Becoming a writer whose work is edited and posted in public has made me more aware of (and self-conscious about) my authorial idiosyncrasies; for example, I apparently use semicolons at an above average rate. I don't want them to become the sort of overly familiar that breeds contempt, but I do find it somewhat satisfying that I can be known through my writing. If someone recognizes my quirks, then I've connected with that reader for good, ill, or otherwise. Writing quirks represent a pattern, and patterns can often be … [Read more...] about Science Corner: Are You There, Molière?
literature
In June or January: The Myth of Summertime (Summer Snapshot 2018)
We like to share what we call "snapshots" from time to time, brief reflections from a particular moment of the year in the life of an ESN author or member. We hope these glimpses of God's work in the lives of fellow academics are encouraging to early career scholars as they navigate the calendar of the academic year and the everyday calling of following Christ in their work and lives. Today we share some thoughts on the end of summer by literature professor Angela O'Neal. You can read her previous posts here. … [Read more...] about In June or January: The Myth of Summertime (Summer Snapshot 2018)
Reimagining the Sacred & the Cool: A Literary Symposium (Highlighting Community)
Missing Books and Culture? Want to have awesome conversations about literature and faith? Wishing you could hang out in a cool Christian study center this spring? Our friends at Upper House, a Christian study center in Madison, Wisconsin, have a way to address all three of those longings. John Wilson of Books and Culture will be a panel moderator at Upper House's literary symposium on April 7, an event designed to gather Christians across the region for thoughtful conversations in an amazing space. Browse … [Read more...] about Reimagining the Sacred & the Cool: A Literary Symposium (Highlighting Community)
Communication for Communion, Part 3: Babel and Pentecost (Scholar’s Call)
Last week's post discussed the quest for the Adamic language in the early modern period, understood as a language in which words correspond exactly to the things they represent. This post is Part 3 of a series. See Part 2 here and Part 1 here. But was there ever a language in which the totality of a thing in its essence was communicated fully in words? James K.A. Smith, a Christian philosopher at Calvin College, says no. In his book The Fall of Interpretation, Smith argues that human beings were never intended to … [Read more...] about Communication for Communion, Part 3: Babel and Pentecost (Scholar’s Call)
Communication for Communion, Part 2: The Quest for the Adamic Language (Scholar’s Call)
David Parry continues his Scholar's Call series on communication and language. See Part 1 here. Post 2: The quest for the Adamic language So what language did Adam and Eve speak in the Garden of Eden? This was a question of significant interest in the early modern period (around the 16th and 17th centuries).1 The majority scholarly opinion, following Augustine, went with Hebrew.2 However, other options were available. For instance, Jan van Gorp argued in his 1569 work Origines Antwerpianae that the original language … [Read more...] about Communication for Communion, Part 2: The Quest for the Adamic Language (Scholar’s Call)