Breakout Session 1 - Blogging Christian Philosophy - Dr. John Mark Reynolds
I'm attending the Blogging Christian
philosophy breakout session - I'll try to liveblog
Sitting next to Mark Olson of Pseudo-Polymath. Waiting for our session to
start. John Mark Reynolds is opening us with a prayer, and explaining that this
really should be a discussion and not a lecture. We'll be exchanging ideas,
starting with some of the things Dr. Reynolds said last
night.
Dr. Reynolds - The best professional philosopher blogging today is Brian Leiter at Leiter Reports. Leiter changed professional philosophy and he did it essentially through his website. He blogs in a model way for those of us Christian bloggers who aspire to engage the marketplace of ideas.
----
OK, so I must admit that's about as far as I got with liveblogging this one. Not much of a liveblog. I was more interested in joining the discussion than in trying to capture so much of it. I will post a few thoughts that came out of our discussion. Dr. Reynolds' main question for us is how can we blog effectively in order to transform culture?
One of the first observations is that we cannot transform culture merely through blogs. As much as we've heard about the power of the blogosphere and the new printing press and all of that (which is true to a point), we have to remember that this is not the be-all end-all technology that will form a Christian culture simply because we typed up a few posts. Along those same lines, I think it is imperative that we see blogging as a piece of our life - my calling as a husband and father supersede my calling to be a good blogger. What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world in traffic, but loses his family? Our kids can't spend 18 years growing up in non-Christian homes and be "fixed" by blogs right before they go to college.
Of course, we wouldn't be here at a GodBlogCon if we didn't think that blogging was at least effective to a point. So what are some practical ways we can blog effectively? Here are some thoughts that came out of the discussion:
1. Embrace discussion. We are after Truth, Beauty and Goodness and if that is our aim, then we should welcome any chance to sharpen that understanding. When people engage us in discussion and disagree with us, it is an opportunity for us to better understand. Do they have a criticism that is valid, or is there any way in which we offended unnecessarily? We ought to be anxious to grant points, because when this is done in sincerity, people will see that we are truly interested in discerning Truth, Beauty and Goodness.
2. Maintain civility. As we embrace discussion with others, we stand out from the landscape if we engage in civil, cordial conversation. The blogosphere can be very harsh, and our political climate is filled with invective. We should stand against this in our graciousness with those who disagree.
3. Boldly go (since its Dr. Reynolds, I have to throw in a Star Trek reference). One of the beauties of the blogosphere is that we can determine where the discussion will lead. We don't have to simply react to what the elite culture says as far as the topics of concern, but we can actually open new discussions. Topics that are taboo in culture or inappropriate in some settings, can be tackled with reckless abandon online.
4. Safely investigate. Along those same lines, we can read the best arguments from the top thinkers of the other side, without having to get into a debate head on with them. I would get crushed if I entered into a debate with some well known atheist faculty of an ivy league institution, but his students will blog his thoughts and I can read them. I don't have to worry about having my ego crushed in front of people, or sully the name of Christ with intemperate remarks in a debate, yet I can still find out what their best thoughts are and rebut them when I have done enough thought and study on the matter.
Dr. Reynolds - The best professional philosopher blogging today is Brian Leiter at Leiter Reports. Leiter changed professional philosophy and he did it essentially through his website. He blogs in a model way for those of us Christian bloggers who aspire to engage the marketplace of ideas.
----
OK, so I must admit that's about as far as I got with liveblogging this one. Not much of a liveblog. I was more interested in joining the discussion than in trying to capture so much of it. I will post a few thoughts that came out of our discussion. Dr. Reynolds' main question for us is how can we blog effectively in order to transform culture?
One of the first observations is that we cannot transform culture merely through blogs. As much as we've heard about the power of the blogosphere and the new printing press and all of that (which is true to a point), we have to remember that this is not the be-all end-all technology that will form a Christian culture simply because we typed up a few posts. Along those same lines, I think it is imperative that we see blogging as a piece of our life - my calling as a husband and father supersede my calling to be a good blogger. What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world in traffic, but loses his family? Our kids can't spend 18 years growing up in non-Christian homes and be "fixed" by blogs right before they go to college.
Of course, we wouldn't be here at a GodBlogCon if we didn't think that blogging was at least effective to a point. So what are some practical ways we can blog effectively? Here are some thoughts that came out of the discussion:
1. Embrace discussion. We are after Truth, Beauty and Goodness and if that is our aim, then we should welcome any chance to sharpen that understanding. When people engage us in discussion and disagree with us, it is an opportunity for us to better understand. Do they have a criticism that is valid, or is there any way in which we offended unnecessarily? We ought to be anxious to grant points, because when this is done in sincerity, people will see that we are truly interested in discerning Truth, Beauty and Goodness.
2. Maintain civility. As we embrace discussion with others, we stand out from the landscape if we engage in civil, cordial conversation. The blogosphere can be very harsh, and our political climate is filled with invective. We should stand against this in our graciousness with those who disagree.
3. Boldly go (since its Dr. Reynolds, I have to throw in a Star Trek reference). One of the beauties of the blogosphere is that we can determine where the discussion will lead. We don't have to simply react to what the elite culture says as far as the topics of concern, but we can actually open new discussions. Topics that are taboo in culture or inappropriate in some settings, can be tackled with reckless abandon online.
4. Safely investigate. Along those same lines, we can read the best arguments from the top thinkers of the other side, without having to get into a debate head on with them. I would get crushed if I entered into a debate with some well known atheist faculty of an ivy league institution, but his students will blog his thoughts and I can read them. I don't have to worry about having my ego crushed in front of people, or sully the name of Christ with intemperate remarks in a debate, yet I can still find out what their best thoughts are and rebut them when I have done enough thought and study on the matter.
Posted: Fri - October 14, 2005 at 12:04 PM | | | | | | |
Quick Links
Calendar
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
Categories
Archives
XML/RSS Feed
Highlighted posts
Statistics
Total entries in this blog:
Total entries in this category:
Published On: Oct 14, 2005 01:34 PM
Total entries in this category:
Published On: Oct 14, 2005 01:34 PM
Search
The Tip Jar
Counter provided by
Brought to you by
