Summary: David Skeel argues that far from being a problem for Christians, the complexity of the world is in fact something best explained by the Christian faith. This book is helpful both for the person considering whether it makes senseRead more…
Apologetics – the What and the Why
In my last post, I said that as an academic teaching religion, I should not consider that my role as a teacher is apologetic in its nature. And by that I mean that I can teach religious systems (in myRead more…
A Jigsaw Guide to Making Sense of the World IV
“[The belief scale]. Picture an old set of set of scales, the kind that would tip to the right, tip to the left, or balance in the middle depending on where you place the weight. These positions represent believing thatRead more…
A Jigsaw Guide to Making Sense of the World III
“If you identify yourself as a Christian, you may get stuck with a label that describes you as harsh and offensive and when you try to stand up for your faith you will be told to sit down. It canRead more…
A Jigsaw Guide to Making Sense of the World II
“The challenge [to seeing the big picture and living in light of the truth] is that every religion claims to grant such heavenly insight, and many peer groups will pull together to defend what is common sense at least toRead more…
A Jigsaw Guide to Making Sense of the World
“But like when you’re doing a jigsaw, you don’t need every piece of the puzzle to see the big picture. All you need is enough important parts that stand out and fit together.” — Alex McLellan. A Jigsaw Guide toRead more…
What is the biggest challenge to today’s apologist?
James W. Sire addresses: What is the biggest challenge to today’s apologist? — A question received by email inquiry. I doubt that there is a “today’s apologist.” Every person engaged in presenting the Christian faith is “today’s apologist.” Moreover, IRead more…
Jim Sire on “Finding common ground with someone radically different.” Part II
James W. Sire digs deeper into Micheal Hickerson‘s Worldview question: How can we find common ground when someone has a radically different worldview from our own? In the previous blog post, I argued that as Christians we know that weRead more…
Jim Sire on “Finding common ground with someone radically different”
The Worldview Question-and-Answer series with Jim Sire continues with the question: How can we find common ground when someone has a radically different world view from our own? — Micheal Hickerson, ESN Blog Contributor James W. Sire’s response: As aRead more…
What keeps Jim Sire believing?
What keeps me believing, what holds my faith, is not the way I understand Scripture, but the fantastic way Scripture explains me to myself. I am particularly struck by the way Jesus, who amazes me every time I think ofRead more…
Jim Sire addresses: “Is there still a place for propositional logic in apologetics or worldview studies?”
Last week, the Emerging Scholars Network began a James W. Sire Worldview Question-and-Answer series with Is Atheism a Worldview? As I have considered the development of Sire’s thought on worldview, I continue to be struck by the importance of lifeRead more…
Headed to Graduate School: Witness in the Academy
Thus far in two prior posts I’ve suggested that the end-point of a graduate education is to “become a person” in the Biblical sense – that is, to grow into the image of God. This holistic vision will encompass withinRead more…
Finding Calcutta: An “Advent”-ure
Have you found yourself on an Advent-ure as we’ve considered Finding Calcutta? Do you find yourself longing for and waiting upon the coming of the Lord in your life, your neighborhood, your discipline, your campus, your nation, the creation?Read more…
Finding Calcutta: Prayer and Our Calling
How do we understand the role of prayer in seeking our calling with the Father? In what manner may the prayers, spiritual direction, and ministry of Mother Teresa, offer some guidance as we seek to understand and live our own calling by God.Read more…
Finding Calcutta: How do I get there? How should I prepare for the journey?
“Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage” (Psalm 84). . . . How do you recognize, articulate, and carry out the relationship of Christian calling for vocation with your life’s journey in Christ? Who holds you accountable in the daily grind across the various “spheres” through which you travel?Read more…
Finding Calcutta: To make possible true inner silence, practice
In follow up to “Finding Calcutta: Where is Calcutta? Somewhere beyond (just) ourselves,” below is a meditation for reflection upon our calling.Read more…
Finding Calcutta: Where is Calcutta? Somewhere beyond (just) ourselves.
Calcutta is … Calcutta is not …Read more…
An invitation to discuss “Finding Calcutta” by Mary Poplin
With our limited time, energy, finances, blog attention spans, why focus on Mary Poplin’s “Finding Calcutta: What Mother Teresa Taught Me About Meaningful Work and Service” (IVP. 2008)?Read more…
Why “Christian Apologetics”? — Hell
Please join me in taking a few minutes to prayerfully consider and respond to some of the material on “hell” in Douglas Groothuis’ “Christian Apologetics: A Comprehensive Case for the Biblical Faith” (IVP. 2011).Read more…
To skim or not to skim: A ‘case’ study of “Christian Apologetics”
As Douglas Groothuis‘ newly released 752 page casebound Christian Apologetics: A Comprehensive Case for the Biblical Faith (IVP. 2011) spilled out of the box onto the counter in front of my four girls, I felt the press of two book reviews, a stackRead more…