Archive for May, 2008
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Radical Orthodoxy Colloquium
0 Comments Published by Cynthia R. Nielsen October 31st, 2007 in Conferences, Radical OrthodoxyBaylor University is hosting a Radical Orthodoxy Colloquium on November 13-15. All lectures begin at 2:30 (Tues-Thurs) and include the following speakers: Conor Cunningham (Univ. of Nottingham), Aaron Patrick Riches (Univ. of Nottingham), John F. Montag SJ (St. Louis Univ.). For more information, contact traditio@baylor.edu.
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Part IV: John Calvin’s Theological Aesthetics
2 Comments Published by Cynthia R. Nielsen October 28th, 2007 in Calvin, Theological AestheticsBy Michael Vendsel
But even if this is a correct reading of Calvin, surely it only goes to show that Calvin’s treatment of Scripture’s authority is hopelessly superficial. There is nothing over which people divide more stubbornly than whether something is truly beautiful or not, and as recent books such as Christopher Hitchens’ God Is Not [...]
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Part III: John Calvin’s Theological Aesthetics
0 Comments Published by Cynthia R. Nielsen October 25th, 2007 in Calvin, Theological AestheticsBy Michael Vendsel
At this point, however, we need to clarify the precise character of this “divine majesty”, especially since there are places where Calvin clearly distinguishes the assurance brought about by the internal testimony from considerations of Scripture’s gracefulness. For example, in the beginning of chapter 8, as he is describing the secondary helps just [...]
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Part II: John Calvin’s Theological Aesthetics
1 Comment Published by Cynthia R. Nielsen October 23rd, 2007 in Calvin, Theological AestheticsBy Michael Vendsel
Explaining just what Calvin means when he talks about this internal or secret testimony of the Spirit, however, proves to be challenging. Is Calvin talking about an ineffably mystical experience in which the mind is bypassed or transcended? B.B. Warfield states this question nicely in his Calvin and Calvinism:
It still remains…to inquire precisely [...]
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Part I: John Calvin’s Theological Aesthetics
1 Comment Published by Cynthia R. Nielsen October 21st, 2007 in Calvin, Theological AestheticsWhat follows is a five-part series by my good friend Mike Vendsel based on a paper that he presented this past weekend at the Patristic, Medieval, and Renaissance Conference in Philadelphia. Mike holds a Master of Arts in Philosophy from the Univ. of Dallas and a Master of Arts in Religion from Westminster. Currently, Mike [...]
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32nd International PMR Conference: Faith and the Ways of Knowing
3 Comments Published by Cynthia R. Nielsen October 16th, 2007 in ConferencesIf any of you are planning to attend the Patristic, Medieval, and Renaissance Studies Conference this Fri-Sun in Philadelphia, please drop by and say hello. I will be presenting my paper on Augustine and Gadamer on Friday afternoon. The featured speakers are Denys Turner (Yale University) and David Burrell (University of Notre Dame).
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Vanhoozer on Barth: The Sache of the Bible is not an Object but an Active Subject
1 Comment Published by Cynthia R. Nielsen October 14th, 2007 in Biblical Hermeneutics, Karl Barth“Karl Barth turned to the book of Romans in the hope of hearing the Word of God and in the hope of finding a new starting-point, and principle, for theology. Instead of interpreting the Bible as an expression of human religious experience, as was typical of theological liberalism, Barth turned to scripture not so much [...]
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Part IV: The Perplexing Role of Virgil in Dante’s Divine Comedy
1 Comment Published by Cynthia R. Nielsen October 13th, 2007 in Dante, Divine Comedy, Virgil
As we continue to journey with Dante, we read in Purgatorio, Canto IX of Dante’s dream in which an eagle descends, picks Dante up, and then the two mysteriously become one in an image involving fire. As we read further, Virgil informs us that Dante’s dream actually reflects allegorically what happened while Dante was asleep. [...]
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Part III: The Perplexing Role of Virgil in Dante’s Divine Comedy
2 Comments Published by Cynthia R. Nielsen October 11th, 2007 in Dante, Divine Comedy, Faith and Reason, Virgil
Next we come to an interesting scene in Purgatorio, Canto V. Here a group of late-repentant shades approach Dante and are amazed by his ability to cast a shadow. As is the case with most of the shades in Purgatory, this particular group pleads with Dante to send word to their friends and relatives in [...]
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Part II: The Perplexing Role of Virgil in Dante’s Divine Comedy
1 Comment Published by Cynthia R. Nielsen October 9th, 2007 in Dante, Divine Comedy, Faith and Reason, VirgilIn Canto III of Purgatorio, upon his realization that he alone is capable of casting a shadow, Dante becomes frightened and assumes that Virgil has abandoned him. After addressing Dante with a mild rebuke, Virgil explains that the reason that he (Virgil) casts no shadow and yet is visible is a mystery beyond the comprehension [...]
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Part I: The Perplexing Role of Virgil in Dante’s Divine Comedy
5 Comments Published by Cynthia R. Nielsen October 7th, 2007 in Dante, Divine Comedy, Faith and Reason, Great Literary Works/Authors, Virgil
As many commentators of Dante’s Divine Comedy have noted, Dante’s choice of Virgil as his guide is as pregnant with meaning as it is perplexing.[1] In light of the fact that Dante is a Christian, the question immediately arises as to why he selects a pagan to lead him out of the “shadowy forest” in [...]
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Part III: Historiographical Methods and Biblical Christology: A Theological History of Jesus
2 Comments Published by Cynthia R. Nielsen October 7th, 2007 in Biblical HermeneuticsBy Tim Enloe
Father Roch continues his historiographical reflections by building on his general principles the conclusion that the “we have found a rationale in the very nature of historiography for going beyond mere history and attempting to inquire into the meaning of the ‘Jesus event.’”[1] Indeed, transcending the limitations of reconstructions of the “mere” historical [...]
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Part II: Historiographical Methods and Biblical Christology: General Principles
2 Comments Published by Cynthia R. Nielsen October 5th, 2007 in Biblical HermeneuticsBy Tim Enloe
Father Kereszty (hereafter “Father Roch”), outlines his general historiographical method for analyzing the historical Jesus as follows.[1]
Father Roch observes that “The presupposition that a good historian is able to grasp and present the purely objective data of history without mixing with them any interpretation has turned out to be an illusion. What historians [...]
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Part I: Historiographical Methods and Biblical Christology
5 Comments Published by Cynthia R. Nielsen October 3rd, 2007 in Biblical HermeneuticsThis is the first of a three-part series by Tim Enloe. Tim is the husband of Heidi and father of Elbereth Laurelin. His interests include Ancient and Medieval history, literature, ecclesio-political theory, and creative writing. He is currently pursuing a M.A. in Humanities at the University of Dallas.
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A second reading assigned in my Christology class [...]


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