Browsing the archives for the James category

Christian Science new truce with medicine

in Churches, James, Medicine and Health, Prayer, Religious Belief, Theorists

NY Times reports the church rethinks its opposition to members seeking medical treatment. [F]aced with dwindling membership and blows to their church’s reputation caused by its intransigence concerning medical treatment, even for children with grave illnesses, Christian Science leaders have recently found a new tolerance for medical care. For more than a year, leaders say, [...]

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Why church isn’t the same as faith

in Books, James, PHIL 525, Religion Blog, Schleiermacher, Theologians, Theorists

This isn’t a news flash, but I enjoy seeing issues we discuss in class echoed in the media. Andrew Sullivan posts this quote from Paul Zahl who’s discussing the work of Emil Brunner (d. 1966). A reflection by Brunner’s former student bring this distinguished scholar to life. Here’s a little bit of the quote: There [...]

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Anne Rice’s return

in Books, James, PHIL 525, Religion Blog, Religious Belief, Schleiermacher, Theorists

I’ve re-checked out from the library Anne rice’s Called Out of Darkness: A Spiritual Confession for probably the third time. This time I’m actually reading the book. I am not a fan of vampires so I “missed out” on the past few decades of Anne Rice hoopla. And, of course, now we’ve got that new [...]

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Stoicism and emotions

in Books, James, PHIL 525, Philosophers, Religion Blog, Stoicism, Theorists

Stoicism is experiencing a resurgence. I’m not sure why, but it is. This interview with Margaret Graver present a look at some misconceptions of stoicism. Here’s a quote from A.A. Long (Classics, UC Berkeley) about Graver’s book, Stoicism and Emotion: A.A. Long wrote, “Margaret Graver’s book [‘Stoicism and Emotion’] expertly demolishes the widespread belief that [...]

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Example of a mystical experience

in James, Mysticism, Nature, PHIL 525, Religion Blog

Watch just the first few minutes of this clip until the credits (the whole clip is over 20 minutes). Sounds like a Jamesean mystical experience to me. Share/Bookmark

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Deism is back

in Faith versus Reason, James, PHIL 500, PHIL 525, Religious Pluarlism, Theorists

Deism is back. This is a very interesting development. There are political ramifications, I suppose. We know that some have pushed the idea that the America’s “founding fathers” were Christians. And by “Christians” they usually mean people who hold the same beliefs as contemporary American evangelicals. The topic of evangelicalism in America is way beyond [...]

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The moody deity

in Books, Faith versus Reason, James, PHIL 525, Religion Blog, Religious Belief, Scripture, Theorists

Salon.com has an interview with Robert Wright, author of The Evolution of God. This quote reminded me of James’ discussion of medical materialism. Here the point isn’t so much what is going on medically (!)  with God, as taking a look at some non-spiritual, i.e., material, causes or explanations for why God’s moods change so [...]

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What can I say?

in Books, James, PHIL 525, Religion Blog, Theorists

Philosopher Simon Blackburn reviews Karen Armstrong’s book The Case for God. A key question he examines is whether or not we can talk about God or remain silent. Shades of James on mystical experiences, right? There’s even a little Prof. Pam there. And you thought I was the only one “talking” about the aphophatic tradition. [...]

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Sports and Ineffability

in James, Mysticism, PHIL 525, Theorists

We began James’ discussion of Mysticism yesterday. A student emailed me this comment: Do you think Willie Mays is an official Gator now that he an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from SFSU? I thought you would have been all over that when you were talking Dwight Clark’s, “the catch,” in class today. Willie [...]

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William James and Pragmatism

in James, PHIL 525, Theorists

I encourage you to tune in to Philosophy Talk, a radio show hosted by two really cool Stanford Philosophy professors, John Perry and Ken Taylor. Here’s info about an episode with Prof. John McDermott on Pragmatism. Share/Bookmark

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