usually the word "aaaaaaaaand"), and is far less than commanding. He doesn't seem very comfortable in his own skin. He has a better voice than Rob Bell, but hat hardly confers charisma.

Not all charisma has been defined down, however, in the same way. Some search for hyper-charisma through rude, crude, vile, and spectacular behavior, such as Lady Gaga. But even she fails to be truly charismatic because when everything is mere hyperbole, there is no deep mystery, no exotic entrancement, no fierce fascination. She comes across as a noisy, hyperactive, special-effects zombie.

Charisma, when wed to virtue and sound life principles, can be profound indeed. Think of Ronald Reagan, for example, in politics. Or, consider Billy Graham in evangelism. But mere charisma, even lacking moral character, has its own charms--as long as one recognizes them as such. Popcorn has its charms, although it is not very nutritional. If one tries to live off it, it will not suffice. The charismatic personality has a certain flair that provokes and may inspire; or at least it entertains. But when charisma is defined down, nothing is left besides a facade. I, for one, will pass that action.

Facts on Taxes

What people do not understand about taxes. 1. Lower tax rates increase state revenue in the longer haul. It happened under Presidents Kennedy and Reagan. Why? People pay less taxes, make more money, and pay more taxes overall. 2. Lower tax rates on the higher incomes does not merely help those people, but helps those who benefit from their increased profits--that is, the people they hire and the salaries they give. Remember this, next time you hear talk of "the wealthy paying their fair share." Their "fair share" (higher taxes) means a worse economy for everyone. Further, (3), why penalize success in business unless it is out of envy, which is a sin?

Groothuis interview on "Christian Apologetics"

Here is an interview I did about Christian Apologetics.

Rapidity

You can now purchase my textbook, Christian Apologetics, directly from InterVarsity Press. Amazon, etc., will take a bit longer.

Marshall McLuhan Evaluated

Alan Jacobs has written an astute reflection on Marshall McLuhan in The New Atlantis. I recommend it heartily. Thanks to Sarah Geis for this reference.

Groothuis interview

I did a 30-minute interview on the New Age and apologetics here.

It is Here

Christian Apologetics: A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith is now available for purchase as an -e-book at Google Books.

John Stott: Dead at 90

The great preacher, teacher, writer, and evangelical leader, John Stott has passed from this life into the presence of his Lord and Savior. A great man receives an even greater reward.

To honor his memory, read as many of his books as possible. Here is a short list:

1. Basic Christianity

2. The Cross of Christ

3. Why I am a Christian

4. Commentary on Romans

5. Your Mind Matters

6. The Contemporary Christian.

Robert Spencer and the Norway Killings

Robert Spencer has written a number of intellectually responsible (and courageous books) about the nature and history of Islam. He argues that the Islamic worldview is fundamentally different from the Judeo-Christian worldview. The former has no place for universal human rights, while the latter provided the basis for these rights in the West. Part of that Western patrimony is religious freedom, freedom of speech, and the rule of law.

Now Spencer is being blamed by some for the homicidal killing spree that recently stunned Norway. Why is this? Because the killer mentions Spencer many times in his writings. This charge against Spencer patently absurd, since Spencer defends the Western values of law, order, and tolerance all religions. The killer disavowed all of these principles affirmed by Spencer.

From Carl Henry, God, Revelation, and Authority, Volume 6, concluding paragraph of the book.

God who stands and stoops and speaks is God who stays: He it is who preserves and governs and consummates his cosmic purpose. But the awesome wonder of the biblical revelation is not his creation and preservation of our vastly immense and complex universe. Its wonder, rather, is that he came as God-man to planet Earth in the form of the Babe of Bethlehem; he thus reminds us that no point in the universe is too remote for his presence and no speck too small for his care and love. He came as God-man to announce to a rebellious race the offer of a costly mercy grounded in the death and resurrection of his only Son and to assure his people that he who stays will remain with them forever and they with him. He is come in Christ incarnate to exhibit ideal human nature and will return in Christ glorified to fully implement the Omega-realities of the dawning future.

Searching Inside "Christian Apologetics"

You may know search inside my upcoming book, Christian Apologetics, at Amazon.com. You can find the entire table of contents and more. The release date for Amazon is September 5, 2011.

"Midnight in Paris"

Woody Allen's, "Midnight in Paris," is the best film of his I have seen; although I admit to not seeing any in about twenty years. It is thoughtful, humorous, and philosophical. It moves at a sane pace (unlike most films today), has no gratuitous sex or violence, and is plot and character driven. It's quirky surreal device works well to help us ponder the idea of a golden age and how to live in the present.

Sadly, the worldview is atheistic Existentialism, which may be a kind of step up from the grim nihilism of his recent films. The message is to create and recognize meaning, despite the cosmic meaninglessness of the universe. But if everything is finally absurd, so is any sense of local meaning--in Paris or elsewhere.

Electronic Sabbath

The world

unplugged

is surround-sound.

The world

unplugged

is in living color.

The world

unplugged

is more fascinating

than YouTube.

The world

unplugged

is not a play-list.

"The games people play"

are more interesting

--if you attend--

than video games.

There is a world

in your midst

that you may

have missed.

Screen out the screen

for a time--and see, hear, and feel

Again, for the first time.