I have created this blog to provide a public forum for those of us who enjoy thinking about The Big Questions and sharing their knowledge and experience with fellow thinkers. Every world view, be it theistic, pantheistic or atheistic, must deal with these questions according to its presuppositions about the ultimate nature of reality. Here we have the opportunity to debate and reason our way towards satisfactory answers to metaphysical and religious questions.
My committed position is that the Christian world view provides the best and most coherent metaphysical explanation for all physical and non-physical reality. Spiritual knowledge gained through Christian theology is objectively true; that is, theology is a source of real knowledge that corresponds accurately to reality. It is not merely a source of subjective ethical values or feelings that are subservient to empirical and/or verificationist sources of knowledge. My position concurs with philosopher J.P. Moreland that “Science and theology are interacting approaches to the same reality that can be in conflict in various ways (e.g. mutually exclusive, or logically compatible but not mutually reinforcing) or can be in concord in various ways…[this] position alone allows for direction interaction, conflict and mutual reinforcement.”
My area of growing expertise is in Christian apologetics. Apologetics is that branch of Christian theology which seeks to defend the faith against challenges from other world views and also present a positive case in favor of Christian truth claims about reality. There are various types of Christian apologetics: scientific, philosophical, theological, cultural. I will do my best to represent the Christian world view in a myriad of apologetical modes with articles, book reviews, quotes, humor, movie reviews, videos, pictures and whatever other opportunities arise.
For the Believer, I hope that this blog will assist you in going a little bit deeper in exploring the foundations of your Christian world view and assist you in gaining both wisdom from Scripture and an increased confidence in the objective truth of spiritual knowledge. For the seeker or atheist, I hope that this blog will provide you with arguments and information that will persuade you to question your current stance against the coherence of Christian theism and consider that Christianity provides an accurate picture of reality after all.
As for my personal theological stances, I support without reservation the position articulated in the Evangelical Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy. I was confirmed at age 10 in the Bermuda Anglican Cathedral and at age 27 I was baptized in London, re-affirming my evangelical anglican faith in the Lord Jesus. I attend St. John’s Anglican Church in Pembroke, Bermuda. As for whether I ascribe to a Calvinist, Lutheran or assorted Reformist theology, I prefer to tarry on that point for the time being. One of my main purposes of this blog, in addition to exploring apologetical issues, is to deepen our knowledge of theology through articles and dialogue and hopefully arrive at the theological positions best supported by Scripture. Calvinists, Arminians, Catholics and other Christian denominations are encouraged to address issues raised on this blog from their theological perspectives. I value input from different Christian perspectives even if, in the end, I do not agree with all of them.
Atheists, skeptics, agnostics, those of other faiths, proponents of mainline and Christ-less versions of Christianity are actively encouraged to critique my posts and present cogent arguments in favor of their world views. Though Christians are bound to defend the Gospel against mistaken views and false philosophies, those that hold to such views will be treated with fairness and dignity.
Please remember to treat all persons with respect, particularly those whom you disagree with. By all means critique the logic of an argument to the best of your ability but attacks against the person (ad hominem), insults or malicious sarcasm will not be permitted. The use of foul language or profanity will result in your comment being deleted and if necessary you will be banned from posting anything further. No one is exempt from this rule, regardless of their world view.
In relation to posting, I will endeavor to answer challenges to the best of my ability but it is also my personal policy that challengers will usually be given the opportunity to have the last word in a discussion relating to the contents of one of my blog entries. This is partly because I have limited time to spend on any one topic of discussion, but mainly because I want to grant the challenger the opportunity to present his argument in its strongest form for the consideration of others who may wish to pursue it further elsewhere.
If I do not respond to something you post, please feel free to email me and I will attempt to respond within a reasonable period, so long as I think your motives are honest and therefore worthy of response. I know that sounds arbitrary, but there are a lot of “Internet Trolls” out there who are interested only in poisoning discussions with raw assertions and false ‘facts’ and have no interest in pursuing fruitful dialogue.
Otherwise, have fun and thank you for visiting psalmtrees!
Stephen
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Hello Steve, got through your letter on Sat relatively unscathed. Doing a PhD in social constructionism perhaps helped. Will stop by from time-to-time. Like the Blog title – a good play on words.
Thanks Riley. I’m grateful to hear someone reads my mutterings!