Thanks Pete, I expressed my full view in a direct response above. As is knowledge of Heavenly Father. Id suggest there are other qualitative characteristics too. . Even today Christians keep founding relatively new and youthful institutions devoted to walling themselves up against questions, like Liberty Christian U, or Tim LaHays Heritage Christian U, or Patrick Henry U, or all the televangelist stations on TV. Im loosely affiliated with an international church (evangelical) in Beijing; and it is quite stark to me here how the Western mind (American in particular) shapes and engages with Christian faith. After writing "Analysis of Rachel Held Evan's Book "Inspired" Part 1: Introduction" yesterday I noticed that Rachel Held Evans sees Peter Enns as a mentor. I think the sooner the Church heals the Great Schism and returns to the even the faith of Jesus certainly before Constantine and possibly before Paul, the better she will be on a cosmic mission. Hi Pete, Living with uncertainty is a relative thing. I think the wrong way of knowing Peter refers to as rational analysis possibly could be better worded as non-paradoxical., In some ways (at least today), I cant help but think the answer to the does God exist? riddle is the Zens .. But I also think youre using the language of evidence in a very stale, limited manner. Knowledge of God is described by terms like participation, longing, , immediacy.. Maybe more so than that of our sense perception of sight? Im pretty sure it looks like what we are doing on here (if our intentions are purely to seek and accept). According to Enns, when Paul spoke about Adam, he was not communicating actual history (though Paul believed that he was), rather, he was highlighting an important theological fact (the universal sinfulness of man), employing the most foundational biblical idiom available to him (Enns 2012, p. 142). There do not exist words in any language to specify or define His qualities, peculiarities, characteristics and singularities. When a faith fights the fight of certainty of an understanding the world as-is putting iron age as-is foundations against present-day as-is understandings, the battle is already conceded. (As ridiculous as it may sound in our context) I was on a run and received a word of prophecy to deliver to an old friend. prof at Westminster Seminary for his progressive evangelicalism, and has not identified himself as a universalist. And we do this not by relying on our experiences at the subjective level as some private matter , but we take what can be shared about that subjective experience and put it on the table for all to look at and compare. Im familiar with various concepts of God. He is the Robert S. Harrison Director of the Cornell Center for Social Sciences and Executive Director of the Roper Center for Public Opinion Research. 2. One of the things about the Western way of knowing is that it isnt really a Western way of knowing. As is knowledge of Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Shiva. As claimed, the Incarnation passed through our material and human existence. Graciousness to Americans and more? But It comes at a high costthat of calories to feed the brain. I think there is a model there where the subjective, but real experience of God is the starting point for understanding the perceptual equipment, which will help us to acknowledge the existence of a real Being that makes the subjective states or experiences real. Messiah College . People who call others incredibly stupid and foolish beyond measure for not sharing their own religious positions ought to take a look in the mirror. And even ones blindness to this And lAck of understanding the necessity of grAtitude for thAt Is not a barricade to the reality of the creator of ones flesh & spirit. I use the words intelligent and basis. The question presumes that belief in God is something to be settled on the basis of intelligence, education, knowledge of facts, etc. I have asked many people who say that they dont believe, what evidence would be sufficient for them to believe that God exists, and I think the opposite, what evidence would be sufficient to convince me that God does not exist There are multitudes of examples of God giving evidence to his people so they might believe, or trust him. Scientists tend to understand everything through the lens of our basic five senses which reside in our body and soul. Or at least you have come near enough to listen and understand much of what Frank has to say. And I also can grok the paradoxical Essence of a Triune God, the kind of God allowing himself to be humbled and broken in kenotic sacrifice as an example of a new Way of Being, in hope of bringing forth a Kingdom. And there are child-rearing costs to and constraints concerning size of head vs. size of pelvis. Every disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who draws out from their storage room things both old and new. Or the mega church movement, to try and get and sustain even a greater Jesus high. And I am not sure about the analogy concerning trusting your wife, unless you wake up everyday lying literally next to a flesh and blood Jesus who literally speaks with you or even makes you breakfast some mornings. Ted Cruz proudly stated that any president who doesnt pray on his knees to Jesus Christ every day isnt fit to be commander-in-chief. You will know whom I mean, Atheism may be comparatively popular with God himself, When a pious visitor inquired sweetly, Henry, have you made your peace with God? he replied, We have never quarreled., Henry David Thoreau as quoted in Henry David Thoreau: What Manner of Man? Slow chuckle. And we can also look at those experiences, and see if there is an element of illusion about them. I said that when it comes to experiences, peoples experience of Allah or Yahweh or Jesus or Krishna or Buddha lay along a wide spectrum. April 2015 am Universal-museum Joanneum in Graz (Schild von Steier, Beiheft 8 / Forschungen zur geschichtlichen Landeskunde der Steiermark 79) Archologie in sterreich 1938 1945 Danner Salzburg. How do you know these are HIS words? Thank you Joseph. [1] Without discounting all those wonderful things, I do not think that the God question is settled this way. It is based on direct and personal encounter. And both stories end with a sacrifice to a deity. I am married and trust my wife but like anything, marriage is a complete trust that the other person will be faithful (for better or worse) we live in the tensions of trusting people everyday (even strangers we do not know who drive vehicles). I agree that post-enlightenment empiricism is never going to lead to genuine interaction with the creator, but what about prayer? The realm of the elohim and the realm of the seen (1 sam 28.13). But you can deny that my experience reflects actual motion in reality. Furthermore, I believe it just to consider that biases are adaptive. Your argument for disbelief is foolish, because God cannot be like any of the things perceived by the senses, nor can He be said to bear any resemblance to anything which has to undergo an ordeal of change and decay. As an admittedly poor psychology major in college, I was particularly fascinated with neurology and how humans process and interpret information/stimuli. Could it well be that this spiritual sense is very prone to illusion as well? Interesting article. But by putting these experiences on the table and sharing them, we can say some objective things about them. So thats where I am at this stage of my journey on the whole God thing. One who holds such a faith cannot form a true concept of God, he is *IGNORANT* and will always try to believe in some *creation* of his *imagination* as his god. How we study and understand these relationships, and their separate parts, and the enjoyment of the results of that understanding, are very important, fulfilling, stretching etc. Though I certainly dont want to edge into Edwards post to restate it here. Asking whether the enemy, or lunch, or nothing is moving in the bush over there is something we do together. Professor; Executive Director, Roper Center for Public Opinion Research; Robert S. Harrison Director, Cornell Center for Social Sciences. Peter Enns $ 9.89 - $ 15.31 The Sin of Certainty: Why God Desires Our Trust More Than Our "Correct" Beliefs Peter Enns $ 16.04 Inspiration and Incarnation: Evangelicals and the Problem of the Old Testament Peter Enns $ 5.09 - $ 20.21 Telling God's Story: A Parents' Guide to Teaching the Bible Peter Enns $ 8.89 - $ 11.40 Then here you go! He is also co-founder and chief . I would never ever suggest this is a unique property of Xty. Also, be sure to read the book rather than a blurb to see what I am after. One big reason is that I am convinced I would already be dead many times over without Gods guidance. As long as the genes replicate, its worked. Tweets at @peteenns. 254). . Human faculties of conception, perception and learning, and attributes of volition, intuition and apprehension cannot catch sight of His Person or fathom the extent of His Might and Glory. Often times it seems to me like Christians are busy trying to convince themselves of something they really dont believe, and so they put on their vibrant face, dress in their Sunday best, blare their contemporary Christian music songs, and speak with forcefulness, to appear vibrant to the world, because thats how they read its sposed to be according to the Bible, etc. I have written on Peter Enns before on our blog (see the link in the analysis to Evans' book) but seeing his name again led me to look up Enns and I found he wrote a recent piece on his blog titled "How Can I Trust the Bible . Anyhow, as I have stated before I respect your thoughts and journey, but I do not think it has to be every doubters Journey. Tweets at @peteenns. Meaning external, physical evidence. I get your post. But nonetheless they witness them. People who can conceive N concepts of God seem more adapt at considering the one concept of God of the person who can conceive one concept of God than people who can conceive one concept of God making sense of the N concepts of God of the others schema. Thanks for this insight. How could God (if He does exist) reject anyone who was honestly searching? Thats why all we need to focus on is the Way; which is your way that youre honestly seeking God. Such is life. If so, they can be dismissed with their faulty foundations, but offered opportunity to reconsider their understandings and emphases to get back in the race. I realize that there is a long and rich history of discussion over difficult philosophical issues concerning the existence of God. An Atheist that believes in God. The other day he wrote a post that he entitled Why I Don't Believe in God Anymore. He speaks actively in academic and ecclesiastical venues on topics pertaining the Bible and Christian faith. " To love as God loves means loving not just others like us, but those who are not. To me, simply, neither these two billion adherents nor their leaders really seem all that differentiated from their peer adherents of Allah, Brahma, and more in sacred task of transforming the world. Most Evangelicals find themselves on that path when their evidence takes a beating and they retreat to the world of mystery. He was dismissed as O.T. Universalism is the belief that everyone eventually will be saved. Presume? Because of the differences in interpreting Adam by biblical scholars, Dr. Enns believes that it is unwise to "cling too rigidly to any one approach" (107). immediacy. Peter Enns is the last person that I will analyze simply because he probably best typifies what can happen once one begins the downward spiral on adopting an evolutionary view to Scripture. But lacking a definitive first hand revelation of God and with all of your questions, at what point does one cease asking yet more questions, and perhaps start to view all religions as limited expressions or interpretations of God like prof. of religious philosophy John Hick eventually did after growing up Evangelical? Knowing God is a life-long participation. Their experience will be every bit as powerful, transformative, transcendent, etc. even if our lack of understanding gives us a sense that our existence is meaningless and that, if one could, one would not choose existence. Adam and Eve are the Bible's first man and first woman. Then once that person starts walking with God God (should) will reveal the truth to them. He has taught extensively at the seminary and doctoral levels (Westminster Theological Seminary, Princeton Theological Seminary, Harvard Divinity School, Fuller Theological Seminary, Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, Biblical Theological Seminary) and on the undergraduate level (Temple University and Messiah College). He has taught courses at several other institutions including Harvard University, Fuller Theological Seminary, and Princeton Theological Seminary. Thanks for posting this. In addition, he late dates the Exodus in the mid . As we do for so many other experiences and perceptions deeply subjective in nature. There are great books written by the likes of Brennan Manning on trusting God and there are great books written on eschatology (Jurgen Moltmann, N. T. Wright, etc) about Gods salvation extending from the ends of the earth. He has written numerous books, including The Bible Tells Me So, The Sin of Certainty, and How the Bible Actually Works. However, I think you are confusing or conflating the experience of God with the existence of God. What religion, denomination, sect or cult doesnt seek to also inculcate an acceptance of mystery and paradox?. and Ph.D. Harvard University 2020 Peter Danner. Im still working on itof course. Certainly they are subjective but that does not then mean they cannot be compared. He has taught courses at several other institutions including Harvard University, Fuller Theological Seminary, and Princeton Theological Seminary. We would then be wise to doubt the veracity of our own sight. Peter Enns (Ph.D., Harvard University) is Abram S. Clemens professor of biblical studies at Eastern University in St. Davids, Pennsylvania. What do you think of people like George Mller? I teach courses in Old and New Testaments at Eastern University (near Philadelphia). Of Man humans process and interpret information/stimuli rather than a blurb to see what I after. 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