To be clear, what follows is not meant to be a political rant, but an astute observation and a simple solution to one of the enormous and complex social problems in America today, the censorship of public discourse—usually via social media sound bites, legal spin, and public shaming. As just stated, the problem in view […]
Christian Humanism Series
Recovering Beauty in Art
Western Civilization has a long history of cultivating the kind of social order that makes this kind of human flourishing possible. But that does not mean Western Civilization has been without its conflicts and fractures, maladies that have pushed it to the edge of chaos–which seems to be where it’s heading now.
Reclaiming the Foundation for Cultural Identity
However, hidden beneath the surface, at the very foundation, is a shift in thought about the relationship between culture and politics. Historically, politics flowed out of the culture; whereas the current division is characterized by culture being forged from political activity.
Recovering Christian Humanism
Recovering Christian humanism will greatly benefit the culture, but it will be extremely difficult because the nature of the human heart is to fiercely resist renewal any way possible—and defend its loot to the death.
Identifying Christian Humanism
Secular, or modern humanism, by virtue of its tenets, lacks the necessary tools to cultivate the imagination for the renewal of culture. The best this kind of humanism can do is exploit the volatile fractures within the culture by means of the inhumanness of the scientific method, the injustice of social justice, and the instability of multiculturalism.
Distinctions in Christian Humanism
In this post, I want to help clarify some more of the nuances and ambiguities that need to be addressed if we are to recover the kind of Christian humanism that actually promotes human flourishing.
The Foundation of Christian Humanism
The Incarnation of Christ, being a complete union of his divine and human natures, informs the very essence of the vision of Christian humanism—divinity came down to humanity and united with it to the end that fallen humans could be redeemed to live out their best lives to the glory of God.
A Brief History of Christian Humanism
Christian humanism is the belief that human freedom, individual conscience, and unencumbered rational inquiry are compatible with the practice of Christianity or even intrinsic in its doctrine. It represents a philosophical union of Christian faith and classical humanist principles.
The Value of Rhetoric in Rational Public Discourse
To say rational public discourse is lacking in the modern West would be an egregious understatement. As demonstrated in an earlier post, the social censorship of rational public discourse now looms ominously over the culture.
“Being Mortal:” An Essential (But Neglected) Discussion in the Recovery of Christian Humanism
Having pastored a couple of churches in a big city for a number of years, I spend a lot of time visiting folks in the hospital and conducting my fair share of funerals and memorial services. Walking with people through illness and death is, for me, one of the most emotionally taxing experiences a person […]