Champs Et Arbre, Charmey, Switzerland (photo from trekearth.com)
http://satireandtheology.blogspot.com/2008/06/lochness-monster.html
My PhD is bound and under review at Wales and all prayers for my success are appreciated. Additionally I have completed the task of searching through my entire thesis making pencil notes with background information concerning my exemplars, for the verbal defence.
With my sleep apnea, I have noticed an increase in energy since completing the PhD thesis. Truly the Wales PhD and MPhil theses are very tiring projects. God willing, once I pass my PhD thesis, I shall be looking for work as a professor and this will require much research to find a right position. If anyone associated with academics likes my academic work here, and perhaps views my work on satire and theology, in links, as making me more relatable to students, please feel free to pass along any suggestions for possible work. This can be done in the comments on either blog, or through the email address for either blog which can be found by clicking on view my complete profile. Thank you.
In my Christian journey I have come across in different forms some pseudo-Christian cultists, and misinformed Christians that reason that someone is spiritually deficient if they have too much Biblical, theological, and philosophical education. Let us look at some possibilities:
a) Persons are outside of Christ, as in not enlightened by the Holy Spirit, and do not significantly study the Bible, Christian theology, philosophy of religion relating to Christianity, and other disciplines to assist in an understanding of God’s truth.
These persons are unbelievers, and John describes unbelievers that will take part in the lake of fire, the second death in Revelation 21:8. Robert Mounce writes that Revelation is stating that the entirety of apostates and pagans will be cast in the lake of fire. Mounce (1990: 375). Some apostates may very well have taken Biblical, theological, and philosophical studies relating to Christianity, but the pagan seemingly fits my first category.
Persons in this category may be very intelligent and have other significant knowledge to offer, but usually will not have anything significant to offer in regard to Christianity.
b) Persons are outside of Christ, and are not enlightened by the Holy Spirit, and do significantly study the Bible, Christian theology, philosophy of religion relating to Christianity, and other disciplines to assist in an understanding of God’s truth.
We can include in this category, perhaps, at least some of the apostates from Revelation. Mounce (1990: 375). In First Corinthians 6: 9-11, it lists types of persons that shall not inherit the Kingdom of God. Paul W. Marsh explains that certain Corinthians needed to reexamine their standing in Christ. Marsh (1986: 1359). These could be potential apostates that had some Biblical, theological, and philosophical training relating to Christianity and yet perhaps did not believe and therefore lived outside of Christ and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
There are people with very academic degrees such as perhaps MPhil or PhD degrees, and yet live as pagans and/or are apostates that may claim Christ and yet deny Biblical essentials for following the true Christ. These persons can be scholars and can serve as valuable sources of information for Christian readers, but non-Christian worldviews should be significantly understood with an open mind and then rejected where they contradict Biblical truth.
c) Persons are in Christ, as is enlightened by the Holy Spirit, and do not significantly study the Bible, Christian theology, and philosophy of religion relating to Christianity and other disciplines to assist in an understanding of God’s truth.
These persons are regenerated in Christ, but in ignorance can be prone to Biblical, theological, and philosophical error in life, and these persons can potentially serve as obstacles to both Christians and non-Christians. These types can potentially oppose solid Christian teaching, as they are largely ignorant of such, and can at times provide the wrong impression of how a Christian should act and live to non-believers. Hopefully, this type of Christian in many cases will live a quiet basically secret Christian life and not become an obstacle to others, but simply believe in and trust in the Lord in a quite private manner with basic Christian morality. I am not stating this is a good way to live, but within this category would be a lesser evil.
d) Persons are in Christ, as is enlightened by the Holy Spirit, and do significantly study the Bible, Christian theology, and philosophy of religion relating to Christianity and other disciplines to assist in an understanding of God’s truth.
It is not necessary for each person to have an academic degree, and with all the books, audio teaching, websites and blogs available there is much to potentially learn to supplement preaching heard from the pulpit.
This is the best option and since these persons are guided and enlightened by the Holy Spirit, persons in the category can be both spiritual, as in following God closely, and intellectually pursuing God’s truth. First Peter 3: 15 tells the Christian to be able to defend the faith with gentleness and reverence, and Second Timothy 2: 15 informs the Christian to be one that can accurately handle the word of truth.
Humility is a key in all education as one should primarily trust in God, and not in what God provides.
MARSH, PAUL, W. (1986) ‘1 Corinthians’, in F.F. Bruce, (ed.), The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Marshall Pickering/Zondervan.
MOUNCE, ROBERT H. (1990) The Book of Revelation, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
If only it were that easy and that cut-and-dried to divide people up into categories like that. :) But I think it can serve as a helpful foundation, or a place to start when attempting to understand the different viewpoints of people and how to approach them with various aspects of Christianity. Of course, knowing a person well, and then customizing your "profile" of them (if you can call it that) will help further shape your methods and the way you present the message.
ReplyDeleteJob Title Professor
ReplyDeleteJob Requisition ID 4838BR
Division School Of Public Health
Department U570000:SPH:Dean
Full/Part Time Full-Time
Job Description
Emory University invites applications and nominations for a full-time senior position in Religion and Health. We seek a leading scholar with a research agenda and teaching interests that rest in the intersection of religion and public health who will provide leadership to further develop Emory’s Religion and Health Collaborative, an innovative, interdisciplinary religion and health initiative.
BACKGROUND:
As part of the Emory University Strategic Planning Initiatives, the Religion and Health Collaborative was established with the goal of creating a scholarly, multi-disciplinary understanding of religion and public health as they pertain to the well-being of the individual in community and society. Emory University has made a major investment in this effort, which is designed to provide an “institute without walls” in which scholars from all schools and institutes can join forces in developing the field of religion and public health. These fields intersect at four critical junctions: 1) religion as health, 2) health as religion, 3) health professionals in partnership with religious institutions, and 4) public health and religious values, goals, and methods in tension with each other. The Religion and Health Collaborative has made considerable progress since its inception in 2006. Recent accomplishments include a highly successful conference, “Maps and Mazes: Critical Inquiry at the Intersection of Religion and Health,” with participants from Emory, South Africa, Holland, Norway, and various theological institutions in the U.S.; a seed to grant program, including grants to five multi-disciplinary research teams across Emory; and a multi-disciplinary academic initiative with new cross-school course offerings. Towards sustainability of this initiative, a crucial step is the recruitment of an outstanding scholar in the field of religion and public health to provide outstanding and ongoing leadership.
QUALIFICATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Qualities sought in candidates include those listed below. Successful candidate for this position will be involved in research, teaching and leadership in the area of Religion and Health.
• Demonstrated record of scholarship and intellectual leadership in the field, with capacity to help define and redefine the field. The candidate should possess an earned doctoral degree and have a strong record of research related to religion and public health, teaching experience, a demonstrated capacity to compete successfully for external funding to support a program of research, and development experience in procuring further funding for the initiative. The candidate’s research program may be at the individual, community or macro political/state levels: (1) impact of personal perspective on religion and health on personal or community health, e.g., from a psychological or behavioral dimension; (2) impact of religion on the public sphere, such as examining multiple factors and systems that influence the health of populations (either positively or negatively); and/or (3) impact of health interventions conducted in collaboration with religious entities.
• Vision ability to give leadership to the University’s future work in Religion and Health. The candidate will have commitment to interdisciplinary education, scholarship and service with a record appropriate for an appointment at the rank of a tenured professor. Working within the context of a faculty appointment in one of the collaborating schools (possibly with joint appointments in other schools), the Religion and Health Professor would assume the lead role in Emory University in furthering the University Strategic Plan for Religion and Health.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse schools and to negotiate within a complex University system. The candidate will demonstrate experience in multi-and inter-disciplinary research and teaching, with the ability to understand diverse kinds of theory, research, data, and ways of knowing within religion and other field(s) appropriate to the person’s cross-disciplinary focus.
APPOINTMENT:
The successful candidate will receive a primary appointment in an academic department within one of the collaborating schools in the University and a secondary appointment in one of the other schools: Rollins School of Public Health, Candler School of Theology, Emory College, or Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing. In Rollins School of Public Health, the appointment may be in any one of the six departments, depending on the scholar’s discipline and interests. In Emory College, the appointment may be in the Department of Religion, Sociology, Psychology, or another Department, depending on the scholar’s discipline and interests. In Candler School of Theology, the appointment may be in any one of the four areas with an additional appointment in the Graduate Division of Religion if possible. Final decisions about a new faculty member’s membership or associate membership in any school will be made according to the normal negotiation and search processes of that school.
STARTING DATE: Negotiable
APPLICATION:
Applicants should send a letter of application, a curriculum vitae, and a list of references in PDF form via email to Melissa Sherer: msherre@sph.emory.edu, Assistant to the Executive Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Rollins School of Public Health.
Theology Professor Jobs
ReplyDeleteProfessor of Theology Jobs
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jake.
ReplyDeleteIt is not a black and white or cut-and-dried list, and that is a reason why I produced four general groups and did not state that these were the only possibilities, as there could be sub-groups. However, in general terms persons we meet will fit into these groups. As well, the descriptions within the groups are not exhaustive, but of course blog articles are not meant to be exhaustive. However, I think I have demonstrated the point well that from a Christian worldview the best group to a part of would be group d).
A philosophical assumption I make within the article is that growing in Christ and God is directly tied into to learning about Christ and
God. There are many fine Christians out there who are growing closer to the Lord that are not academics and so I am not implying Christians need to follow in my footsteps, for example, but the Biblical worldview does include the concept of study and spiritual growth. I actually advise people not to do degrees unless God certainly is calling them to do so. A mother with four young children, for example, may be a serious Christian and is so busy bringing up her children in Christ that she does not have time to study as you and I and some other bloggers and readers do, but she does her best and has the attitude of persons in group d).
Jeff, thanks for the information.
ReplyDeleteRuss:)
peek-a-boo with a polar bear?
ReplyDeletehmmm, don't think i would...
According to the email sent to me that gentlemen was a surveyor in Fort McMurray, Alberta. I suppose the polar bear was trying to be friendly, perhaps.
ReplyDeleteHey Russ,
ReplyDeleteJust want to comment.
It is an amazing thing to consider the number of people who are content to sit in the pews and receive fragments of the Gospel on Sunday morning. I have met people much older than I who will insist that "works" have nothing to do with "Going to Heaven".
People just do not study as they should. Even though, as you pointed out, the scripture exhorts one to be responsible with the Word of God. The scripture encourages studying to be ready to give an answer to why one believes in The Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Attending Church is not good enough. People miss important messages given in certain number of series. So, they get "fragmented" Gospel. I sometimes think churches should offer a test in their membership classes that follow a thorough lesson on atonement before allowing people to be confirmed as members. (man, what a sentence! I hope you don't read out loud. Need any oxygen?)
I think one good reason for people not studying is they do not know what to do with what they are confronted with. The scripture can be confusing, esspecially in a church that teaches "Ticket to Heaven" theories. I was in a Baptist church that did that to me.
The minister said, "You are saved now. It will not matter to God what you have done or will do. God will not see those sins. So, for a while, I ignored a lot concerning virtues and life by the Spirit. (I had a good time, I must admit). I was a Christian on my way to hell.
People at least need to be taught how to study. I think there are so many people who are sincere in wanting to please God. But, have the trench dug ever deeper the longer they stay under a Church leadership that is out of touch with the ignorance of the adverage parishoner.
Enough for now. I am trying to find out where my Daughter in Law's father was a dean. He would still be a dean. But, something got to him and he walked on air. That was just three weeks ago. I know this is morbid. But, none the less, they will need to fill the position.
Tell me, truthfully, how does that last paragraph sit with you. I really am not an insensitive person. However, I know there is an opening in some prestigeous University. It may be filled from with in. However, if it is, there will be a minor position open.
Jim
Thanks, Jim. I appreciate the thoughts.
ReplyDeleteEphesians 2: 10, for example discusses good works, and 1 Corinthians 3: 15, discusses a lack of works. I do not doubt we are saved for good works. I have read before that as sinners theologically, sin taints everything we do, and yet God does guide believers and provides us with opportunities to do good works. Sometimes we do not do these works, and God willingly allows this to occur. This is likely a way for God to teach us of our foolishness among other things. I pray that I can do God's will obediently as opposed to disobediently. In other words, I would like God to guide me to do good works, rather than allow me to make a fool of myself, among other things. Either way God will grow and discipline a child he has chosen in Christ.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteNice cartoon.
Super photo.
Nice blog.
:-)
Keep it up.
unemployed health insurance
Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI used to be an ICBC Autoplan insurance agent.
Hey Russ,
ReplyDeleteI have been meaning to tell you:
The two for three link exchange works out well for you too. Your link appears on three of my blogs.
Also, I added a feature to my blog page. Check it out. Your blog will show real time updates from my page. So, as of now, you have not posted anything in three days.
Another thing I do with "Journaling For Growth" is I have and am keeping study notes. What I am doing now, is entering my past study notes under the "Journaling For Growth" blog. A suggestion I highly recommend for keeping your blog updated. Then, you go back to researching for your next big post.
The college I was telling you about is Wharton. It is a business college, though. I doubt they have religion classes. They tend to not work well with Business Ethics classes. It would be as if they were promoting two religions at one scool.
Jim
May I comment briefly on your article, more in particular your attitude and your writing style:
ReplyDeleteYou speak of humility and your articles are always respectful, academic, and to the point yet always polite. Thank you.
May humility, a willingness to learn, and politeness follow you as you enter into the academic world and meet other teachers and students. These qualites are very much evident with you and truly make you a great teacher. May your blog continue on with this wonderful flavour of tasteful humour and challenging and thought provoking articles in which I have learned from greatly. Thank you Sir
-Big D-
Hi, Jim.
ReplyDeleteThanks, and the links exchange is very good. You are much appreciated. I appreciate the new blog feature, and Abbey in my links uses that as well. I just looked at the feature for my blogs, but sadly it will not transfer over all my existing links automatically. I have 82 links between the two theology blogs and so when it transfers my existing links automatically I will probably add that feature. A very good thing about leaving comments in that it provides a link to one's blog as well.
I am going to check out your blog now.
Thanks:)
You speak of humility and your articles are always respectful, academic, and to the point yet always polite. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Big D.
Much of the credit should go toward my blog readers and links that are respectful and kind to me, even when they disagree with me. This helps to prevent me from being anything less that polite. We do not want my as of yet not fully restored human nature, latching out sinfully here against a commenter.
Russ;)
Kingpin,
ReplyDeleteI still have to add that feature to "Journaling For Growth". As of now, it remains a small link list.
Jim
Cheers, Jim.
ReplyDeleteI think there are many people who seem to think that if you do study and strive to learn more, you're showing a lack of faith. In saying that, I think that person is putting God to the test, which is showing a lack of faith. We must study, but I also think it's important to remember that we can't take the "us four and no more" idea as far as saying that someone who doesn't believe the same thing as us isn't saved. I think that many people who are very legalistic tend to take this view more often than not.
ReplyDeleteOn the legalistic subject, I think it's harder for them to give a testimony for Christ. To a non-Christian, they're just going to see a bunch of laws they would have to keep, and that doesn't sound like too much fun. No, I'm not antinomian, but I think it's important to keep the law in its proper place. It has been fulfilled in Christ.
When do you get your surgery done? Braces are so much fun. They hurt every time you get them adjusted and they're a big pain to clean. So, now that I've gotten you excited for them, do you know how long you'll have to have them? I'm actually on my second round of having them, and I think I only have 2-3 months left. I'm counting down the days... =)
Thanks for the article.
I think there are many people who seem to think that if you do study and strive to learn more, you're showing a lack of faith.
ReplyDeleteI think that many people who are very legalistic tend to take this view more often than not.
Good points, Abbey.
In BC, it appears the jaw surgery is covered which should be approximately $30,000, but not the required orthodontic work which is $8,000. I have written a letter to the Ministry of Health and am trying to have the orthodontic work covered, but if it is not, I will need to find full-time work once my PhD is finished and then pay for dental insurance.
I appreciate the tips on braces, and I really do not look forward to wearing them, but the teeth need to come forward 12 mm in order to the match the maxilla and mandible bones that will be moved forward 12 mm. The orthodontist stated I would have to wear the braces approximately a year.
Russ:)