tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11511673.post112430854554539920..comments2024-01-08T11:08:42.530-05:00Comments on in-fraction: Christiana est absurdumtchittomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15603445266088083067noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11511673.post-1156976124821637252006-08-30T18:15:00.000-04:002006-08-30T18:15:00.000-04:00Check out this PW review:The Marketplace of Christ...Check out this PW review:<BR/><BR/><I>The Marketplace of Christianity</I> <BR/>Robert B. Ekelund, Jr., Robert F. Hébert, and Robert D. Tollison. MIT, $29.95 (328p) ISBN 0-262-05082-X<BR/><BR/>Taking a page from 18th-century economic theorist Adam Smith’s <I>The Wealth of Nations</I>, the authors (all economists) provocatively develop an economic theory of religion, especially Christianity. In the Middle Ages, the Catholic Church had established a monopoly and controlled the market of belief, not allowing for competition to fulfill the demand of disparate believers. The Protestant Reformation introduced competition to the religion market, so Christians for the first time could determine which “product” (Catholicism or Protestantism) was most beneficial to them. The Catholic Counter-Reformation, in turn, introduced “product differentiation” as manifested in the development of doctrinal differences. For example, from the rituals of the Eucharist sacrament, Christians could choose either the real blood and body of Christ (Catholic) or the symbolic blood and body of Christ (Lutheran). The advent of denominationalism in the 19th century simply opened the free market of religion even more. Although the book requires some familiarity with economics to understand, the authors supply a helpful glossary that briefly explains the more difficult terms. While the authors’ controversial ideas may take some time to catch on, they are sure to arouse some debate about the nature of the Christian religion.tchittomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15603445266088083067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11511673.post-1125342862350498252005-08-29T15:14:00.000-04:002005-08-29T15:14:00.000-04:00John, you ask too much too quick. Give critique e...John, you ask too much too quick. Give critique enough breathing room to speak. It is difficult enough to recognize and "name" the problems, much less to then solve them. The search for an all-encompassing solution is probably futile. What is needed is an understanding of why the problem have become so (what has made them so) and what can be done about it. Thus, we need a radically uncompromising Nietzsche so that we can begin the work of rediscovering if not a center then the first things of an ecclesial confession in the world. And, Jason, I have to say that I do no not think the fight is being won. I think the fight is being radically lost in our day. We may do what we do with enthusiasm and in muliple colors and media, but we don't know why we do it. And in the most important area - Biblical preaching - it is altogether scarce.tchittomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15603445266088083067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11511673.post-1124460181210878712005-08-19T10:03:00.000-04:002005-08-19T10:03:00.000-04:00Oh, one more thing, Paul. I am still updating (al...Oh, one more thing, Paul. I am still updating (albeit slowly) the entries for Husserl's article and (eventually) Hebrews 11. Blogger marches along archiving even unfinished posts! (yipe!)tchittomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15603445266088083067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11511673.post-1124459814005934032005-08-19T09:56:00.000-04:002005-08-19T09:56:00.000-04:00Wow, THANKS Paul! And per your last comment: it i...Wow, THANKS Paul! And per your last comment: it is one thing to be lampooned for one's convictions, it is another to just bore people to death with see-right-through-it dime-store psychobabble. Doesn't such drivel break the first commandment? Doesn't it break the second?tchittomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15603445266088083067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11511673.post-1124455969223191712005-08-19T08:52:00.000-04:002005-08-19T08:52:00.000-04:00I should add it is "absurd" that my church wastes ...I should add it is "absurd" that my church wastes its sabbath worship on such pointless, time-filling things.Paul Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786802640380693584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11511673.post-1124455821004404612005-08-19T08:50:00.000-04:002005-08-19T08:50:00.000-04:00Thom you are doing some tremendous posts lately an...Thom you are doing some tremendous posts lately and this is one of your best. What you said reminded me of the torture I had to endure last Saturday when the preacher decided to do an "inductive Bible study" with the congregation rather than preach. He said that he didn't want to "fill out heads with information," but "facilitate our transformation through open-ended discussion."<BR/><BR/>It amazes me that Christians can say such stupid things. I did my whole Masters thesis on the demise of an alternative high school which propounded this pedagogical rubbish. And to hear it from Christians as if it's 'biblical' ...<BR/><BR/>Anyway, without good leadership and direction the "inductive Bible study" turned into a pooling of ignorance and irrelevancies regarding the text. <BR/><BR/>I'm not trying to sound "elist" in saying this. I am all for "inductive" Bible study and have seen it really work with both Christians and non-Christians if the leader has prepared well with her questions and wrested with the text. But that's rare to see today.Paul Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786802640380693584noreply@blogger.com