Category Archives: philosophical reflection

The Weight of Story

Posted on November 26, 2013 by PaulVK

The Tiger Kills When a tiger stalks its prey we take nor moral offense. Why not? The tiger shows no mercy. The tiger seems to enjoy the game and relishes the feast at the expense of the goat. We might … Continue reading →

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Being Not Sure About the Bible

Posted on July 28, 2013 by PaulVK

How Being Not Sure Impacts Preaching I continue to be fascinated by John Suk’s journey. For me the benefit of John’s exodus is the opportunity he creates to compare some of his thought to my own. Since we are products … Continue reading →

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Is the Scientific, Therapeutic Appropriation of Spirituality Fundamentally A Placebo?

Posted on May 31, 2013 by PaulVK

Most (not all) agree: “Spirituality” as commonly understood has measurable psychological, therapeutic benefits. Therapists  attempt to employ “spiritual” language to help give their patience a sense of well-being. Science itself cannot resolve fundamental differences between religions. (Monotheism/polytheism vs. pantheism, Moses … Continue reading →

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So This is Water, The Water Is Joy

Posted on May 11, 2013 by PaulVK

Wow, very impressive. I would like to deconstruct it a bit though. The thesis is that education affords one the choice to consider a more generous outlook on the banalities of modern urban existence. This is true and helpful. What’s … Continue reading →

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Why Smart Atheists Should Encourage True, Sacrificial Christianity

Posted on December 1, 2012 by PaulVK

It’s Not In the Obvious Lifestyle Differences Theists and atheists don’t live lives that different from each others. This is a source of angst for both sides and actually a point for evolutionary atheism. We are deeply conditioned by our … Continue reading →

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Believing what I Want to Believe to Learn to Do What I Don’t Want to Do

Posted on November 27, 2012 by PaulVK

John Suk as Astronaut Someone today asked me if I knew John Suk before my habit of reading or commenting on his blog. I confessed that besides renting an apartment from him when I was in seminary I really didn’t. … Continue reading →

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How loose our grasp on reality

Posted on October 20, 2012 by PaulVK

Been doing a lot of pondering about what we can know lately. I’m convinced of a few things: there is a real world out there our grasp on perceiving it, understanding it, and articulating it is tenuous at best. Brain … Continue reading →

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If Darwin was Right, His Children Will Lose

Posted on July 26, 2012 by PaulVK

Through The Cold Eye of Science We are frail, vulnerable creatures orbiting a burning ball of gas at 66,000 miles an hour, rotating on an axis at over a thousand miles an hour, the experience of which we are mostly … Continue reading →

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The Self Illusion or the Author and His Story

Posted on June 19, 2012 by PaulVK

You are not what you think you are In Christopher Nolan’s psychological thriller Memento, Leonard Shelby attempts to avenge his wife’s murder. During the murder, however, Leonard suffered a blow to the head that left him unable to create new … Continue reading →

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The Emergent Bizarro Twins of Mars Hill

Posted on May 18, 2012 by PaulVK

Pt. 3 of The Postmodern Logic Behind Emergent Calvinism The Dream of Resurrecting the First Century At the core of the Protestant ethos is the dream that the root vine of the church of Jesus Christ can be tapped by … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture commentary, Institutional Church, philosophical reflection | 2 Comments