Comments on "The Idolatrous Use Of Scripture"

I should say more about the last post "The Idolatrous Use of Scripture." The content of that post is as follows:

The Idolatrous Use Of Scripture

Scripture interprets scripture. Yes. First, the scriptures reveal Christ. Second, the scriptures submit to Christ.

The scriptures are always a means to an end. Christ is that end. The authority of the scriptures derives from that same end. Scripture becomes an idol whenever it serves itself or serves another end. And as an idol, the book has no authority. The history of humanity after Christ is scarred from the idolatrous use of the scriptures. 

"Better him than me"

There is something about the encouragement-by-way-of-comparison (EWC) approach that bothers me. What do I mean by EWC? For instance, say I have a broken leg. I’m somewhat distressed by my one broken leg because it prevents me from doing those things I could do if I had no broken leg. This affects my disposition and now I am down. But, I consider the individual with two broken legs. Furthermore, I consider all of the things that a two-broken-legged person cannot do that a one-broken-legged person can. It seems to me that this person with two broken legs is in a much worse spot than I am. Now I am beginning to feel better. In fact, now things don’t look so bad. Now, I'm encouraged. This is EWC and it seems, at least to me, wrong-headed.

Two Friends Fishing (On Expectations Of Justice)

Sam:  Hand me that light. I can't see what I'm doing with this hook.

Frank:  I don't think we'll catch any more tonight, but here you go.

Sam:  Maybe we should go about this from a different angle.

Frank: You mean we should use different bait?

Sam:  No. I'm talking about the injustice we see in the world. For the last hour and a half we've bemoaned the fact that it seems injustices will never end. In fact, it seems reasonable that our expectations of a just world are unreasonable. I guess what I'm trying to say is that we should always seek to bring about a just world, but that we should also be realistic. It will never happen. It can never happen.

Epistemic Humility As Disposition

With the last post in mind ( found here), I want to come to a clearer understanding of epistemic humility. I want us to think about what we are being asked to do, when asked to nurture epistemic humility. Or better, what are we not asked to do? Epistemic humility could be misunderstood as a request to both believe and not-believe what we in fact do believe. I want to show that is not the request.

Realized Ignorance

I am going to assume, for the moment, that any approach to achieving peaceful coexistence among differing cultures, religions, worldviews, ideologies, etc. will include an account for nurturing epistemic humility. As the world we inhabit “shrinks,” we must find a way to peacefully agree to disagree. More to the point, it is imperative that we realize our ignorance, both individually and as a community.

A Socrates To Me

I was on my way to a training seminar when I experienced one of those encounters that calibrate expectations. I located my luggage at baggage claim, and found my way to the shuttle. As it would happen, it was just the two of us.

A Phenomenological Approach To The Scriptures

The goal of this post is to present a (seminary) model, an environment that allows scripture to speak for itself.  In other words, one which would take a “phenomenological approach” to scripture.