welcome to multiple strands

a place to converse, virtually, on a variety of topics, bringing together multiple strands to encourage, question, challenge, ponder, and edify. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart. (Eccl. 4.12)

Monday, March 23, 2020

The Use of the Past

In times of change and danger when there is a quicksand of fear under men’s reasoning, a sense of continuity with generations gone before can stretch like a lifeline across the scary present and get us past that idiot delusion of the exceptional Now that blocks good thinking.

- John Dos Passos, 1941, in “The Use of the Past”

Monday, February 3, 2020

Stewardship


Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.
Luke 12:48 (ESV)

After speaking several parables and teaching about money and wealth, Jesus summarizes the thoughts with this statement. It is more expansive: stewardship is not only concerning money, though it includes money. It is also gifts, abilities, time, physical abilities, leadership, talents, etc. 

What "much" have we been given, each of us individually and collectively, for which we are compelled to be good stewards?

Wednesday, January 8, 2020

fides quaerens intellectum

‘faith seeking understanding’ (Anselm). 

That's a wonderful statement! 
Fides quaerens intellectum means "faith seeking understanding" or "faith seeking intelligence". It is the theological method stressed by Augustine (354–430) and Anselm of Canterbury (c.1033 – 1109) in which one begins with belief in faith and on the basis of that faith moves on to further understanding of Christian truth. Anselm uses this expression for the first time in his Proslogion (II–IV). It articulates the close relationship between faith and human reason. This is the key to Anselm's theological thought and philosophical thinking. He would understand all things in faith. It means to understand intellectually what we already believe. Chronologically, faith precedes understanding, like when small children first trust their parents and believe what they state, and it is only later on, when they grow up, that they want to examine and understand the reality by themselves. In the words of Anselm of Canterbury : "Neque enim quaero intelligere ut credam, sed credo ut intelligam" ("I do not seek to understand in order that I may believe, but rather, I believe in order that I may understand").
(en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fides_quaerens_intellectum)

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