Comments for Quodlibetal Blog http://quodlibetalblog.wordpress.com Musings from Anywhere by Dr. Richard G. Howe Sat, 05 Sep 2009 17:52:48 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on Wouldn’t It Be Nice to Be in a Local Church Where… by Daniel Lee http://quodlibetalblog.wordpress.com/2009/01/05/wouldnt-it-be-nice-to-be-in-a-local-church-where/#comment-77 Daniel Lee Sat, 05 Sep 2009 17:52:48 +0000 http://quodlibetalblog.wordpress.com/?p=73#comment-77 Good enough. I also like to know how you think of so called traditional interpretation. Are they all invalid? How much does one need to know God's word? Is every child or childlike adult able to figure out without sophisticated expertises with the illumination of the Holy Spirit? I like simplistic and to the point interpretation without making things too ivory tower like. Why have we have the "wrong" understandings in the past...? I am looking forward to reading your entries. Blessings! Good enough. I also like to know how you think of so called traditional interpretation. Are they all invalid? How much does one need to know God’s word? Is every child or childlike adult able to figure out without sophisticated expertises with the illumination of the Holy Spirit? I like simplistic and to the point interpretation without making things too ivory tower like. Why have we have the “wrong” understandings in the past…? I am looking forward to reading your entries. Blessings!

]]> Comment on God Bless Italy by quodlibetalblog http://quodlibetalblog.wordpress.com/2009/06/07/god-bless-italy/#comment-76 quodlibetalblog Sat, 05 Sep 2009 04:03:01 +0000 http://quodlibetalblog.wordpress.com/2009/06/07/god-bless-italy/#comment-76 Your friend did not understand your gravity illustration. Not only did using this illustration not "backfire" on you, his response made the precise point you were trying to make. We cannot see gravity, but we know much about it because we can observe its effect. This is precisely the point. We cannot "see" God, but we can know much about Him by his effects (the origin of the universe, the sustaining of the universe, the design within the universe (information content in the DNA, the fine tuning of the universe's physical constants, the origin of life)). The link they gave you (http://www.ses.edu) is indeed the link to the school where I teach. However, I was planning on putting the slides on my own personal web site at http://www.richardghowe.com. They are not up yet as I became ill soon after returing to the US and had to have surgery. Thanks for your patience. I will get them up soon. In the mean time, keep in touch either through this blog or my personal email (available on my web site). God bless. Your friend did not understand your gravity illustration. Not only did using this illustration not “backfire” on you, his response made the precise point you were trying to make. We cannot see gravity, but we know much about it because we can observe its effect. This is precisely the point. We cannot “see” God, but we can know much about Him by his effects (the origin of the universe, the sustaining of the universe, the design within the universe (information content in the DNA, the fine tuning of the universe’s physical constants, the origin of life)).
The link they gave you (http://www.ses.edu) is indeed the link to the school where I teach. However, I was planning on putting the slides on my own personal web site at http://www.richardghowe.com. They are not up yet as I became ill soon after returing to the US and had to have surgery. Thanks for your patience. I will get them up soon. In the mean time, keep in touch either through this blog or my personal email (available on my web site). God bless.

]]> Comment on Wouldn’t It Be Nice to Be in a Local Church Where… by quodlibetalblog http://quodlibetalblog.wordpress.com/2009/01/05/wouldnt-it-be-nice-to-be-in-a-local-church-where/#comment-75 quodlibetalblog Sat, 05 Sep 2009 03:33:59 +0000 http://quodlibetalblog.wordpress.com/?p=73#comment-75 Thanks for the inquiry. I think I'll write another blog entry (or several) and go through each point and give my perspective on it. Thanks for the inquiry. I think I’ll write another blog entry (or several) and go through each point and give my perspective on it.

]]> Comment on Wouldn’t It Be Nice to Be in a Local Church Where… by Daniel Lee http://quodlibetalblog.wordpress.com/2009/01/05/wouldnt-it-be-nice-to-be-in-a-local-church-where/#comment-74 Daniel Lee Fri, 04 Sep 2009 21:30:40 +0000 http://quodlibetalblog.wordpress.com/?p=73#comment-74 Hi I'd love to know all your perspectives on the things you listed. It seems I don't know the better perspectives on these. Could you send me if you can? Hi I’d love to know all your perspectives on the things you listed. It seems I don’t know the better perspectives on these. Could you send me if you can?

]]> Comment on Leaving Our Church by quodlibetalblog http://quodlibetalblog.wordpress.com/2008/12/29/leaving-our-church/#comment-73 quodlibetalblog Wed, 29 Jul 2009 04:53:20 +0000 http://quodlibetalblog.wordpress.com/?p=50#comment-73 No, it isn't a matter of personal identity after death. Piper's problem wasn't that sophisticated or philosophical. Rather, it was a theological/biblical problem. If the resurrection hasn't happened yet, then he would not be in his physical body immediately after his death. But presummably only a physical body can have scars. Thus, for him to notice that he didn't have scars makes no sense in light of the evangelical Christian theology I suspect he claims to otherwise hold. If he opts for some sort of temporary physical body during this intermediate time, then why should he exhibit excitement over it not having scars unless there was reason to believe that if the intermediate body lacked scars, our ultimate body would as well. But I'm confident he was not thinking that deeply (or wasn't thinking at all!). Don't get me started on the issue of the lack of critical thinking in the American church (and in America in general). One can get spoiled teaching at a seminary when the level of thinking is so high. But it can make some churches disappointing. Thankfully, we've found a new church that I'm hopeful will be receptive of some challenging thinking. No, it isn’t a matter of personal identity after death. Piper’s problem wasn’t that sophisticated or philosophical. Rather, it was a theological/biblical problem. If the resurrection hasn’t happened yet, then he would not be in his physical body immediately after his death. But presummably only a physical body can have scars. Thus, for him to notice that he didn’t have scars makes no sense in light of the evangelical Christian theology I suspect he claims to otherwise hold. If he opts for some sort of temporary physical body during this intermediate time, then why should he exhibit excitement over it not having scars unless there was reason to believe that if the intermediate body lacked scars, our ultimate body would as well. But I’m confident he was not thinking that deeply (or wasn’t thinking at all!).
Don’t get me started on the issue of the lack of critical thinking in the American church (and in America in general). One can get spoiled teaching at a seminary when the level of thinking is so high. But it can make some churches disappointing. Thankfully, we’ve found a new church that I’m hopeful will be receptive of some challenging thinking.

]]> Comment on Leaving Our Church by John W. Loftus http://quodlibetalblog.wordpress.com/2008/12/29/leaving-our-church/#comment-72 John W. Loftus Tue, 28 Jul 2009 20:26:54 +0000 http://quodlibetalblog.wordpress.com/?p=50#comment-72 Personal identity issues after death, eh? I know all too well that problem. ;-) I'm sure you've solved them, right? I would suppose that a person with your education and intelligence would have a hard time finding such a church. I know of at least one Christian scholar who doesn't even attend chuurch for that very reason. Cheers. Personal identity issues after death, eh? I know all too well that problem. ;-) I’m sure you’ve solved them, right?

I would suppose that a person with your education and intelligence would have a hard time finding such a church. I know of at least one Christian scholar who doesn’t even attend chuurch for that very reason.

Cheers.

]]> Comment on Wouldn’t It Be Nice to Be in a Local Church Where… by Charlie Coil http://quodlibetalblog.wordpress.com/2009/01/05/wouldnt-it-be-nice-to-be-in-a-local-church-where/#comment-71 Charlie Coil Wed, 01 Jul 2009 22:08:12 +0000 http://quodlibetalblog.wordpress.com/?p=73#comment-71 Dude, I grew up getting taught most of the stuff on your list. Richard, I've been telling you that you need to at least visit a Church of Christ or an Independent Christian Church. We're not ALL hardcore pelagians. My friend Jeff Walling has been pastoring the Providence Rd Church of Christ there in Matthews for over ten years and doing an outstanding job. Like you he has a terrific sense of humor. The two of you should at least meet and have coffee or something. See their home page: http://prcoc.org/Default.asp?page=185 or Jeff's page: http://prcoc.org/Walling.htm --Charlie Dude, I grew up getting taught most of the stuff on your list. Richard, I’ve been telling you that you need to at least visit a Church of Christ or an Independent Christian Church. We’re not ALL hardcore pelagians. My friend Jeff Walling has been pastoring the Providence Rd Church of Christ there in Matthews for over ten years and doing an outstanding job. Like you he has a terrific sense of humor. The two of you should at least meet and have coffee or something. See their home page: http://prcoc.org/Default.asp?page=185 or Jeff’s page: http://prcoc.org/Walling.htm –Charlie

]]> Comment on God Bless Italy by Lonny Anthony Wedell http://quodlibetalblog.wordpress.com/2009/06/07/god-bless-italy/#comment-70 Lonny Anthony Wedell Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:27:03 +0000 http://quodlibetalblog.wordpress.com/2009/06/07/god-bless-italy/#comment-70 Thank you for putting on your Apologetics classes at the International Baptist Church Naples, Italy. I was the guy that asks how you prove God to someone that will only believe in God if they physically see him. I used the gravity illustration but that back fired as my atheist friend stated you can see the effect of gravity. All this proves to me I need to put my head in the Bible more. I was with the 6'+ giant named Joel. I am US Navy stationed here in Naples, Italy but not for much longer. I am headed to Qatar for a year so fun times for me. Anyway you said that you would make your presentations available on the net but I can't find them. When I talked to Pastor Tim Monahan and Pastor Tim Faulkner they keep giving me www.ses.edu but that is a dead end. Do you have the link where I can see at least the slides for the presentations you made? Thank you for coming to IBC Naples and I hope to hear back from you soon. Lonny Anthony Wedell Thank you for putting on your Apologetics classes at the International Baptist Church Naples, Italy. I was the guy that asks how you prove God to someone that will only believe in God if they physically see him. I used the gravity illustration but that back fired as my atheist friend stated you can see the effect of gravity. All this proves to me I need to put my head in the Bible more. I was with the 6′+ giant named Joel. I am US Navy stationed here in Naples, Italy but not for much longer. I am headed to Qatar for a year so fun times for me. Anyway you said that you would make your presentations available on the net but I can’t find them. When I talked to Pastor Tim Monahan and Pastor Tim Faulkner they keep giving me http://www.ses.edu but that is a dead end. Do you have the link where I can see at least the slides for the presentations you made? Thank you for coming to IBC Naples and I hope to hear back from you soon.

Lonny Anthony Wedell

]]> Comment on Leaving Our Church by Jeff http://quodlibetalblog.wordpress.com/2008/12/29/leaving-our-church/#comment-69 Jeff Wed, 20 May 2009 14:11:30 +0000 http://quodlibetalblog.wordpress.com/?p=50#comment-69 You know, we need to start a church...... You know, we need to start a church……

]]> Comment on Wouldn’t It Be Nice to Be in a Local Church Where… by quodlibetalblog http://quodlibetalblog.wordpress.com/2009/01/05/wouldnt-it-be-nice-to-be-in-a-local-church-where/#comment-68 quodlibetalblog Tue, 03 Mar 2009 20:31:02 +0000 http://quodlibetalblog.wordpress.com/?p=73#comment-68 Thanks Sean! It's comforting to know that there are others out there who agree and care about such things. But I'm afraid we're a minority. Thanks Sean! It’s comforting to know that there are others out there who agree and care about such things. But I’m afraid we’re a minority.

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