Faith Interface

Dr John Lennox on the Definition of Faith

Faith is not a leap in the dark; it’s the exact opposite. It’s a commitment based on evidence… It is irrational to reduce all faith to blind faith and then subject it to ridicule. That provides a very anti-intellectual and convenient way of avoiding intelligent discussion.”

John Lennox

Veritas Forums are university events that engage students and faculty in discussions about life’s hardest questions and the relevance of Jesus Christ to all of life. Visit the Veritas Forum here.

I’m currently reading: “Quantum Leap: How John Polkinghorne Found God in Science and Religion”

Quantum Leap: How John Polkinghorne Found God in Science and Religion by Dean Nelson

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Quantum Leap: How John Polkinghorne Found God in Science and Religion

by Dean Nelson, Karl Giberson

Paperback, 192 pages

Published September 1st 2011 by Lion UK

ISBN   0745954014 (ISBN13: 9780745954011)

The Revd Dr. John Polkinghorne, KBE, FRS is a British particle physicist who, after 25 years of research and discovery in academia, resigned his post to become an Anglican priest and theologian. A professor of mathematical physics at Cambridge University, he was elected to the Royal Society in 1974. As a physicist he participated in the research that led to the theory of the quark, the smallest known particle. This engaging biography-cum-appraisal of his life and work uses Polkinghorne’s own story to explore the most important questions: a scientist’s view of God; why we pray, and what we expect; does the universe have a point?; what happens next?

I’m currently reading: “What Is Zen?” (Alan Watts)

What Is Zen? by Alan Wilson Watts

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What Is Zen?

by Alan Wilson Watts

A fervent, lifelong student of Zen, Alan Watts shows us that it is both an experience – a singular, powerful moment of realization – and a simple way of life, with an awareness that affects every moment of every day. Adopted by mainstream America in a way that carries only a vague association of its roots in Zen Buddhism, Alan Watts makes it clear that any exploration of Zen must understand and embrace its roots as a form of Buddhist practice derived from its Chinese and East Indian sources. Examining the background of Zen in East Indian religion, Watts shows us its evolution through the religion of China. Zen is a synthesis of the contemplative insight of Indian religion and the dynamic liveliness of Taoism as they came together in the pragmatic, practical environment of Confucian China. Watts gives us great insight into the living moment of satori and the release of nirvana, as well as the methods of meditation that are current today, and the influence of Zen culturally in the arts of painting and pottery.

THE AUTHOR

Alan Wilson Watts was a British philosopher, writer, speaker, who held both a master’s degree in theology and a doctorate of divinity. Famous for his research on comparative religion, he was best known as an interpreter and popularizer of Asian philosophies for a Western audience.   He wrote more than 25 books and numerous articles on subjects such as personal identity, the true nature of reality, higher consciousness, meaning of life, concepts and images of God and the non-material pursuit of happiness. In his books he relates his experience to scientific knowledge and to the teachings of Eastern and Western religion and philosophy.

Christmas Song (Dave Matthews Band)

She was his girl; he was her boyfriend
She be his wife; take him as her husband
A surprise on the way, any day, any day
One healthy little giggling dribbling baby boy
The wise men came three made their way
To shower him with love
While he lay in the hay
Shower him with love love love
Love love love
Love love is all around
Not very much of his childhood was known
Kept his mother Mary worried
Always out on his own
He met another Mary for a reasonable fee, less than
Reputable as known to be

His heart was full of love love love
Love love love
Love love is all around
When Jesus Christ was nailed to the his tree
Said “oh, Daddy-o I can see how it all soon will be
I came to shed a little light on this darkening scene
Instead I fear I spill the blood of my children all around”

The blood of our children all around
The blood of our children all around
The blood of our children all around

So I’m told, so I’m the story goes
The people he knew were
Less than golden hearted
Gamblers and robbers
Drinkers and jokers, all soul searchers
Like you and me

Rumors insisted he soon would be
For his deviations
Taken into custody by the authorities
Less informed than he.
Drinkers and jokers. all soul searchers
Searching for love love love
Love love love
Love love is all around

Preparations were made
For his celebration day
He said “eat this bread and think of it as me
Drink this wine and dream it will be
The blood of our children all around
The blood of our children all around”
The blood of our children all around

Father up above, why in all this anger have you fill
Me up with love
Fill me love love love
Love love love
Love love
And the blood of our children all around

Merry Christmas!

It’s Christmas Eve here just west of the International Date Line. I want to wish everyone a happy, safe and blessed Christmas enjoyed with the ones who are most precious to you!

O Holy Night

O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,

It is the night of our dear Saviour’s birth.

Long lay the world in sin and error pining,

‘Til He appear’d and the soul felt its worth.

A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees! O hears the angels’ voices!

O night divine, O night when Christ was born;

O night divine, O night, O night Divine.

Truly He taught us to love one another;

His law is love and His gospel is peace.

Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother;

And in His name all oppression shall cease.

Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise us,

Let all within us praise His holy name.

Christ is the Lord! O praise His Name forever,

His power and glory evermore proclaim.

His power and glory evermore proclaim.

I’m Currently Reading: “Jung – The Key Ideas” (Ruth Snowden)

Jung- The Key Ideas: Teach Yourself by Ruth Snowden

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“American Jesus” – Professor Stick

From the Science Show on Australia’s ABC Radio National.

Professor Stick describes his dealings with editors after their request to publish his writing.

Listen here.

Recommended Reading: “Aping Mankind” (Raymond Tallis)

Aping Mankind: Neuromania, Darwinitis and the Misrepresentation of Humanity
 
Author(s): Raymond Tallis  
ISBN: 1844652726
ISBN-13: 9781844652723
Publication Date: 30 Jun 2011
Pages: 400 (234 x 156mm)
Format: Hardback

In a devastating critique Raymond Tallis exposes the exaggerated claims made for the ability of neuroscience and evolutionary theory to explain human consciousness, behaviour, culture and society.

While readily acknowledging the astounding progress neuroscience has made in helping us understand how the brain works, Tallis directs his guns at neuroscience’s dark companion – “Neuromania” as he describes it – the belief that brain activity is not merely a necessary but a sufficient condition for human consciousness and that consequently our everyday behaviour can be entirely understood in neural terms.

With the formidable acuity and precision of both clinician and philosopher, Tallis dismantles the idea that “we are our brains”, which has given rise to a plethora of neuro-prefixed pseudo-disciplines laying claim to explain everything from art and literature to criminality and religious belief, and shows it to be confused and fallacious, and an abuse of the prestige of science, one that sidesteps a whole range of mind–body problems.

The belief that human beings can be understood essentially in biological terms is a serious obstacle, argues Tallis, to clear thinking about what human beings are and what they might become. To explain everyday behaviour in Darwinian terms and to identify human consciousness with the activity of the evolved brain denies human uniqueness, and by minimising the differences between us and our nearest animal kin, misrepresents what we are, offering a grotesquely simplified and degrading account of humanity. We are, shows Tallis, infinitely more interesting and complex than we appear in the mirror of biologism.

Combative, fearless and always thought-provoking, Aping Mankind is an important book, one that scientists, cultural commentators and policy-makers cannot ignore.

Professor Raymond Tallis is a philosopher, poet, novelist and cultural critic and was until recently a physician and clinical scientist. From his website:

I am a [secular] humanist and see my work as a doctor and as a philosopher as respectively an expression of, and as setting out the case for, my [secular] humanist convictions.

Recommended Reading: “Where The Conflict Really Lies” (Alvin Plantinga)

Where the Conflict Really Lies: Science, Religion, and Naturalism
(Emeritus Professor Alvin Plantinga)
ISBN13: 9780199812097
ISBN10: 0199812098
Oxford University Press, Hardback, 376 pages (Nov 2011)

This book is a long-awaited major statement by a pre-eminent analytic philosopher, Alvin Plantinga, on one of our biggest debates — the compatibility of science and religion. The last twenty years has seen a cottage industry of books on this divide, but with little consensus emerging. Plantinga, as a top philosopher but also a proponent of the rationality of religious belief, has a unique contribution to make. His theme in this short book is that the conflict between science and theistic religion is actually superficial, and that at a deeper level they are in concord.

Plantinga examines where this conflict is supposed to exist — evolution, evolutionary psychology, analysis of scripture, scientific study of religion — as well as claims by Dan Dennett, Richard Dawkins, and Philip Kitcher that evolution and theistic belief cannot co-exist. Plantinga makes a case that their arguments are not only inconclusive but that the supposed conflicts themselves are superficial, due to the methodological naturalism used by science. On the other hand, science can actually offer support to theistic doctrines, and Plantinga uses the notion of biological and cosmological “fine-tuning” in support of this idea. Plantinga argues that we might think about arguments in science and religion in a new way — as different forms of discourse that try to persuade people to look at questions from a perspective such that they can see that something is true. In this way, there is a deep and massive consonance between theism and the scientific enterprise.

About the Author
Alvin Plantinga is O’Brien Emeritus Professor of Philosophy, University of Notre Dame. He is the author of: Essays on the Metaphysics of Modality, The Nature of Necessity, Warrant and Proper Function, Warrant: The Current Debate, Warranted Christian Belief, and Science and Religion: Are they Compatible? (with Dan Dennett).

I argue that there’s no real conflict between evolutionary theory — that is, the scientific theory of evolution apart from any naturalistic spin — and what C.S. Lewis called “Mere Christianity”. There’s no real conflict, even though conflict has been alleged by people [on both sides of the philosophical divide]. But I don’t think there is [a conflict]. What current scientific evolutionary theory says is that the living world has come to be via a certain process of natural selection operating on some form of genetic variation. And it’s clear that God could have made the living world that way if he wanted to. What Christianity tells us, what theistic religion generally tells us, is that God has created the world and created human beings in his image. He could have done that through a variety of means.

Interview with Alvin Plantinga, “Conflict Resolution”, Christianity Today (Dec 2011, p.67)

Advent 2011

Most evangelical Christian churches have forgotten — or ignored — the traditional Christian liturgical calendar. And yet these same churches happily acknowledge secular celebrations like Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Valentine’s Day and ANZAC Day (or the national equivalent). Go figure…

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

(Hebrews 12:1)

Christians who ignore the liturgical calendar — which commences each year with the season of Advent — are cutting themselves off from over two thousand years of Christian tradition, thought and worship. Personally, I am not prepared to “go it alone” in my relationship with God and am more than happy to embrace the traditions and contemplations of generations of committed Christians before me. I encourage you to do the same.

Advent is a quiet, contemplative time of waiting for the Light, the Light who came to be the light of the whole human race. The Light through whom we are given life, rescuing us from the great darkness and hopelessness and frenetic rushing of this time. It is a very special season, indeed, linking the historical coming of the promised Messiah, with the coming of Christ into our own hearts, and the coming of Christ again at the end of time. It is a time to dig deeply into ourselves and feed the very essence of our being with the food of new life, renewed faith and enlivened hope.

The liturgical season begins with Advent, a period of intense preparation to understand and accept the three comings of Christ. The first is His historical coming in human weakness and the manifestation of his divinity to the world; the second is His spiritual coming in our inmost being; the third is His final coming at the end of time in His glorified humanity.

(Thomas Keating, “Advent & the Octave of Christmas”)

Further reading on Advent:

Celebrating Advent – Faith Interface

Discovering Advent eBook

Everyday Advent Guide

A Counter-Cultural Quiet in Advent