Faith seeking understanding 4

For previous posts in this series: https://jotsandscribbles.blog/2024/11/01/faith-seeking-understanding-3-common-ground-and-common-reasoning/ https://jotsandscribbles.blog/2024/10/18/faith-seeking-understanding-1-evangelical-suspicion-of-anselms-faith-seeking-understanding/ https://jotsandscribbles.blog/2024/10/23/faith-seeking-understanding-2-the-confessional-goal-and-overcoming-mindless-parroting-of-words/ Anselm's Faith seeking understanding seems at first glance an unpromising approach for an evangelical committed to Scripture as the source of revelation. Through this series, I've argued that it is actually very helpful as part of evangelical theological exploration. a) The goal (that which is to … Continue reading Faith seeking understanding 4 →

Faith seeking understanding 3 common ground and common reasoning

Previous posts in the series here: https://jotsandscribbles.blog/2024/10/18/faith-seeking-understanding-1-evangelical-suspicion-of-anselms-faith-seeking-understanding/ https://jotsandscribbles.blog/2024/10/23/faith-seeking-understanding-2-the-confessional-goal-and-overcoming-mindless-parroting-of-words/ The previous posts have highlighted the oddity of using Anselm’s faith seeking understanding approach, given its lack of Scripture, but also it’s confessional goal. The things to be proved are given in advance by the Scriptures, summarised in the creeds. There is faith which is then seeking … Continue reading Faith seeking understanding 3 common ground and common reasoning →

Faith Seeking Understanding 2- the confessional goal, and overcoming mindless parroting of words

This is the second in a series on Anselm's faith seeking understanding approach. https://jotsandscribbles.blog/2024/10/18/faith-seeking-understanding-1-evangelical-suspicion-of-anselms-faith-seeking-understanding/ The lack of Bible in the arguments for Christian faith in Anselm’s “Faith seeking Understanding” seems troubling (see previous post). But it is worth understanding that the goal Anselm is aiming for is not set by a free ranging logic. He … Continue reading Faith Seeking Understanding 2- the confessional goal, and overcoming mindless parroting of words →

Faith seeking understanding 1: Evangelical suspicion of Anselm’s “faith seeking understanding”

My formal theological training has not been typical for an evangelical Baptist. Rather than attending an evangelical Bible college, I did a 1 year post-graduate diploma at St Stephen’s House in Oxford. Then for my MPhil (at Trinity College, Bristol), I focused on a 12th century monk (technically a canon regular) called Richard of Saint … Continue reading Faith seeking understanding 1: Evangelical suspicion of Anselm’s “faith seeking understanding” →

How Frozen illustrates different approaches to sin

The Disney film Frozen was huge hit back in 2013. So this hardly cutting edge cultural analysis! Elsa is not exactly the heroine, but the whole story focuses on her magical powers to make ice and snow (and clothes and living snowmen!). This power causes harm to those around her at various points in the … Continue reading How Frozen illustrates different approaches to sin →

Random thoughts halfway through Xenophon’s Anabasis

So I'm halfway through this book. The title of course caught your attention and drew you in: Anabasis by Xenophon. And my assumption is that most people won't bother to read this book so I'm going to be free with spoilers. Anabasis sounds like fiction, but is historical, and the author is an eyewitness who … Continue reading Random thoughts halfway through Xenophon’s Anabasis →

Charitable giving in the UK?

I was shocked to read that gift aid to charities in the last tax year only came to £1.6bn. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uk-charity-tax-relief-statistics/uk-charity-tax-relief-statistics-commentary Multiplying by 4, that suggests giving to charities on which gift aid could be claimed back was only £6.4bn. Now some of you may respond that £6.4bn is a lot of money! It is- I'm … Continue reading Charitable giving in the UK? →