Since (strangely enough) my previous review and analysis of Paul Tillich’s Theology of Culture garnered a considerable amount of views, I have decided to share my (briefer) review and analysis of Tillich’s work, Love, Power, and Justice. This work is particularly helpful for those not very familiar with Tillich because it gives readers a taste of the whole… Continue reading Paul Tillich’s Love, Power, and Justice (1952): A Review & Analysis
As many are aware, the German philosopher George Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770-1831) is one of the most notoriously difficult philosophers to read or begin to understand in the history of Western thought. Yet even despite this nuisance, many still attempt to decipher his thought because of its encyclopedic scope and rousing luminosity. As someone who… Continue reading Hegel’s The Spirit of Christianity and its Fate (1798): A Summary & Guide
*first appeared in Ekstasis Magazine.I remember that desk, its walnut veneer. It was just large enough to settle one’s folded elbows onto. There were three small sections forming a shelf on its rear, slots where I would place rarities: received mail, programs from events, and notecards of scribbled quotes. When I sat down and focused… Continue reading Coffee Stained Minds (Essay/Reflection)
Romans 13:1-7 has historically been a divisive text. The list of its warped appropriations is lengthy. But my interest in this essay is not historical, unless we are speaking of the “historical present”. Today readers of Romans 13 fall into one of two camps. Each offers a radically different response to this text, yet both are colored… Continue reading Romans 13 in the Age of Trump (Essay)
*Written and published on September 22nd, 2019 on the Union Presbyterian Seminary blog. As someone who wrestles with anxiety, practicing the Sabbath is often a challenge. This is further exacerbated by the hurriedness that plagues our culture and the constant pressure of achievement. As a Christian, it feels like these pressures squeeze the grace and… Continue reading The “Holy Music” Beneath Our Feet (Reflection)
*written on June 16th, 2019. Introduction It has been a great pleasure to closely read Paul Tillich’s Theology of Culture. Ever since I read Tillich’s The Courage to Be, I have been fascinated by his thought and its implications. Although one may disagree with Tillich’s unorthodox approach and his existential 'baptizing' of Christianity, it is much more… Continue reading Paul Tillich’s Theology of Culture (1959): A Summary and Analysis
*Written on February 23rd, 2019. Charles Taylor’s Modern “Buffered Self” I ran across the concept of the “porous self” or mind via the Canadian philosopher Charles Taylor a few years ago. The porous self is a term that describes the pre-modern worldview and is usually associated with the medieval era. It’s the idea that our… Continue reading Smoking Catholics, Porous Pentecostals, & The Modern Self (Reflection)
*Written on January 16th, 2019. What does pop-psychology and Aristotle have in common? The answer is an obsession with habits. This is evident from the recent influx of literature on the power of habit that fills most bookstores today. Our culture seems to be obsessed with becoming habitually fit, habitually intelligent, and most importantly—habitually successful.… Continue reading Aristotle, Pop-Psychology, & Mental Habits (Reflection)
Note: I understand that every situation is unique and cannot be replicated. I am not creating a universal law here. Instead, I am trying to set a broken bone and offer a dialectic response to the current aura around this issue in our culture (written on December 16th, 2018). I’ve noticed that people today, especially those… Continue reading Speech & Responsibility: Offering Advice
*This was written on August 4th, 2018. Since there hasn’t been much activity within our cordial guild recently, I’ve decided to stoke the fire a bit by producing some type of post. I must admit this post will probably not be a fully formed but instead will be a compendium of thoughts and unanswered questions.… Continue reading Herd Morality & the Philosophical Problem of Suicide
Dakota Wade 