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louis

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About louis

  • Birthday 04/08/1972

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    Colorado Springs
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    Scholarly interests: Postmodernism, Existential Theory, Psychology, Philosophy, Diversity Issues<br /><br />Other: Siberian Huskies, Alaskan Malamutes, Nature, and Independent Film

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  1. This sounds like modernism to me, maybe more of a more contemporary modernism that acknowledges some limitations, but still modernism. From an epistemological view, the core of modernism is the focus on science, which includes technology to a large degree, as being the primary ways of knowing. Scinece, here, is seen as an integration of empricism (knowing through senses) and reasons (applied to science which brings the scientific methold). I don't think postmodernism denies that there is additional confusion with multiple ways of knowing. However, what I think it maintains is that this is a more honest look at the world. The world is not a nice, neat place with easy answers. Of course, generalities about postmodernism are always limiting, too. The emphasis on multiple ways of knowing also does not say that all ways of knowing are equal or valid in all circumstances. Rather, in some realms we need to rely more on science, but also consider other ways of knowing and the limitaiton of scinece. In other places, science does not provide the best answers and other ways of knowing are more central, but science should still be considered. Many people stay away from postmodernism precisely for the reason that it doesn't provide clear answers, it brings much more information into consideration, and it emphasizes our limitations in knowing. All three of these things can lead to anxiety. I think its quite legitamite to critique these from a philosophical perspective if there is a difference in opinion. However, my concern is that many people shy away from postmodernism because of the implicit anxiety related to this theory. It's more comfortable to rely on science and technology, but is it a more honest way of viewing the world? Or more honest of a philosphy when examining the world? I don't think so.
  2. I would agree this is nice in many or most situations and generally do this myself. However, I think there are also places for dialoguing in the context of labels while acknowledging their inherent limiitations. There is generally as much diversity within groups sharing a label as there is between. Yet, this site is hosted by the Center for Progressive Christianity for a reason. Had this site just spoke about ideas, then I probably would not have found it, as I'm sure is true of many others. There is also a nice thing about being able to discuss identify people who share beliefs and who don't. I think the same can be true about language. Language is used differently by different people, yet we need to use language to engage. If we "always treat language as a dangerous toy" (Anselm), then we often avoid many unnecessary problems. Avoiding labels can prevent conflict, but also, at times, limit communication. The same is true of language. In my professional role as a psychologist, I rarely would use the label. However, in other realms I find it useful when I treat the label with the appropriate understanding and acknowledgement of its limitations.
  3. The title for this may be a bit odd for the topic, but I'm curious about other people reaction to more of a process question. I spend some time in several circles in which progressive Christianity is greatly misunderstood and often under attack. I'm sure this is nothing unfamiliar to many of you. I find that it doesn't take long for the misunderstandings to occur, which I think is often related to defensiveness agaisnt the ideas of progressive Christianity. My hope in these discussions is not to convert the more traditionalists to progressive Christianity, but to try to promote some healthy dialogues about differences. I think it is valuable for progressive Christianity to be in dialoge with more traditional Christians and for us to decrease the distrust, frustration, and anger which often exists between these groups. This is particularly hard in some web-based discussions I've been involved with. In these, it is very common for people to look up the TCPC's site and after the first point become quite upset. Recently, this led to proclaiming of anyone associated wtih TCPC as "profane," "heretics," and "accursed of God." Part of me wants to write off the conversation, but part of me wants to remain hopeful that even in these extreme cases there are possibilities to create space for dialogue. So, my question is whether other people have had any success finding ways to open doors in these type of conversations.
  4. In response to the question about postmodern spirituality or religion, I can add a take on it, but don't think it applies across the board. The essence of a postmodern spirituality to me centers on the acknowledgement of our limitations in knowing any objective or ulitmate truth about religious or spiritual truths. In my understanding of postmodernism, epistemology is a key issue. I see the primary postmodern epistemology to be an epistemological pluralism which embraces multiple ways of knowing while being suspicious of over-reliance on any one way of knowing. So, for example, the Bible may be taken serious, but it cannot be the end all of knowing truth. Even if the Bible is believed to be an Ultimate Objective Truth, our interpretation of it never is -- even on what seems most evident. So to know, we need to rely on mulitiple ways of knowing.
  5. I'm a little new joining in here, but have great interest in both postmodernism and progressive Christianity. I don't know that I would agree that we could talk about 3 kinds of postmodernism. There are many, many forms, but would agree there are still some emerging forms of postmodernism. I'd also agree it's a drastic oversimplification to say there is "a progressive Christianity." There are many forms. I always get nervous when someone makes a statement like one made about the link between postmodernism and progressive Christianity made at the beginning of the quote. When ever we start oversimplifying, especially in a categorical fashion, we necessarily begin distorting the abstract aspects. Such statements are often lead in to more problematic disagreements. Personally, I think its good to generally slow down the conversation at that point as acknowledge we are talking in oversimplifications and explain what each individual is meaning by the terms they are using. There's an old saying, "Whoever defines the terms wins the argument." This could apply quite well here!
  6. Thanks BrotherRog! I haven't had time to get back here in a while. I appreciate the suggestions. My brother and his wife got married at the church you mentioned in Dillon. I"ve never attended the service, but will try to next time I'm up in the area. We have a family condo in Breck, so we get there time to time.
  7. I kept think of Tanner as I was reading through this, so I'm glad someone else did, too! Tanner also has stated that even if we can agree on statements, it is not likely that we could agree on what those statements means. On wheher conservatives could agree with this, I doubt it. They would probably agree tha ttheir positions fall within the categories for the most part, but they would likely have a problem with the inclusiveness. I don't think that they would consider many people who fit into these categories to be Christian. On a different discussion board I spend some time on, this issue comes up often. Essentially, I have been accused of not being Christian for being inclusive of beliefs they don't believe are Christian.
  8. I just discovered this part of TCPC today. What a great idea! Actually, the topic of the post was more wondering if there are any people out there in the Colorado area. I just moved to Colorado recently and am trying to find how to learn more about the progressive Christianity communities in the Denver/Colorado Springs area. It can be a bit of a conservative place, so I'm looking to find some like-minded organizations and churches in the area. Any suggestions??
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