Intro Your last post was helpful in clarifying your position on some of the philosophical issues we have been discussing. It was not entirely clear to me exactly how your own beliefs relate to those of Socrates and Confucius, but I assume, based on what you say, that you would fall somewhere in between Socrates’s Read More…
Category: Dialogues
Where I’m Coming From
In the last post, I attempted to provide something of a defense of both agnosticism and skepticism (as I understand those terms). My goal in this post will be to respond to your last rebuttal, and at the same time provide a more positive case for why I think agnosticism and skepticism are good approaches Read More…
Skepticism and Ethics
Skepticism – To what degree? It is clear to me that you are not a Skeptic; that is, you do not think it is impossible to know anything. You do have beliefs about various topics that you believe are true. Nor are you an Agnostic; that is, you do not think that in principle we Read More…
In Defense of Skepticism
Taking Stock Over the last few posts, I feel there are a few different avenues we’ve opened up worth continuing to explore. There’s the issue of Marxist historical theory and methodology, the merits or downfalls of such a theory, and possible further clarifications on it. Then, there’s the broader question of epistemology – agnosticism, skepticism, Read More…
Christianity and Marxism
I don’t think any reasonable person could deny that it is important to consider the impact of socioeconomic factors and class struggle in history. I would also certainly agree that there are lots of gaps in the historical record, which frequently included the now-lost voices of marginalized people. I think it is also good that Read More…
On Marxism
Hello again, and thanks for your most recent post. I’m sure I’ll try and formulate a more direct response to it, but I wanted to get this stuff on Marxist historical theory out there first:1Disclaimer: I do not in any way fancy myself an expert on the views of Karl Marx, Marxism, or Marxist historical theory Read More…
Imagination, Authority, and Knowledge
Epistemology I sense that in some ways we have significantly different epistemological approaches. I think we would both agree that one should have a healthy balance of skepticism and trust, but I think we disagree about where that balance lies, with you leaning significantly more towards skepticism. I recently ran across a quote by Phillips Read More…
The Trouble with (Traditional) Worldviews
I’m still planning to get to the Marxism stuff, and I want to clarify some of the relationship between Paul’s authority and the guidance of the Spirit. But, right now, let me try and clarify what I meant about not needing to buy into any particular worldview because it probably makes a huge difference to my Read More…
On Belief
I have to admit that you raise a lot of good points in your last post on the Holy Spirit. I can really understand where you’re coming from, but I think you go too far in saying that the past 2,000 years of church history back up the hypothesis that Jesus did nothing to ensure Read More…
On the Holy Spirit
I believe I understand what you mean that the Spirit is a key topic related to everything else we’ve been discussing. It also could very well be the thing about which I am most skeptical — maybe not so much that some sort of Spirit could or does exist that influences people and groups, or Read More…