Cultural Apologetics
Ockham argued for a view called nominalism. Nominalists reject belief in universals. There are no shareable essences in the world. Whatever traits chickens have in common can be explained without an appeal to universals. So too for every other creature in the world, including humans. They share things in “name” (nomen) only in virtue of the
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As a movie director in Hollywood has said: “L.A. is the town that controls world storytelling for both children and adults.”54 Hollywood and other elite institutions that produce and cultivate art have an inordinate influence on the narratives that shape our world, and if we want Christianity to be viewed as reasonable and desirable, Christian
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I adopt Hunter’s “faithfully present within” culture approach, augmented by Andy Crouch’s insight that Christians are called to be creators and cultivators of the good, true, and beautiful. Alternative accounts of cultural apologetics could be developed that explicitly endorse one or another of Niebuhr’s possible positions on Christ and culture.
Paul M. Gould • Cultural Apologetics
“The Church needs artists to assist the body in understanding truth, but just as importantly the Church needs artists to equip the Church to praise God. We cannot praise God without art.”
Paul M. Gould • Cultural Apologetics
The church has grown anti-intellectual and sensate, out of touch with the relevancy of Jesus and the gospel to contemporary life. Marred by scandal, infighting, and a lack of conviction, the church’s prophetic voice, once resounding with power on issues of slavery and human rights, is now but a whimper. The gospel no longer receives a fair hearing
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I think it is because we have gone to such a tickle-the-ears posture in order not to offend anyone. There has to be some kind of balance where the truth can be proclaimed, even the hard truths, while still loving on people. The truth is offensive, that doesn’t make it less true or easier to hear. It seems we cater to those who are not committed - when it gets slightly hard, I’m out - while losing those who are looking for truth because they aren’t finding it in the Church.
Some fourteenth century theologians didn’t like the idea of God being restricted by his own essence or the essence of things in the world. William of Ockham (1287–1347) argued that God can do whatever he wants. God’s power is absolute. Extreme versions of what is called voluntarism allow that God could command murder as morally right, make
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Those pursuing artistic endeavors should strive for technical excellence. This may require years of honing one’s craft.48 It is not enough to catch a vision for “Christian art” and settle for poor quality or shabby work accompanied by a request for God’s blessing.
Paul M. Gould • Cultural Apologetics
One of the great mysteries about God is that he calls us, as the church, to join with him to bring hope and healing, justice and peace, to a watching world. How will we respond to his call to be agents of shalom?
Paul M. Gould • Cultural Apologetics
Paul’s method in Athens is instructive. He understood the culture and employed that knowledge to identify a starting point for building a bridge to the gospel.