Inspired by a response to The Urban Resident's series on Christian Personal Statement and building upon my conversation with Mary Poplin regarding Is Reality Secular? Testing the Assumptions of Four Global Worldviews? (InterVarsity Press, 2014), I asked Mary to share a personal statement that describes her calling/vocation as a Christian professor in a secular university. May you find these words an encouragement as you seek the Lord's insight in articulating, bearing the marks of, embodying the call to be a … [Read more...] about On Alert and On Call: Armed Only with His Mind and His Love
mind
Asking Jeeves
There is a pressing need for healthy dialogue regarding the psychology, and biology, of faith. Do humans have free will? What are the respective roles of the mind, the soul, and the brain? Are reports of supernatural experiences evidence for or against the existence of Heaven? Are we pre-conditioned to seek out a divine being? These are not questions from which Christians should not shy away. In fact, I'm convinced that by leaning into the discussion, our faith will be deepened and enriched. Dr. Malcolm Jeeves's … [Read more...] about Asking Jeeves
Book Review: Jesus Christ and the Life of the Mind (2)
Working in university ministry with grad students, I am often asked the question of just how this thing of integration of faith and learning is supposed to work. Mark Noll's Jesus Christ and the Life of the Mind (Eerdmans, 2011) is a landmark answer to this question. In one sense, his answer is the very simple, Sunday school answer -- Jesus. Yet behind this simple answer is some very profound theological thinking. Noll not only sees the life of the mind encouraged through our union with Christ, which unites all things … [Read more...] about Book Review: Jesus Christ and the Life of the Mind (2)
Can Science ‘Explain Away’ Religion?
In Chapter 18 of Minds, Brains, Souls and Gods: A Conversation on Faith, Psychology and Neuroscience (InterVarsity Press, 2013), Malcolm Jeeves[1] discusses the question “Can Science ‘Explain Away' Religion?” with his fictional psychology student "mentee". Have you wrestled with this question? How have you addressed it? Do you concur with what Jeeves offers? Can Science “Explain Away” Religion? Malcolm, Your emails have pointed out that the same evidence is often interpreted in very different ways. For example, … [Read more...] about Can Science ‘Explain Away’ Religion?
Time to discuss faith, psychology and neuroscience?
Preface Robert Boyle, illustrious scientist and Fellow of the Royal Society, described how, while in Geneva on a continental holiday, he underwent a conversion from nominal, unthinking Christianity to committed Christianity. As a result of his experiences, he stressed the need for Christians to have what he called an "examined faith." [1] John Stott, discussing Paul's letter to the Christians in Philippi, drew attention to the importance for all Christians to heed the apostle's exhortation to "contend for the faith … [Read more...] about Time to discuss faith, psychology and neuroscience?