Tag: faith

Benedict’s Rule and the modern Christian

https://jotsandscribbles.blog/2024/06/21/reflections-on-the-rule-of-saint-benedict/ Last year I enjoyed reading The Rule of Saint Benedict. A friend asked whether we could be shaped more by this ancient wisdom today. So here are some random reflections on that theme. Things we could learn One of the strengths of the Benedictine Rule is that life has set rhythms. This is a … Continue reading Benedict’s Rule and the modern Christian →

Problems with leadership pathways

One of the themes in the Old Testament prophets is that the leaders of Israel (Prophets, priests and kings) have failed. I thought, ‘These are only the poor;    they are foolish,for they do not know the way of the Lord,    the requirements of their God.5 So I will go to the leaders    and speak to them;surely they know the way … Continue reading Problems with leadership pathways →

Catholic vs Protestant, though the lens of Tolkien and Lewis

If you want to understand the difference between Catholicism and Protestantism, you could do worse than look at the creation myths of two Oxford friends, Tolkien and Lewis. Tolkien was a devout Catholic. And although his arguments were a key part of Lewis becoming a Christian, Lewis was a Protestant Anglican. Both Oxford academics, they … Continue reading Catholic vs Protestant, though the lens of Tolkien and Lewis →

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” →