Thought-provoking Discussion of Apologetics

[_Kishkumen]

For those of you who would like to know more about the concept of apologetics as the lights of European philosophy thought about them, see this post at By Common Consent.

[_MrStakhanovite]

For those of you who would like to know more about the concept of apologetics as the lights of European philosophy thought about them, see this post at By Common Consent.

Jacob is a fine example of how a thoughtful Mormon can engage the wider world.

[_Kishkumen]

For those of you who would like to know more about the concept of apologetics as the lights of European philosophy thought about them, see this post at By Common Consent.

Jacob is a fine example of how a thoughtful Mormon can engage the wider world.

I haven't really followed his blogging thus far. I will certainly follow this series of posts on apologetics. Interesting stuff!

[_cwald]

Very good. Here is the meat, at least what I think the article was getting at.

When one accepts the religious on religious grounds, one receives or judges the religious based on the authority of its origination. Teachers without authority have no business making demands of their listeners, of setting up the stakes of Us vs. Them; the apostle, by contrast, makes nothing but demands, not by virtue of the content of his teaching, but by his authority alone.

The teacher must constantly and unremittingly acknowledge her lack of authority, consistently qualifying her teaching, repenting and revising at all times as necessary. The teacher broadcasts that she or he speaks for herself or himself and not for God; the inverse is true of the apostle.

[_CaliforniaKid]

I haven't really followed his blogging thus far. I will certainly follow this series of posts on apologetics. Interesting stuff!

You should read his series on his experiences as a parent. Some of the most amazing blogging I've read in a long time.

[_Blixa]

Thanks for pointing me in that direction, Kish. I look forward to reading the series.

And thanks Chris, for the other recommendation about his blogging...

[_Equality]

I agree it's a thoughtful and thought-provoking post, as his usually are. I can't help but quote this little aside and comment on it, though:

I have since heard these current events likened to Trekkies arguing over Klingon verb conjugation–the reaction by some has been so intense because the stakes are so low. It actually wouldn’t surprise me in the least to learn that less than 1% of all Mormons even know of the existence of the Maxwell Institute, FARMS, and FAIR, and that even less than that have any genuine interest in any of them.

I wonder if he says this unironically. Certainly, the percentage of Mormons who even know of the existence of By Common Consent, or the Bloggernacle for that matter, is about as low as the percentage who know and care about FARMS, etc. I guess the discussions that take place in the Bloggernacle could be likened to discussions among Trekkers about advances in Romulan military technology.

[_the narrator]

by the way, Jacob edited a forthcoming feschrift in honor of David Paulsen, which (in my biased opinion) has one of the best collections of essays engaging Mormon theology by some of the biggest names in Mormon and Christian theology.

[_Kishkumen]

by the way, Jacob edited a forthcoming feschrift in honor of David Paulsen, which (in my biased opinion) has one of the best collections of essays engaging Mormon theology by some of the biggest names in Mormon and Christian theology.

Thanks for the heads up on that, the narrator. And thank you for bringing your needed perspective to MDB!

[_the narrator]

And thank you for bringing your needed perspective to MDB!

Someone needs to put you apostates in your place.