Skip to content

Sivin Kit's Garden

Planting Seeds for a Better World

Menu
  • About
  • Church
  • Disclaimer
  • Education
  • Writing
Menu

Random Links 90

Posted on 6 April, 2006 by admin

Are There Errors in Bible?
I tried to contribute in the comments section here. 🙂 which landed up in a long “short” comment below :

“I’ll try to keep it short.
1. I’m not comfortable with the term “inerrancy”. But, I’m happy that there are more “refined” discussion on the matter through people like Vanhoozer.

2. I’m ok and respect people would want to use the term .. But feel it’s important to make it a sub-catergory on the discussion on the doctrine of Scripture and revelation rather as a main catergory (even as a litmus text of one’s orthodoxy.) I think the Scriptures we have is primarily a theological document (which doesn’t mean that it’s not scientific or not historical – but then even these “scientific” and “historical” biases are often superimposed on the texts!) The catergories of “authority”, “truthfulness”, “reliability” do offer a more possitive way forward at least for our internal discussions.

3. I think our “debate on inerrancy” especially in Malaysian evangelicalism (at least discussed here) is shaped much by western evangelical debates and formulations (well, we are limited in resources and still depend much on western scholarly material). perhaps as you’ve indicated in our interaction with how people of other faiths view their scriptures we would be “challenged” to formulate our understanding and presentation. Further more, “correctly interpreted” by who and based on what assumptions (My Luther Bug is itching here!)? That would move us into “hermeneutics” which perhaps is more of where our solutions may be discovered.

4. In terms of relating to the “others”. I think the better tactical move in “conversations” and “dialogues” with other faiths and their views of Scripture is on the message they see their scriptures s well as their religion convey (cf. the last forum I went for at UM moved in that direction.

5. So, now … from your description of the presenters above – that people of other religions are using the same tactic we’ve used to battle Science in the west. So, now we have the Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu and Christian all claiming “proofs” of divine origin. Where do you think this will lead to? This is an interesting development on their end especially for the Buddist and Hindu faiths. My question is why did they make this “move”?

6. Thus, I don’t find focusing or fixation on “inerrancy” (i.e. free from errors/mistakes) to be that relevant overall in the schemes of things. It’s necesary to clarify when they point out what our neighbors see as “errors” or “mistakes” (of course, I;d ask what are they?) – thus, the work of apologetics right?

7. I have confidence in the “inherent” 🙂 truthfulness in the Scriptures as the library of documents (we consider canon)and external and internal work of the Spirit … and thus, the priority of the “good news” being heard first (trusting in faith much that can happen), rather than … trying to convince people this is “accurate news” (which may unconsciously give too much weight resting our faith on science and history – defined much by enlightenment impulses)- of course, this is more complex than this comment can convey.

8. as for context, the critique of “postmodern” thinkers as well as those advocating “postfoundational” moves (cf. Stanley Grenz, LeRon Shults) has to me brought to my awareness how deeply intertwined much modern evangelical thought (as well as the “liberals”) is with the struggle with modernity (I think this is important for us “evangelicals” here in Malaysia to take note). Bishop Hwa Yung argues along the same line in his “Mangos and Bananas” piece. I’ve heard from people in the NECF research commission say, “we are no friend of modernity”. I think there’s this engagement DR. NKW wrote which didn’t seel as much as purpose-drive life! I sense there’s a “fear” of people buying into “postmodernism” (whatever that means to different people “from relativism to pluralism”) uncritically (personally, I see the need to anchor the discussion on postmodernism better in terms of its reaction against the modern west). Like it or not, we get the “debris of modernity” here in asia (to use Sherman’s quote) and the “dust of postmodernity” (in some form or another). I think each generation needs to engage our times and the voices that are “speaking” out (and that depends on who are we listening to. A little side track, The little I know about “postcolonial” thought is that what those engaging “postmodernity” is doing “self-critically” for the west, we are doing as the generation “after the colonial” era in the mess of globalization in terms of breaking out of a “colonial” mindset of the past and a “neo-colonial” mindset of today(which is deeper that just buying Malaysian products *grin* which is a good start). That’s just about context.

9. I think I went a little too long ..and may have rambled. Back to our topic, I’ll submit this link for your reference:-)for another perspective http://www.luthersem.edu/ctrf/JCTR/Vol06/Perry.htm (more specific to our discussion on inerrancy).

now for some mental rest

The Bible for the Post Modern World
Bishop Wright says, “The Bible does not tell us to ignore postmodernity and carry on as though modernity were still what mattered. Far from it. The Bible tells a story which will lead us through postmodernity’s necessary critique of modernity and on, through, out the other side. “

The Doctrine of the Trinity and Subordination
Interesting to see how the doctrine has effects in everyday life matters.

1 thought on “Random Links 90”

  1. Hedonese says:
    13 April, 2006 at 8:26 pm

    Thanks for coming out of pacifist mode for a stimulating discussion… which i hope clarified some areas of convergence.

    Bishop Wright’s critical realism seems like a superior and more nuanced approach to mission and bible interpretation than an all-out embrace of postmodernism 🙂

    http://www.spu.edu/depts/uc/response/summer2k5/features/postmodern.asp

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Posts

  • Moved to Medium
  • The End | The Beginning
  • I Will be Back …
  • It’s Been a While …
  • GE13 Malaysia: Who to Vote for? (A Christian Contribution)

Recent Comments

  • Malaysia: Government Vows to Review Web Censorship Law After Protest · Global Voices on STOP 114A: INTERNET BLACKOUT DAY
  • List of Participants in Internet Blackout Day! « #Stop114A on STOP 114A: INTERNET BLACKOUT DAY
  • Join Us and Support Internet Blackout Day « #Stop114A on STOP 114A: INTERNET BLACKOUT DAY
  • JB on Imagining My PhD Journey
  • Alex Tang on Imagining My PhD Journey

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

CALENDAR

April 2006
M T W T F S S
 12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
« Mar   May »
  • Academics
  • Bangsar Lutheran Church
  • Beyond
  • Bible
  • Blogging
  • Books
  • Christian Year – Lent
  • Church
  • Conversations
  • Emergent/Emerging Churches
  • Events
  • Family
  • Five Sentences
  • Friends in Conversation
  • Fun stuff
  • Gracious Christianity
  • Ideas
  • Images
  • Leadership
  • Learning
  • Lists
  • Lutheran
  • Lutheran Church in Malaysia & Singapore
  • Malaysia
  • Meditation
  • Micah Mandate
  • Mission
  • Movies
  • Music
  • New Stuff
  • Norway
  • Norwegian Notes
  • Personal
  • Philosophy
  • Podcast
  • Preaching
  • Prezi
  • Project 365
  • Random Links
  • Random Thoughts
  • Random Tweets
  • Random Utterances
  • Religion
  • Resources
  • RoH Malaysia
  • Second Thoughts
  • Seven Series
  • Simple Steps
  • Spirituality
  • Technology
  • Theology
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized
  • Video
  • World
  • Worship
  • Writing

Archives

  • November 2020
  • November 2014
  • April 2014
  • February 2014
  • April 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • August 2012
  • June 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008
  • November 2008
  • October 2008
  • September 2008
  • August 2008
  • July 2008
  • June 2008
  • May 2008
  • April 2008
  • March 2008
  • February 2008
  • January 2008
  • December 2007
  • November 2007
  • October 2007
  • September 2007
  • August 2007
  • July 2007
  • June 2007
  • May 2007
  • April 2007
  • March 2007
  • February 2007
  • January 2007
  • December 2006
  • November 2006
  • October 2006
  • September 2006
  • August 2006
  • July 2006
  • June 2006
  • May 2006
  • April 2006
  • March 2006
  • February 2006
  • January 2006
  • December 2005
  • November 2005
  • October 2005
  • September 2005
  • August 2005
  • July 2005
  • June 2005
  • May 2005
  • April 2005
  • March 2005
  • February 2005
  • January 2005
  • December 2004
  • November 2004
  • October 2004
  • September 2004
  • August 2004
  • July 2004
  • June 2004
  • May 2004
  • April 2004
  • March 2004
  • February 2004
  • January 2004
  • December 2003
  • November 2003
  • October 2003
  • September 2003
  • August 2003
  • July 2003
  • June 2003
  • May 2003
  • April 2003
  • February 2003
  • August 2002

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Pages

  • About
  • Church
  • Disclaimer
  • Education
  • Writing

Social Media

© 2023 Sivin Kit's Garden | Powered by Minimalist Blog WordPress Theme