Charles Darwin’s publication of the theory of evolution through natural selection is one of the pivotal moments in the history of science. But the theory was unveiled only in the middle of 19th century, by when great strides have already been made in other fields of science. Yet, when compared to the complexity and cumbersomeness…
Category: Religion
How might a theological anthropology enable Christians to resist ideologies of racial oppression in church and society?
Introduction Despite Christian doctrine’s claims of all men being created in the image of God, the Church has historically been guilty of racial discrimination. The very notion of slavery goes against Christian theology. Western Christianity has especially failed to adequately interfere with this social malice in the centuries past. In contrast, among cultures of the…
The Gospel According to Mark by Jorge Luis Borges: Summary & Analysis
Jorge Luis Borges is famous for his short stories. The Gospel According to Mark is an allegorical take on the time-worn story of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. It excels in all the essential features of good short fiction. In particular, as this essay will argue, its theme, symbolisms, tone and style showcase Borges’ mastery…
How does the worldview presented in the movie ‘The Golden Compass’ converge or differ from a Christian worldview?
The Golden Compass is a bold movie in the sense that it tackles a major social malaise – namely religious authority. Although references to Christianity in particular and God in general have been removed from the film version, there is no doubt that the sweeping authority of the Magisterium includes these two sources of authority. …
Is the concept ‘Socially Engaged Buddhism’ a philosophical contradiction?
In light of our discussion about Buddhism and medical ethics, and the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh, the Dalai lama, and the other examples of Socially Engaged Buddhism in the book, how do you feel about Socially Engaged Buddhism? Is it a philosophical contradiction? Why? Far from being a novel offshoot of Buddhist practice, Socially…
The Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path of Buddhism: An exposition
The Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path are fundamental to Buddhist philosophy. The Four Noble Truths concern themselves with the issue of suffering. It was recognized by Gautam Buddha that suffering is integral to the experience of quotidian life. Human feelings and emotions such as anxiety, dissatisfaction, discomfort, longing, etc are various manifestations of…
The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri: An Overview
The Inferno (Hell) is the first part of The Divine Comedy, followed by the Purgatorio (Purgatory) and Paradiso (Heaven). It is a classic Christian theological text that uses strong poetic imagination and allegorical allusion. Though originally written in Italian between 1308 and 1321 AD, the work is widely translated and its themes are drawn upon…
Response to Critical Essays/Books on Jonathan Edwards’ “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”
There are strengths and weaknesses to the book by Kimnach et al. Its strength is its comprehensiveness and its utility in the classroom environment. The background essays included in the compilation help dispel some of the myths and simplistic caricatures surrounding the personal of Jonathan Edwards. The book’s attempt to link the Sermon with the…
Jonathan Edwards’s Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God: Annotated Bibliography of its critique
Wilson H. Kimnach, Caleb J.D. Maskell, and Kenneth P. Minkema, editors. Jonathan Edwards’s “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”: A Casebook. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 2010. 204 pages. This book attempts to deconstruct the various dimensions of Jonathan Edwards’ famous sermon. In other words, it offers the social, historical and…
Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God – Jonathan Edwards – Enfield, Connecticut, July 8, 1741
The sermon issued by Jonathan Edwards in his Church in Enfield, Connecticut is a powerful oratorical work. Delivered on July 8 1741, it is an important work that continues to hold relevance for its theological content as well as literary style. Consistent with founding texts of Christianity, there is a pronounced tenor of Godly retribution…