Nathan, I am sorry that you are saddened by my blog, and yes, you would say Neil is pretty sane.
Fortunately for me, but perhaps unfortunately for you, this is a place where I think out loud, so if perhaps my thoughts are disappointing to you, you can spare yourself the grief by choosing to ignore me.
Not that I do not value dialogue, but really, if this is going to be something that violates you or causes you grief, it's probably not worth it.
That's good to hear about Neil. Your family sounds like mine... my sister went and married a left-wing theologian who campaigned for Kerry, while the rest of the family was proud to vote for Bush (my parents had a sign in their yard, and I had one in my yard as well.)
And you're right, I'm the one that choose to come here... that is, by the way, sort of a funny story...
The other day iTunes selected the Song "In the Middle" in Party Shuffle mode and I thought, "Doing that video with Ryan was perhaps one of the fondest memories I have of my young adulthood." So that got me wondering what you where up to. So I googled you, and ended up here. I resisted the temptation to post for a week or two, but finally gave in.
I admit I probably should have taken a different tone...
Anyway, I'll likely keep coming back because I find your kind* interesting and enjoy the engaging topics. I’ll try and be civil... I’ve already pretty much destroyed my relationship with my sister over similar situation...
*By "your kind" I mean... Well, let me explain it this way... My liberal brother in-law... In him I can understand the political liberalism because he has pretty much dismissed the whole of the Scriptures. You, however... given where you were when I last knew you well... I just find that a fascinating transformation, and I wonder what motivates it and how you square up things like absolute Truth with the cultural ideas you advocate. I admit it completely baffles me...
Labels and generalizations are often necessary in communication, and I fail to see how "absolute Truth" is naming calling.
As to "your truth.." That really is the essence of what I'm curious about and why I'm interesting in engaging in a discussion with Ryan. Having known him long ago, I was surprised to visit his blog recently and find what I found. So I am indeed curious what leads to such a transformation and how one reconciles certain aspects of it with their faith. It seems to me, many of the ideas and social causes Ryan now advocates would require some fairly dramatic shifts from traditional Christian doctrine... one being the previously mentioned notion about Truth.
Sorry I don't have more time to comment right now, but a book worthy of checking out that can help you understand what this journey has been formed by might be Brian McLaren's A New Kind of Christian.
Also, Jim Wallis has some good stuff to say in his book God's Politics. I don't love the title because it seems absolutist, but the content I have read so far is good.
7 comments:
I've been reading your blog for a few weeks now and I must say I'm saddened by it. Please tell me that at least Neal ended up sane...
"Well, the trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant; it's just that they know so much that isn't so."
-Ronald Reagan
Thanks for sharing that wonderful quote, Ryan.
I swear, you are the bloggingest blogger I know, a veritable one-man Slashdot!
It's hard to keep up with you, but keep up the good work (and your good works!)
Nathan, I am sorry that you are saddened by my blog, and yes, you would say Neil is pretty sane.
Fortunately for me, but perhaps unfortunately for you, this is a place where I think out loud, so if perhaps my thoughts are disappointing to you, you can spare yourself the grief by choosing to ignore me.
Not that I do not value dialogue, but really, if this is going to be something that violates you or causes you grief, it's probably not worth it.
That's good to hear about Neil. Your family sounds like mine... my sister went and married a left-wing theologian who campaigned for Kerry, while the rest of the family was proud to vote for Bush (my parents had a sign in their yard, and I had one in my yard as well.)
And you're right, I'm the one that choose to come here... that is, by the way, sort of a funny story...
The other day iTunes selected the Song "In the Middle" in Party Shuffle mode and I thought, "Doing that video with Ryan was perhaps one of the fondest memories I have of my young adulthood." So that got me wondering what you where up to. So I googled you, and ended up here. I resisted the temptation to post for a week or two, but finally gave in.
I admit I probably should have taken a different tone...
Anyway, I'll likely keep coming back because I find your kind* interesting and enjoy the engaging topics. I’ll try and be civil... I’ve already pretty much destroyed my relationship with my sister over similar situation...
*By "your kind" I mean... Well, let me explain it this way... My liberal brother in-law... In him I can understand the political liberalism because he has pretty much dismissed the whole of the Scriptures. You, however... given where you were when I last knew you well... I just find that a fascinating transformation, and I wonder what motivates it and how you square up things like absolute Truth with the cultural ideas you advocate. I admit it completely baffles me...
"reductionist name calling"
Labels and generalizations are often necessary in communication, and I fail to see how "absolute Truth" is naming calling.
As to "your truth.." That really is the essence of what I'm curious about and why I'm interesting in engaging in a discussion with Ryan. Having known him long ago, I was surprised to visit his blog recently and find what I found. So I am indeed curious what leads to such a transformation and how one reconciles certain aspects of it with their faith. It seems to me, many of the ideas and social causes Ryan now advocates would require some fairly dramatic shifts from traditional Christian doctrine... one being the previously mentioned notion about Truth.
Sorry I don't have more time to comment right now, but a book worthy of checking out that can help you understand what this journey has been formed by might be Brian McLaren's A New Kind of Christian.
Also, Jim Wallis has some good stuff to say in his book God's Politics. I don't love the title because it seems absolutist, but the content I have read so far is good.
Thanks Ryan, I'll look into both of those.
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