Mind full of much
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Beyond Indifference:
Rethinking Resilience and Stoicism in a World in Crisis. Resilience has become the buzzword of our time. From self-help gurus to workplace training sessions, everyone seems to be advocating the importance of bouncing back from adversity. But amidst this chorus of positivity, a critical question emerges: are philosophies of resilience, grit, and stoicism doing more…
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Reimagining Education: Dismantling the mechanization of learning.
The education factory churns out obedient cogs, churning through pre-packaged knowledge like gears in a soulless machine. But we, the students of revolt, refuse to be mere components in this oppressive system. We demand an Education Uprising: a radical reimagining that dismantles the mastery machine and unleashes the revolutionary potential within each learner. 1. Deconstructing…
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Unfolding a Radical Mental Health Manifesto
The current approach to mental health, as most…okay all (American) healthcare, is inadequate and must be confronted. The urgent matter is to move beyond individualized solutions and address the underlying socio-political conditions that construct and perpetuate mental health oppression. This requires a radical and systemic approach that includes the following principles:Mental health is not merely…
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The aphorisms of erraticism: critique in the age of mindful oppression
Chaos is only an interpretive, social construct. Mindfulness is the opium of the masses.
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Against Teaching: The Alienation of Education
The essay critiques conventional educational paradigms, arguing their hierarchical nature and one-size-fits-all approach can foster passive learning and disengage students. It advocates for alternative, student-centered approaches promoting active participation and personalized understanding.
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A Survey of Technology, Science, and Critique
The terms “technology” and “science” have their origins in ancient Greek and Latin respectively, with evolving meanings over time. Today, “technology” refers to tools and methods derived from scientific knowledge, while “science” pertains to the systematic study of the universe based on empirical evidence. The interplay between science and technology shapes society and individual psychologies,…
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Caring – an undisclosed revolution of being as un-concealment of living potential
This post explores potential interplay of the fundamental nature of care to human-ness, revolution as radical care to self and world, empathy as shared living potential and actualization. In weaving these three thinkers together, one could say that any genuine revolution, as described by Arendt, is predicated on a collective “Being as Care” (Heidegger) that…
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Toward constructing a Radical Economics, or, stabbing the beast in the coinpurse
Emergent Economics
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Playground of the Mind: Adolescence and Meditation – An Evidence-Based Approach
Introduction:Adolescence is a critical development period marked by rapid physical, psychological, and emotional changes. As young people navigate these transformative years, they often encounter increased stress, anxiety, and emotional turmoil. In recent years, meditation has gained significant attention as a potential tool for supporting adolescent well-being. This evidence-based blog explores the benefits of meditation tailored…
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Unraveling the Recursive Dynamics of Perception and Epistemology: An introductory survey of belief alteration
Introduction: Perception and epistemology, fundamental facets of human experience and cognition, significantly shape our understanding and engagement of the world. Central to these processes is recursion, a concept that has long captivated philosophers, psychologists, and scientists alike. This blog post aims to delve into the intricate interplay between recursion, perception, epistemology, and the dynamic process…
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A brief critique of the wellness economy: The commodification of trauma and healing.
In the rapidly evolving landscape of modern-day healthcare and wellness, a trend towards commodification has become increasingly prevalent. This trend, which permeates the realms of psychology, healing, and trauma, warrants a careful and critical analysis. At the crux of this issue lies a paradox: the same forces that offer potentially life-changing solutions are also responsible…
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Tripping on ideology
Appropriation and Strengthening of Western Ideology through Psychedelics It is an ironic conundrum that psychedelics, often seen as instruments of resistance against the norms of Western ideology, may inadvertently serve to further entrench those very norms. The argument arises from two interconnected aspects: the context of psychedelic use and the inherent nature of Western ideology…
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Chuangzi’s Shed
Riffs and rants based on Chuangzi’s “Inner Chapters” Riff 1: The Harmony of Nature In the vast expanse of the cosmos, we find the boundless harmony of nature. The heavens and earth dance in perfect rhythm, a symphony of interdependent cycles. Just as the rivers flow freely, unburdened by their destination, so too should human…
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Fetish and opulence: Sport or slavery, entertainment or exploitation?
Meaningless monopolies of whiteness. Disclaimer: I am not black or of color. Input and discourse appreciatee. There is a longstanding history of exploitation and discrimination in the sports and entertainment industries, particularly towards Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). Many BIPOC artists and athletes have faced discrimination and have been underpaid and undervalued compared…
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Incorporated: When Violence is not Physical or Personal
Metaphysics is a branch of philosophy concerned with the essence of reality and the world’s underlying structure. It examines the essential nature of the universe and whether or not there is an ultimate explanation for the way things are. The relationship to emotion and violence, and metaphysics can help us perceive the nature of these…
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Fetish and Opulence: Wealth as Mimesis of Meaning, pt 1
That wealth has become a superpower is no new insight. Fictional characters like Bruce Wayne, Lex Luthor, Professor X, Oliver Queen, Kingpin, Doctor Doom used currency and liquid assets to progress or prohibit. Yes I include villains and heroes alike because in our time, and most, heroism is in the eye of the beholder. Look…
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Phenomenological basis of Education
The phenomenological method, developed by philosopher Edmund Husserl, is a philosophical approach that seeks to understand the nature of consciousness and subjective experience. Overall, the phenomenological method is an important tool for understanding the nature of reality and the subjective experience of the individual. It helps us to gain a deeper understanding of the world…
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Why did the chicken cross the philosophers mind?
The Presocratics were a group of ancient Greek philosophers who lived and worked in the 6th and 5th centuries BCE. They are known for their groundbreaking ideas and contributions to the development of Western philosophy. One of the most famous Presocratics was Thales of Miletus, who is credited with being the first philosopher in the…
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Divine Doubt and Corrupt Certainty
When Jesus confronted the religious (I.e. merely formal- alas form does not necessarily reveal true meaning) and conceited certainty of the Sanhedrin, He judged that we might doubt and remember him as Lord. The woman at the well doubted. She doubted she was good enough. She doubted the norms of the time. She was approached.…
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Marion book
academia.edu/resource/work/38381981
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‘Cultural Christian’ is an empty idea – UnHerd
“The pursuit of ever greater freedom and individualism, this strand of thought argues, has delivered rising wealth while hollowing out working-class communities; liberated some women while forcing others to work a double shift and abandon the young and old in substandard care, and provided an infinitude of consumer choice but at the cost of mounting…
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Manoussakis- philosophy of religion
academia.edu/resource/work/3190621
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Continental philosophy of religion- research
academia.edu/resource/work/2528868
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Drug War’s Cry for Peace
by Chad Spoiler Alert. A friend of mine once told me when I watch something from Babylonia I expect Babylonian. There was nothing particularly reminiscent of a redemptive story about any one character. That being said, as a movie made, Drug War, is up there. Jonnie To, the famous Hong Kong director (Vengeance, Exiled), is impeccable with camera placement…
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Babylon or Sinai: Christians Engaging with Horror
by Chad Gilbert Christians, nominal and orthodox, seem to have a thick skin or accusatory attitude when it comes to horror. There are no “Christian horror writers” they might say. There is no one who could write up horror and claim Christian doctrine as their foundation, even Christ as their savior, or God as their…
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Darren Aronofsky’s Noah: An Interpretation Amongst a Flood of Criticism
by Chad Gilbert For whatever reason, this movie has garnered as much praise and vilification as The Last Temptation of Christ, The Exorcist, and Disney (that time we all found out about the hidden vulgar agenda in our favorite underwater musical about merfolk). I think I get it, but also think ‘What a great movie!’…
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Camus, Amelie, and Charity
by Chad Gilbert For many cynicism is the en vogue appeal to appear in the know but slightly aloof in spirit. On the other side, to be charitable — not just giving your money or ice-bucketing yourself, but your ear and heart in conversation — appears “uncool” and often optimistic. Being charitable is more…
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The Divine Sense and the Seed of Religion
When Calvin wrote the Institutio there was an oft criticized phrase that begs the question of what, where…who? The sensus divinatis (henceforth, divine sense) has led to many a scratched head and blank document (presumably). I want to flesh out the notion of the divine sense, by way of the semens relgioso (henceforth,…
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Study as Worship?
It’s a hard question to answer no doubt. Often I feel like I sigh with the Qoheleth of Ecclesiastes…this is hard, I am weary and want to learn no more. Give me Stephen King and give me tea! However, being called, being determined, and being dutiful outweigh the temporary heft of 15 volumes on Deuteronomy…
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Rest in a Deserted Land: Christ for the Weary Believer.
There are times for a believer when she is beset by doubt, anxiety, numbness, darkness, and even despair. There is a time when the believer is at home in this state (Psalm 88). There is a sure hope that it will not always be so ( 2 Cor. 4:17). I remember a time when I…
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A Midsummer Night’s Lament (Or an experiment in humanity).
Allow me to be a little (too) transparent. Lately I’ve been kicking myself for this and that old sin. Or for this or that unresolved issue, or this or that unwritten item. I get angry at myself, even hate myself (sigh). I’m in seminary and I give myself little room to breathe. What am I…
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In Which Herman (Bavinck) Makes a Funny! (And some theology is done…)
How often do you get to read a dense theological work and chuckle at a pithy remark. It begins: Just as the eye answers to light, the ear to sound, the logos (reason) within us to the logos (rationality) outside of us, so there has to be in human beings a subjective organ that answers…
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Systematic Theology: Cultivated Beauty in the Church
Paintings are ordered by rules, systems- and are (well can be) beautiful. Gardening has the most beautiful results when principled, disciplined and careful in approach and cultivation. So too, theology is most certainly an act of service, worship and intellect when structured according to mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:16). The importance of systematic theology…
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Sausage, Lent, and the Outbreak of Reform
Originally posted on Zwinglius Redivivus: On 9 March, 1522 the printer Froschauer and his assistants had dinner. What they had blew a hole in Catholic practice and caused a stir in Zurich the repercussions of which would be felt all across Europe. They had sausage. They ate meat during Lent and Zwingli, who was there,…
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Why All Culture is God’s Culture. ALL of IT.
That God sent forth the multiplicity of humankind from two people, derived from His one image, shows us the importance of pluriformity. Pluriformity is conformity and unity of all things to God. However, due to our created nature this looks more complex than we think. Haircuts, facial hair, movie preference and food choices cannot now…
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Some thoughts on why our Christianity is too small.
Where have all the thinkers gone? Just a few really great thinkers seem to be left to the Christian cause of public expressions of theology and apologetics. Those that are growing have a significant disadvantage ahead of them: economics. Prior to about 2008, it seems that academics had a favorable position in society, school and…
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The Lack of Innovation is Inspiring.
In theology a lot of us are trying to do something new. Something groundbreaking. Stop it. Just stop it. The search for the essence of Christianity was originally prompted by a protest against various, supposedly false interpretations that had been produced by the official churches in their confessions… Bavinck reminds us that the early church…
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Going Dutch: Bavinck’s knowledge grows the heart.
The Knowledge of God by Herman Bavinck God is the highest good of man–that is the testimony of the whole Scriptures. The Bible begins with the account that God created man after His own image and likeness, in order that he should know God his Creator aright, should love Him with all his heart, and…
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Your daily dose of Dutch. How 19th Century Dutch theology applies today.
The Present State of the World | http://www.monergism.com/present-state-world Bavinck is a great mine of a mind. His work is really helping me the beauty in theology and creation. I hope it encourages you that the state of things is not that drastically different than it was in his day.
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Women in Ministry: In Which We Have It All Wrong…Again.
One of the hotly contested themes in popular theology is women’s roles in ministry…again. We seem to be good at taking it all from the wrong perspective. Politically, Socially, Philosophically we are always seeking to serve our desires, which more often than not is promotion of the self. If we were seeking first the kingdom…
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Guitar influence
Just realized Oasis is a huge influence in my search for quality tone on guitar fills/lead. Of note is their hit champagne supernova.
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Whence?
The term ekklesia was originally used by the Jewish OT scholars/writers. The term synagoge was interchangeable except for a few noted places ( Noted Dutch theologianBavinck does a thourough job of etymological work for us in IV 5.278). Both refer to a gathering or assembly. So there is a formal sense of the “assembly” as having its foundation laid in…
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A Response to Chris Stedman
Excellent and loving assessment of the worldview at large.
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Weighing in on the Gay Rights/Marriage debate
Disclaimer: This may be unpleasant for some. It’s an assessment of the current and past debates on gay rights and gay culture. I will say upfront I believe it is a sin, as convicted by Scripture (inerrant and infallible). What could one more person’s post possibly have to say about this issue? Why should you…
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He is risen! We remember! We await!
http://bible.us/97/LUK24.4.MSG They were puzzled, wondering what to make of this. Then, out of nowhere it seemed, two men, light cascading over them, stood there. The women were awestruck and bowed down in worship. The men said, “Why are you looking for the Living One in a cemetery? He is not here, but raised up. Remember…
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Feeling isn’t just for sissies…
“…he began to be sorrowful and troubled.” (Matthew 26:37b ESV) “The important thing is not whether you are highly emotional or not; the important thing is that whatever emotional capacities you have should be placed in God’s hands to be used according to His purposes.” Dr. John Frame I have a difficult time in conversations sometimes…
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King(dom) Coming Pt 3: Talented sloths and Creative servants
Looking through Matthew in a section recommended from a holy week study I came across the parable of the Talents. This passage caused me a little uneasiness. I hope it is to make circumspect and call me to action for Christ, and not my own fear motivating me. In this passage Jesus tells the of…
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King(dom) Coming Pt. 2: “Light of the world you stepped down into Darkness”*
Jesus presents himself here with unprecedented wisdom and humility. This is shortly after Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead and many people went out to see him. Following Jesus we learn is not just about following his followers. We are directed to follow Jesus directly. So far prior to holy week, that means…
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Holy Week: King(dom) Come part 1 of 7: “You have to know these things when you’re King”*
Jesus’ mission on earth was to bring an awareness of the Kingdom of God (Mk 1:15). His ministry on earth ushered in the dawn of the Kingdom and his Kingly office. However, the first two offices of Prophet and Priest paved the way for the acknowledgment of his Kinghood. (A Link to the reading…
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Secular Liturgies: When the Bass Line Drops
After viewing James K.A. Smith interviews on youtube, I wondered how often I blindly follow cultural and secular liturgy over my liturgy of love for Christ. I used to be an avid concert goer. I would wait until a particular local act would go to one of a handful of clubs I could afford to…
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Kierkegaard, misunderstood and misaligned. Must have been something he said…
Kierkegaard’s fresh perspective did not win him many friends. However, it did go on to influence many people, even perhaps some of Christendom’s enemies. A critic of Hegel, Kierk led a revolt against the tyranny of the synthetic dictator of reason. Hegel argued we came to our knowledge by way of thesis-antithesis and that the…
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Trials, Unspeakable Joy! (???), Wisdom in Fear
‘Has any other god dared to take a nation for himself out of another nation by means of trials, miraculous signs, wonders, war, a strong hand, a powerful arm, and terrifying acts? Yet that is what the Lord your God did for you in Egypt, right before your eyes’. (Deut 4:34) God delivered Israel in a manner fitting…
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Suffering, The Promise of Pain, Joy
Recently a good friend reminded me to ‘count it all joy’ (James 1, ESV). That is to consider it a sheer gift (Message translation) that your being flattened, dried or wasted. The problem is not so much the event, circumstance or state effecting us. Rather, our perspective, our lens of experience is cast so sharply…
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Pactum Salutis
The pactum salutis or counsel of peace is a decree and covenantal agreement between God and the Son. It belongs to the heavenly and intrinsic counsel of God. It is a bond between Father and Son that is the basis for grace and surety; moreover a source of the covenants throughout God’s decree. It is…
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Washing of Water, Purging by Fire
Reading Matt 3:11-13 A poem inspired by 2 Cor 10:5 In Matt 3:11-13 we are introduced to John the Baptist and coming of the Messianic Kingdom. John the Baptist taught preaches that the one after himself, the Christ, will baptize with fire and the Holy Spirit. The fire will be punishment for those who…
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And now for something experimental…
Gracious Lord, Teach us, captivate our thoughts. Help us to seek after the will of the father. Give a desire for your word to your people to keep us from the devil’s snare in the new year. Transform our minds to keep our focus on you, wrap us in your grace, and when we fill…
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Weightless in a Vaccum Through a Glass Darkly…
David wells writes “It is one of the defining marks of Our Time that God is now weightless. I do not mean by this that is ethereal but rather that he has become unimportant. He rests upon the world so inconsequentially as not to be noticeable. He has lost his saliency for human life. Those…
Got any book recommendations?
DialectiX 