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 of him, becomes personal to me as I read the Gospels and as I see his presence in the saints and the sinners around me. And, O yes, in God’s creation — those magnificent Sandhills, the Holy Land of Nebraska, icon of the near edge of eternity. — Jim Sire. Conclusion to “Chapter 11: A Final Apologetic: Why I Am Still a Christian” of Rim of the Sandhills (2012). [Read more…] about What keeps Jim Sire believing?
Rim of the Sandhills
Jim Sire Addresses: Is Atheism a Worldview?
I’ve had the privilege of knowing James W. Sire, Ph.D., since my college days. Sire served as a senior editor at InterVarsity Press and authored a number of books published by InterVarsity Press including The Universe Next Door: A Basic Worldview Catalog, Habits of the Mind: Intellectual Life as a Christian Calling, Learning to Pray Through the Psalms, and Naming the Elephant: Worldview as a Concept.
Our paths crossed several times during my years as a student at Grove City College. I heard him speak not only at my college, but also at a Carnegie Mellon University outreach and a seminar addressing Scripture Twisting at Urbana Student Missions Conference. Sire’s The Universe Next Door: A Basic Worldview Catalog was significant not only in drawing me out of nihilism, but also in bringing me face-to-face with the critical reality of THE primary world of the God of the Bible. Beginning with our first several conversations and continuing through today, we can converse for quite some time. Over my nearly 17 years on InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, I have hosted Sire for various speaking engagements and connected with him at InterVarsity conferencing. More recently I have enjoyed reading his newly e-published memoir Rim of the Sandhills (2012) and interviewing him for a Christian Thought and Ethics in the Contemporary World paper on the development of his thought on worldview.
Since I am connecting with Sire several times in the coming weeks, I offered to my Facebook friends the opportunity to pose worldview questions to him. In response I received two excellent questions. After receiving Sire’s replies, I asked if he’d allow me to post his replies and open a worldview question-and-answer to the Emerging Scholars Network. Sire replied, “Yes.” So, if you have a question for Sire regarding worldview, please email me. I’m fine with attributing the question to Anonymous. Andy Walsh said that he didn’t mind having his question attributed to him 🙂
Question 1:
I’ve encountered several folks who strongly reject characterizing atheism as a worldview. From what I can tell, they see a connection between worldview and religion, and don’t want their atheism framed as anything resembling religion. To them, atheism is plain reality and religion is something made up and added to plain reality. Has Dr. Sire encountered this mindset, and does he have any insights on how to approach a worldview discussion with such folks? — Andy [Read more…] about Jim Sire Addresses: Is Atheism a Worldview?