Sola Scripura, or Scripture Alone, was one of the great rallying cries of the Reformation. It carries, I think, two potential dangers. The first is to neglect the authority of church tradition, to see oneself as isolated from two thousand years of christian history. The church, not one pastor or one member, was given to … More The Dangers of Sola Scriptura

I have a theory that goes something like this: all of cognition is based on ideals. They are changeable ideals, of course; they exist in the mind and act as its controls. Everyone has a set of ideals or dreams that constitutes their ideal self and correct world. This grows and is added to and … More Personality and its Ideals

The modern church is, by and large, disconnected with its past. This is, no doubt, an unlooked for result of the Protestant doctrine of Sola Scriptura, yet the Reformers themselves had a much more balanced perspective on the importance of church fathers. If one looks at the average seminary curriculum, there is little to no … More A Needed Continuity

A brick in the wall, and a rolling stone These are the consequences Of modernity; we’ve reaped what we’ve sown. Is Sisyphus happy? You tell me. No home, and no god, no traditions. All Lost in Translation, not free, For living alone in Babel brings death. So sing us a song, you’re the piano man, … More The Loss of the Logos: a Poem

Mankind has been given dominion over the earth. This is a gift given to the sons of men, not the state, nor the church, but you and me. It is a beautiful thing. We are lords of the earth (Psalm 8), stewards of Paradise (Genesis 2), and are to use, fulfill, and subdue the earth … More A Critique of Dominionism

Neopaganism lacks the strength and power of the old pagans; it is weak, depraved, and pampered. Rejecting the truth of the faith, they find themselves still bound to its old ideals of love, mercy, and regeneration. By denying Christ and the church, they pervert the residue of Christian virtue left in western culture. In so … More Pagans: the Old and the New

Over the past eight months I have been reading through about sixteen Platonic dialogues from  the Hackett edition of the Complete Works of Plato, along with my small group and wonderful interlocutors from Online Great Books (go sign up at onlinegreatbooks.com).  We read a dialogue or two, then meet together to discuss the book once … More Reflections from Reading Plato

The personal car, next to sliced bread, may very well have been the most significant invention ever. I’ve always been struck by the idea of the automobile; someone needs to do an in-depth study of how the car affects the psychology of humanity. Think of it, anyone, with a basic income, has the capability to … More Cars and the Loss of the Creature

All that is good, true, and beautiful is a reflection of God. Marred by the fall nothing is perfect, yet made by the hand of God, the whole universe is bursting with the goodness—though now seen through a mirror darkly—of its Creator. The heavens declare His glory, the lilies of the field His care, and … More The Mirror of God

I have a rose bush, given me at Christmas time by my wife, that has one bud on it. It’s a hundred and sixty year old variety of bourbon rose called Mme Isaac Pereire. I’ve never seen it bloom before, because I recently received it. I’m waiting eagerly for the day it will open. Away … More Waiting for Beauty