Read This First, Please!
December 28, 2006
It has taken considerable convincing for me to start a weblog. We’re all busy, so a blog needs to do something worthwhile. What would this one do?
First, it would provide a safe place for people to raise questions about my main area of professional and personal interest: the intersection of faith and culture. By “safe” I mean a place where religious and spiritual and philosophical questions are welcome and taken seriously, and where people respond with civility, concern, and intelligence. No orthodoxy is required to participate in this conversation, just goodwill, kindness, and the perseverance necessary to state something carefully, listen to responses just as carefully, and respond in kind.
There are other places to discuss such matters seriously, of course, but they tend to press one to a particular conclusion: notably such places as churches, synagogues, temples, and the like, or families of believers. Not everyone feels welcome to raise awkward or challenging questions therein.
Society at large tends not to take religious and spiritual and philosophical matters seriously, unless it has to do with terrorism, the “holiday wars,” or some other site of conflict. So on this blog, I hope we can discuss things that really matter without feeling obliged to convince everyone else of our version of things.
That’s the main reason for this blog: to ask questions and discuss answers.
Another reason, the reason behind any personal blog, is to communicate with those who might like to hear what the blogger has to say about something, and then engage him or her further in conversation. Some of you might have read something I have written, or heard me speak someplace, and would like to raise a new point or carry on a discussion that just got started in those other settings. I welcome such engagement.
I intend to post something at least weekly for your consideration, and I also will respond promptly to issues raised by others. I’ll give this a go for a few months and see if it’s worth my while and yours. Thanks for reading so far, and I hope you’ll feel most welcome to participate. I look forward to hearing from you.
January 3, 2007 at 5:41 am
so if i read and comment on a regular basis, does that count as my devotional time?
March 1, 2007 at 1:06 am
Hi Dr. Stackhouse, it’s wonderful to see you start blogging! Your writing has always been food for thought for me =)
Speaking of a “safe place” to discuss issues on the internet, there’s nowhere more troubling than http://www.convinceme.net
It saddens me how emotional, biased, illogical, and shallow are the opinions of the young generation on this online debating site. Everyone sounded like Richard Dawkins. We really need wise and sound opinions like yours in these public platforms. (However, I know it might be a complete waste of time…)
Besides through Christianity Today and TV networks, how else can you engage with the massive youth that spend most of their time on the internet?
March 2, 2007 at 2:32 pm
I like this site, because in my own home, I am not free to express my opinion, although it doesn’t really stop me, I find myself in a religiouse war, but the question I always put forward to people is that the whole concept of “The Secret”, in my opinion is not to simply accept life, but to appreciate life, to be truly greatful, and to live. God never wanted us to settle or merely to just exist he wanted us to achieve and to live. Our paths and destinys are not carved in stone, they are an unwritten book, and I believe that we are the authors who can fill these pages.
April 9, 2007 at 9:02 am
It is strange how things work in the crazy world. i was wathcing a copy of the DVD The secret this Easter Week end at a friend’s house. And as i looked at it I was amazed at what I was thinking that is that this is what God tells us to do all the time we must ask for what we want we must believe and we must act as if it has happened. Al though I wasnt’t focusing on the material as i looked at this DVD. I was think ing more of health doing good things, asking for forgiveness, etc. so i wanted to know more about this “secret thing” so i went to my favorite site site Google and i came upon a quote by you about this ” new phonomenon” (sp) which brought me to your Blog. I had a preconceived bias against blogging and bloggers I dont know why. I find your articles very interesting and inspiring. I consider my self a christians yet my knowledge of christianity is shameful. My only saving point is that i am not alone in my ignorance. it appears that many of us who call themselves christians dont know. For instance your brief but informative discussion about good friday was very enlightening and thought provoking. i intend to stop in from time to time adn read. i hope at some point down the road to be able to contribute with a intelligent question once in a while
November 27, 2007 at 11:51 am
Hello John,
Greetings from acorss the continent and the pond – here in England.
i’d just like to say how refreshing and helpful I’ve found a number of your lectures (as well as entertaining!).
It’s good to read someone setting out their presuppositions – at least in terms of what you think your blog is about – I may even try it myself.
As for Santa – it’s a fascinating question and one which the worlds physicists and engineers would be better put to solving than how more readily to destroy the world – let’s call it a diversionary tactic
Grace and peace
Eric
June 14, 2008 at 9:54 am
Thanks for these kind notes, folks. The record shows that I have enjoyed blogging enough to keep at it lo, these many months. And I’ve enjoyed it particularly because of notes like these: Thanks again!
August 26, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Hello and kia ora from Aotearoa NZ! Have just been introduced to your work by Elaine Graham who’s down here lecturing at The University of Auckland for our School of Theology..I’m finishing my undergrad this semester and onto post-grad next year..I’m struggling with the intercept between my interest areas and relationship to public theology and the ‘how to’ in terms of liberating other Christians from oppressive ‘Christian’ discourses, particularly around gender/sexuality…I often think it would be nice if God left me alone (ignorance IS bliss) rather than feeling like a proverbial and rather loud ‘mouth’ of the Body of Christ..hopefully its just my own narcissism and not so much vocation lol Great to find you here and I look forward to your commentary.
Thanks,
Petra