Attending to the story of Adam, Eve, and the Fall

In response to Hud Hudson's The Fall and Hypertime, I raise the question as to whether it is constructive to to use the story of Adam, Eve, and the Fall to make a specific apologetic point that draws attention to a reading of the story that we would not otherwise want to affirm?Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Can a person prepare to become a Christian? A Kierkegaardian response

Is it possible to prepare oneself to become a Christian? For Kierkegaard, there is no straightforward answer to this question, especially since such a transition depends upon a divine activity that is outside the realm of human control. Despite the challenge that this question poses, Kierkegaard's writings do provide us with a way to respond, and this response will be the subject matter of this article. Following an analysis of his position, this article will conclude that, although Kierkegaard recognizes that there are precedent ways of existing that are more conducive to becoming a Christian, it is not helpful to describe them as preparatory.PostprintPeer reviewe

Accountability as the ground of human flourishing

This work was supported by the John Templeton Foundation (grant number 61346).This article argues that human flourishing is grounded in relationships of mutual judgement according to which we live and grow as characters in the stories of others. More specifically, it will make a theological case that true human flourishing emerges in a world governed by the judgement of the triune God who creates us to find fulfilment in Jesus Christ, by the Spirit, according to the will of the Father. In so doing, it contends that human flourishing is both grounded in and brought about by relationships of accountability.PostprintPeer reviewe

Science and fallenness

This entry offers an overview of some ways to consider the Christian doctrine of the fall in light of the conclusions of contemporary science. Commencing with a concise account of the biblical basis for this doctrine, it looks to the second creation story in Genesis and some relevant passages from the New Testament. The entry then considers some concerns that shape the theological readings of scripture which inform some Augustinian views of the fall. The following section discusses how an Augustinian view of the fall can negotiate the challenges posed by contemporary science. Next, there is a look at how scientific challenges can be negotiated by adopting an allegorical reading of the story of the fall, like the readings found in the work of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Karl Barth. Finally, there is a brief mention of Peter Harrison’s account of the impact of the doctrine of the fall on the history of science

Typing pictures: linguistic processing cascades into finger movements

The present study investigated the effect of psycholinguistic variables on measures of response latency and mean interkeystroke interval in a typewritten picture naming task, with the aim to outline the functional organization of the stages of cognitive processing and response execution associated with typewritten word production. Onset latencies were modulated by lexical and semantic variables traditionally linked to lexical retrieval, such as word frequency, age of acquisition, and naming agreement. Orthographic variables, both at the lexical and sublexical level, appear to influence just within-word interkeystroke intervals, suggesting that orthographic information may play a relevant role in controlling actual response execution. Lexical-semantic variables also influenced speed of execution. This points towards cascaded flow of activation between stages of lexical access and response execution

Jet heat transfer in the vicinity of a rotating grinding wheel

Abstract: Impinging jets are known as a method of achieving high convective heat transfer coefficients. One potential application of impinging jet heat transfer is the air jet cooling of a grinding process. A grinding process generates heat that must be dissipated to avoid thermal damage. To date, this has been achieved using flood cooling with a traditional coolant such as an oil and water mixture; however, using a jet of air in its place has obvious environmental and economic benefits. For a range of grinding test configurations, results are presented of the convective heat transfer from the workpiece, along the notional plane of cut, and of the air flow velocity in a two-dimensional plane perpendicular to the workpiece. It has been shown that a boundary layer that develops around the rotating grinding wheel has the effect of displacing a peak in the distribution of the local heat transfer coefficient from the notional arc of cut. To effectively cool the grinding zone, therefore, it is necessary to penetrate this boundary layer and this can only be achieved when the jet velocity is substantially greater than the tangential velocity of the wheel

Should a Christian adopt methodological naturalism?

The author thanks the John Templeton Foundation for funding the Scientists in Congregations, Scotland program, which gave me the opportunity to work on this article in continual conversation with scientists across Scotland.It has become standard practice for scientists to avoid the possibility of references to God by adopting methodological naturalism: a method that requires scientists to assume that the natural world is all that exists. In this essay, I critique the Christian commitment this method, arguing that a Christian’s practices should always reflect her belief that the universe is created and sustained by the triune God. This leads me to contend that the Christian should adopt a theologically humble approach to the sciences (instead of methodological naturalism), with which she humbly acknowledges that special divine action is not discernible by empirical science. To further my critique, I consider three ways in which the practice of methodological naturalism can be particularly problematic for Christianity.PostprintPeer reviewe

The possibility of a scientific approach to analytic theology

The author is grateful for the financial support of the Templeton Religion Trust.A question that is often asked of analytic theologians is: what, if anything, distinguishes analytic theology from philosophy of religion? In this essay, I consider two approaches to what is called “analytic theology.” I argue that the first approach, which I associate with the common practice of analytic theology in the university, is very difficult to distinguish consistently from philosophy of religion. I also argue, however, that there is another approach that can be more clearly distinguished from philosophy of religion (generally understood). Following Aquinas, I associate this with a scientific approach to analytic theology: an approach that is distinguished by a specific commitment to understanding the mind-independent reality of God and all things in relation to God. The primary aim of this essay is to present an account of this latter approach and ask whether it might be possible to take such an approach in the contemporary university.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe