Front PageOpen Apology to Philosophers and Philosophy Grad Students
Submitted by bill on Tue, 11/15/2005 - 11:23. Emerging Church philosophy postmodern
Recently I've posted rants on other blogs against a seemingly haughty attitude permeating the reviews and resulting discussions on these blogs of postmodern philosophy and emergent church, those writing about these subjects and those who follow them. Although these reviews and discussions were themselves sometimes uncivil, I want to openly apologize for my rashness and stereotyping. I should have been slow to anger, selective in my critique and forgiving. For these and any other insults I flung, I apologize.
Those of you who know my propensity for this sort of knee jerk may be unsurprised. Nevertheless, it was uncalled for and I need to learn more appropriate responses. As I study more philosophy I'll learn better what to ignore and how better to respond. Because some response I believe is necessary.
Although not particularly a fan of Brian McLaren's books—except A Generous Orthodoxy which I greatly enjoyed—I am astounded at his graciousness under these numerous and virulent attacks on his motives and scholarship (attacks from students even!). McLaren's gracious responses under their attacks on him and others, earn him great respect and admiration from me. I only wish I could be so gracious.
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Swimming Somewhere Else
Submitted by bill on Wed, 11/16/2005 - 23:26.
Thanks again. Notice my most recent post.
bill
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Swimming With Sharks
Bill
Of course no response was expected from those here at faithCommons, so this is unsolicited.
There was a time when I really felt that to be true to myself, I should attempt to discourse with those who disagreed with me about the role of Jesus Christ and the bastardization of his church. There were a few clumsy attempts, but what I got from a few outspoken defenders was enough to convince me that communication was not possible at a level like the one we experience here at fC.
Many would probably think of this site more as a place to destroy faith rather than a place to search its frontiers. I leave it to them to sort out precisely how God is to be worshipped and served...then to further trod the hard ground of taxonomies of dogma.
I do not know the audience of readers that you have experienced, but I am a little familiar with philosophy and its ways. The language often requires a philosophical dictionary to wade thru...that is why those who choose it for a course of study have no other recourse than to get their PHD. They have a taxonomy all their own, and the territory is theirs...no way will a PHD or even an apprentice give ground to intellectual lessers. My answer is, not only am I not smart enough...truth is, I don't want to waste my time in pointless debate.
For what it's worth, there are a lot of people who enjoy sharing. And you don't have to apologize if we disagree.
reido bandito