The group blog project is on the move, and it should be up and running sometime next week. The initial email message I sent about the project started a huge, engaging discussion about what the focus and goals of the blog should be. The biggest point of discussion was whether the project should be explicitly (and strictly) neocalvinist in its philosophy and theology. I wanted the project to focus on the aspects of cultural renewal through a world-formative theology/philosophy, but I didn’t want to necessarily limit that reformational foundation to neocalvinism. There are too many bright people who aren’t neocals that I didn’t want leave off the ticket. A suggestion was made to define the project in philosophical, cultural, or aesthetic terms, but given the group I had assembled, herding cats would have been easier than finding common political or aesthetic ground.
So I decided we should just call a spade a spade and label the project neocalvinist in its foundation and goals. This doesn’t, however, limit us to strictly neocalvinist voices. And this is important. Several people involved in the discussion pointed out where neocalvinism has failed in its goals, or at least not met its goals. Neocals do a good job explaining the lordship of Christ in all spheres of life, but they often fall short in the search for practical ways of renewing those spheres. So, very quickly, a goal of the project was defined — a forum to discuss the practical applications of neocalvinist philosophy. Perhaps this project will a place where the rubber can meet the road. But I think this needs to be an organic thing. I was hestitant to define anything else about the goals or purpose of the blog, because given the diverse group involved at the moment, I believe we’ll find the locus soon enough.
But I don’t want to give away too much (and not have anything to write when the site launches)…..
Posted on 7 January 2005
After yet another flat tyre this morning on the ride to work, I’ve given up and asked Jen to pick up a pair of Specialized Armadillos. They aren’t cheap ($30/each), but they are supposedly THE best anti-flat tyres out there. I probably spend $60 on tubes every six months (that what cheap tyres get you), so this should end up being a good deal. I’ll post a review in a week or so.
Posted on 6 January 2005
It’s been raining in Pittsburgh, a sort of early spring rain — constant drizzle, temperatures in the 40s. Riding has been less of a challenge that I thought it would be. The new fenders are working well. A full touring set would be nice, but a track frame isn’t equipped with braze-ons, so I’ll survive with the SKS clip-ons I got for Christmas. Monday I felt like I was the riding the Hell of the North — when I reached the office my face was covered with mud and grit. I’ve hit the clothing mark pretty well too, getting much use out of my wool knickers and shoe covers. Besides some water spray on the back of my legs, I’ve stayed pleasantly dry. I am, however, getting tired of cleaning my bike every night. If the rain tapers off today, I can look forward to cleaning my chain and repacking the hubs tonight.
Posted on 6 January 2005
I’ve been mulling the idea of some sort of neocalvinist (for lack of a better word) group blog, something in the vain of Crooked Timber, where like-minded, culturally-aware Christians could exchange ideas in a single location. Today, after Gideon Strauss’ discussion of the concept of the blog as the dialogical coffee house, I decided to approach a few folks with the idea, and their responses have been enthusiastic. The project, still without a name (though I like the “Dialogical Coffee House,” that would be an unwieldy domain name), is officially alive and kicking.
Posted on 4 January 2005
As I was riding home last night, enjoying the warm-ish winter twilight, I flatted around 28th and Smallman Streets. No problem, I thought. I hopped off my bike, walked up to the sidewalk, and got to work. As I dug through my took pouch, I noticed I was missing two key components of this pit stop — tyre levers. Instantly, I knew I was stuck — I could not possibly get the front tyre off without them (the bead is so tight, I actually have trouble with tyre levers, so bare hands were out of the question). Nothing left to do but sheepishly call Jen and ask for a ride….
I only hope I’ve broken the spell of multiple flats — for whatever reason, they tend to come to me in bunches. At least I have one more spare tube. It might be time to invest in a better set of tyres with a kevlar belt.
Posted on 30 December 2004
It seems some geeks and tech-heads have banded together to help restore internet connectivity to areas hit by the tsunami. While this sounds noble, isn’t it true that the people most effected by the tsunami and the earthquake are least likely to have been connected (as in connected to the internet) in the first place? Are these people just helping the vacationers and foreigners? Perhaps I’m all wrong here, and 80% of the population of the portion of Asia was struck by this disaster are active online, but if I’m not, it seems to be a bit of waste of resources given the magnitude of suffering at the moment.
Posted on 29 December 2004
Given the amount of discussion generated on Gideon Strauss‘ site about the concept of public intellectuals, I find it fitting to mention Christopher Hitchens’ eulogy to Susan Sontag, public intellectual, who passed away this week.
Posted on 29 December 2004
Christian lawyers in the ACLU?
This is interesting, and presents a potential dilemma for Christian lawyers. I guess my first question would be — can a Christian work at the ACLU and work strictly within the religious liberty department? I assume there could be cases would could require a Christian to work for something that is soundly against biblical values. Most Christians/conservatives believe the ACLU to be a communist organization bent on destroying Christianity and everything that is good with this country, but stop and think for moment. Thanks to watchdogs like the ACLU, Christians are free to preach the word of God, free to gather and worship, and free to believe what they wish. Rewind roughly two thousand years. The first members of Christianity were routinely imprisoned, tortured, or killed for preaching the word of God. Sure, there are plenty of roadblocks for postmodern Christians, but generally those roadblocks, at least here in the United States, don’t involve putting one’s life at risk to simply worship.
This is a bit of chicken/egg problem. Many Christians want our government to reflect their beliefs, and govern based on them. You may call this a theocracy, but it may or may not be a theocracy, depending on the practice. But, I digress. So, do Christians simply try to inflitrate government, and influence policy to reflect Christian theology/faith? Or should Christians work bottom up — that is, changing culture one piece at a time, changing people’s hearts by sharing the Gospel with them? If you choose the latter path, the ACLU, love them or hate them, is an important part of the equation. Christians have to operate within the idelogical framework of the Constitution (like it or not), and an organization like the ACLU prevents anyone from stepping on our Constitutional toes. Unfortunately, Christians have to watch the ACLU fight for others who stand against Christianity, but that is the price that has to be paid for liberty and equality. These groups can say what they will about Christianity (or anything else), but they cannot infringe on our right to worship, pray, and spread the Gospel.
Posted on 28 December 2004
The news coming from Asia about the amount of destruction caused by a tsunami is staggering. Slate had this bit of information this morning:
The Los Angeles Times online initially used the term “tidal waves” (as did TP), but as the Wall Street Journal explains in a tsunami Q&A, these waves weren’t caused by tides. Rather, Sunday’s tsunami was spawned when a 9.0-magnitude earthquake, the worst in 40 years, ruptured the sea floor deep below the Indian Ocean. An Italian scientist says the earthquake was so powerful that it disturbed the Earth’s rotation.
The last sentence is particularly amazing. And a few other interesting, and shocking, notes:
As the WP points out in a separate article, the tragedy could have been attenuated by early-warning systems like the ones that exist for the Pacific Ocean. After the earthquake, it took the tsunami an hour to get to Thailand and 2.5 hours to get to India and Sri Lanka. American officials wanted to warn the countries but had no way of doing so. Moving people a mere three hundred yards inland could have saved thousands of lives.
Posted on 27 December 2004
Challenger
Excellent electro-noise pop.
Posted on 26 December 2004