Tag: theology
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Anselm’s famous Ontological Argument has caused controversy for a thousand years among theologians, philosophers and apologists. But is it a valid argument, or merely a “charming trick” using verbal gymnastics? While the argument iself is “simple”, it is almost indescribably complex because it deals with ultimate reality – the nature…
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Church teaching has been historically divided into three categories: (1) THEOLOGY (what to believe), (2) APOLOGETICS (why to believe) and (3) ETHICS (how to act). There is a Symbiotic Relationship (mutual benefit) between the three areas, with each reinforcing the other two areas. If we emphasize one area to the…
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Given the state of public education, I suspect many young people have no idea who the Marquis de Sade is. (The word “sadism” derives from his name.) He was the first person in modern times to write openly about abortion and affirm it. As Davidson notes in Pagan America, Sade’s…
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The church has historically categorized its teaching into three categories: Theology (what we believe) Ethics (how we behave) Apologetics (why we believe) There are two areas of focus for apologetics: both (1) inside and (2) outside the church. Apologetics is done outside the church to defend the faith (1 Pet…
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Nationalism is distinguished from patriotism. Patriotism is an “expression of devotion to country that is defined by justice” while Nationalism is “tribalistic, triumphalist, idolatrous, exclusivist and violates justice”. By definition then, patriotism leads to open exceptionalism while nationalism fosters closed exceptionalism. Closed exceptionalism inevitably infects theology as it tends to…
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(Author: Bob Pratico; submitted originally on June 20, 2022 at Southern Seminary) IntroductionThe Swiss theologian Hans Urs Von Balthasar warned in a penetrating analysis in 1982 that “Our situation today shows that beauty demands for itself at least as much courage and decision as do truth and goodness, and she…
