A Personal Anecdote Many years ago, I was having trouble finding a job after graduate school. The situation lasted for some time, and I became quite depressed [1]. In desperation, I prayed earnestly: I wrote down a specific list of things I was looking for in a job, and even made a vow that if I ever found one I would confess the name of Christ before everyone. It was sort […]
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Suffering and Christian Hope: V. Wounds of Glory
The Wounds and Glory of Alexander When the thigh of his father Philip had been pierced by a spear in battle with the Triballians, and Philip, although he escaped with his life, was vexed with his lameness, Alexander said, ‘Be of good cheer, father, and go on your way rejoicing, that at each step you may recall your valour.’… How, then, think you, did he glory in his own wounds, […]
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On the Dignity of the Person: The Paradox of Sacrifice
Disclaimer I recently read a blogpost titled Kierkegaard is wrong in which the author critiques Kierkegaard’s notion of “faith” in Fear and Trembling. In short, he argues that the notion of a God who demands the sacrifice of one’s child by faith is not only absurd, but also immoral. It is a very thoughtful and balanced article. As I’m somewhat of a fan of Kierkegaard, and have pondered the subject, […]
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On the Dignity of the Person: II. A Lesson from Leonard Bernstein
The following is a transcript of Leonard Bernstein’s address to the audience before a performance of Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1, with soloist Glenn Gould and the New York Philharmonic at Carnegie Hall on April 6, 1962 [1]. I find his speech both remarkable in itself and highly relevant today. Among other things, it demonstrates how people with strong convictions and disagreements can get together and “achieve a unified performance”. […]
Read moreOn the Dignity of the Person
I just came across a NPR report that Pope Francis rejects the death penalty on the ground that “it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person”, and is leading the Catholic Church to work for its abolition worldwide.[1] Coincidentally, I recently appealed to “the dignity of the person” in a heated online exchange with a self-professed Christian, who treated me repeatedly with hostility and scorn. I asked, […]
Read moreSuffering and Christian Hope: IV. Confronted with Frailty and Mortality
Your hands have made me and fashioned me, An intricate unity; Yet You would destroy me. Remember, I pray, that You have made me like clay. And will You turn me into dust again? —Job 10:8-9 (NKJV) When I received news yesterday of an acquaintance’s being diagnosed with and treated for cancer, that verse in Job 10 came to me. When Job received news that all his children had died […]
Read moreSuffering and Christian Hope: III. Where is My Hope?
Where then is my hope? Who will see my hope? Will it go down to the bars of Sheol? Shall we descend together into the dust? –Job 17:15-16 Job is my favourite character in the Bible, because he has something that I admire but lack, namely, perfect moral integrity. He is someone who can stand before the judgment seat and challenge the justice of God, for though he is blameless, he has endured […]
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