NT Wright on Blogging

Thanks to our blogger Regent Alum, Matt Jones, I learn about this little quote from NT Wright about physical anger and habits being transferred to the blogsphere. I find his writeup insightful. Thanks Matt for spotting this. Do check out his website for other great blog articles.

I checked out the book and found more of Wright's perceptive words.

"Everything is interconnected, and when people feel the floor shaking and the furniture wobbling, they get scared. Test this out. Go to the blogsites, if you dare. It really is high time we developed a Christian ethic of blogging. Bad temper is bad temper even in the apparent privacy of your own hard drive, and harsh and unjust words, when released into the wild, rampage around and do real damage. And as for the practice of saying mean and untrue things while hiding behind a pseudonym - well, if I get a letter like that it goes straight in the bin. But the cyberspace equivalents of road rage doesn’t happen by accident. People who type vicious, angry, slanderous and inaccurate accusations do so because they feel their worldview to be under attack. Yes, I have pastoral concern for such people. (And, for that matter, a pastoral concern for anyone who spends more than a few minutes a day taking part in blogsite discussion, especially when they all use code names: was it for this that the creator God made human beings?) But sometimes worldviews have to be shaken. They may become idolatrous and self-serving. And I fear that the has happened, and continues to happen, even in well-regulated, shiny Christian contexts - including, of course, my own." (NT Wright, Justification: God's Plan and Paul's Vision, Downers Grove,IL: IVP, 2009, p26-7)

Of course, the context of Wright's argument here is that what is considered a 'new perspective of Paul' is not exactly a new rocket-science idea. What the blogging platform has provided is to transfer (not transform) an old perspective from the offline terrain to the online domain. In other words, some things have not changed. Describing his 35 years of writing on the subject of Paul, his experience with detractors has NOT been 'disagreement' but failing to meet his opponents' expectations and 'wants' (20). Moreover, Wright claims that those who disagree with him often did not listen in the first place.

Wright is precisely right. As I reflect, blogging does not change the person. It is simply a change of platforms. What was previously paper is now electronic. Self-publishing is overtaking conventional publishing. Distribution by hand is replaced by distribution by wire (and wireless!) In other words, the content may be the same but the medium is different. Whether the medium has changed or not, people has not changed. Didn't they say that a leopard does not change its spots?

At the end of the day, we need to remember that for all views whether online or offline, God is watching.

conrade

Dr Bruce Waltke Resigns from RTS

This is a special update on one of Regent-College's beloved Professors. Dr Bruce Waltke has resigned (6 April 2010) from the Reformed Theological Seminary because of a theological dispute between Bruce and the powers to be, at RTS. It seems that the controversy was first stirred by a video entitled: "Why Must the Church come to Accept Evolution?" The crux of the matter is that Waltke urges Christians not to completely reject evolution. In other words, it is entirely possible for a Christian to accept evolution. Theistic Evolution.

Dr John Stackhouse has written a posting on his own blog, largely in defense of his colleague.

For me, I think it is a regretful situation. In the words of Brandon Withrow, "any professor who really wants serious academic freedom needs to look elsewhere."

Personally, I do not hold the view that Dr Waltke holds, but I do not agree that he should have been forced to resign, simply based on one belief. From my interactions with him, Waltke is not one who willfully imposes his ideas on others, but respectfully offers them for consideration. For more information, check the following:

1) Biologos (the site video that started it all)
2) Dr John Stackhouse blog
3) Official News from RTS
4) Good roundup by Brian LePort
5) Cosmos (Dr Ross Hasting's Response)
6) Official Re-conciliatory Note from RTS

I wonder why in this particular case, both Waltke and the rest of the academics did not 'agree to disagree' and carry on life as normal? That is, is it necessary for Waltke to resign just because of this one issue? Or is this the proverbial feather that breaks the camel's back? Maybe, it is simply to let matter explain itself, like this note.


conrade

Collaborative Blogging Initiative

What Is Collaborative Blogging?

Life is very much like a marathon. We believe that we can reach out further when we journey together. If we want to go fast, go it alone. If we want to go FAR, do it together. Collaborative Blogging will seek to tap the richness through diversity and the appreciation of one another's differences, as God has created. Thus, viewpoints will be made thoughtfully and respectfully.

Who Can Blog Here?

• You need to be an alumnus of Regent-College, BC Vancouver.
• You need to adhere to the statement of faith, or theological position as recorded here.
  
• Bloggers here needs to be invited.
  
• If you are interested to blog here, send me (conrade) an email [yapdates@aim.com]
  

Note that although we are alumnus of Regent-College, we do not represent the official position of Regent-College. Views are the sole responsibility of the writers.


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