Uncommon Descent Serving The Intelligent Design Community

[Off Topic:] My Day Job

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Some internet gossip is going around suggesting that I am about to start a “new job.” My job, and one I intend to keep for a long time, is as Research Professor in Philosophy at Southwestern Seminary. This is where I teach and this is where I derive my salary and benefits. I very much enjoy my students and colleagues. I recently spoke in chapel there, and, for the good of your soul, you do well to look at the text of my message: http://www.designinference.com/documents/2006.10.the_reach_of_the_cross.pdf.

In addition to this “day job,” I have formal and informal affiliations with many groups and organizations. Because of some health issues in my family, we continue to live in the Waco area (Ft. Worth is about 90 miles north, requiring of me a long commute to Southwestern Seminary). Because Baylor is in Waco and because I was on the faculty of Baylor for over five years, I continue to stay in touch with Baylor colleagues, some of whom I collaborate with in research.

Comments
Apparently not.Douglas
December 7, 2006
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[...] I am very happy to see William Dembski is being more vocal on expressing his faith. Although I disagree strongly with Francis Collins on his views on ID and NDE; I am happy to hear of his commitment to Christ. Therefore I am even more encourage to see Dembski sharing his commitment to Christian faith. From what I can tell Dembski is certainly more conservative than Collins, even with theistic evolution aside. [...]Calvinistic Fundamentalist » Dembski On The Cross
December 5, 2006
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Does Dr. Dembski read these blogs?Douglas
December 5, 2006
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Dr. Dembski, Enjoyed your chapel message. And glad to see you'll be in the DFW area for a long time. Maybe you'll convince DI and SWBTS, and others to sponsor a future ID symposium in the area like those held at Biola? There is TCU, SMU, UT-SWMC, UTD/w TI's influence, UNT, UTA, UD, Criswell, Tyndale, Thomas Moore, etc., plus Baylor, A&M, OU not to far a distance to SWBTS for such an event. Possible media interviews that Lee Strobel can swing here locally with some of you on Daystar(if interested, globally, including recently Israel) and some radio nationwide. Well, just a thought. re: The Reach of the Cross... Enjoyed the entire piece, but to limit discussion, the paragraphs on pages 17-18 were inspirational. "The Cross is a path of humility in which the infinite God becomes finite and then contracts to zero, only to resurrect and thereby unite a finite humanity within a newfound infinity." It is incredible when you consider the truth involved with the actual interaction of the Creator with the created. It seems foolish to most. "This is why the Scriptures teach that God’s strength is made perfect in weakness." A recurring thematic device taught thru the entire Bible about journeys in faith, Abraham, Moshe, Yoseph in Egypt and Yeshua thru Miriam's burden(yes she was blessed, but still at great risk) and grace in Yoseph her husband. Yahoshua having lost Moshe, forged ahead to Jericho. The meek, the timid, even those who question and doubt at times like Job, the neverending journey of perseverance in faith or lack thereof, from prodigal sons to Kings, from one lowly shepherd boy to King David, from a prodigal people to a people of Kings and Priest. The Spirit overshadows and uplifts the lowly, the forlorn, the oppressed and mocked, to confound the wicked and the powerful, time and times and half time again. It is a repeating pattern. Even the most brutish, cynical of people identify this eternal message blindly in other scripts of dramatic display. Shakespeare was himself well aware and moved by these paths of sin and virtue, deceit and humble honesty, weakness and faith in recognition of good and evil in one person and the struggle one bears. "In contrast to Aristotle’s God, the Christian God’s does not meditate exclusively on himself. Rather, “the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show himself strong in the behalf of those whose hearts are perfect toward him.” (2 Chronicles 16:9) He weeps for what he knows is come to pass... Mmmph... history repeating itself in 9b. Trust in the Lord, not in vain agreements with man which when we turn from the Lord, only appease the enemy for a little while. He seeks those who trust in him only for peace of mind. The interesting word for "perfect" or "complete" in this verse, in hebrew is based upon shalem, or base shalom, peace in completeness, covenant of peace, and safety under His wing. It always goes back to faith, trust in submission despite what appears to be overwhelming odds. A small correction to note. The possesive in bold, "Christian God, not God's" hmm, or maybe "Judeo-Christian God." "Far from finding human finiteness boring, God delights in it, finding creative possibilities that an unchangeable infinity cannot match." Truly, this is the rub. Recognizing in the weak, the greatest possibilities on this earth for his good pleasure and glory thru interaction and prodding, conviction of the heart to move forward. Gideon, Gideon, why do you winnow the wheat in the winepress? To hide? "...O valiant warrior." Gideon says, "But I am the least..." But you are not alone.... The Lord is Peace, YHVH Shalome Thank you for sharing with us Dr. Dembski.Michaels7
December 4, 2006
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Douglas, I think you meant "...and know there is NO hope of reunion..." I think we focus on the physical suffering of Christ -- but God is not physical; He is Spirit (whatever that is). As such, I don't think we really know what spiritual suffering went on at the crucifixion. It could have been much worse than any possible physical suffering. But we could only know this thru revelation (i.e. Scripture).Robo
December 4, 2006
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"What if the Father and Christ, being in some sense of the same essence, were ripped apart like quarks in a proton?" To be separated from the one you love, and know there is hope of reunion, is the worst torment, I imagine. I'm not sure how this could have applied to Jesus, since I suppose He would have known that He would be resurrected (and thus reunited with God the Father), but since He had to suffer the punishment due sinners, and since sinners will know they are separated from God, from love, and will know they have no hope of return, I have to think Jesus also experienced this sense of hopelessness. Note that at one point, He apparently "forgot" why He was suffering: "'My God, My God, WHY have You forsaken Me?'"Douglas
December 4, 2006
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Thank you for that pdf Dr. Dembski. The suffering (as in, amount/extent of) of Christ is a question I have pondered from time to time. I had always imagined Christ’s physical suffering as more of a blurred representation of His divine suffering – that is, His true suffering seen through a glass, darkly.shaner74
December 3, 2006
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Bill, I found you PDF talk very interesting and many thoughts contained therein have also passed thru my mind at times. I would agree that Christ's suffering was beyond that felt only in His flesh. Many probably suffered worse torment that He did on the cross. But what of separation from the Father? What if the Father and Christ, being in some sense of the same essence, were ripped apart like quarks in a proton? Could that suffering not be thought of as being infinite or do you think we just don't (or cannot) understand the nature of God and His essence well enough to go there?Robo
December 3, 2006
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"Department". (Is "Departement" French?)Douglas
December 3, 2006
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Dr. Dembski, As a member of your cult, I was wondering what the proper identifying attire is for us members. Currently, I wear a variety of cotton shirts from Goodwill, and the standard and timeless jeans, along with understated, but stylish, workboots from JCPenney. Your word is my fashion command. Oh, and by the way - while you were at Notre Dame, teaching, did you make the acquaintance of Dr. Julia Knight of the Mathematics Departement?Douglas
December 3, 2006
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Wm Dembski: Some internet gossip is going around suggesting that I am about to start a “new job.” Yes I have noticed you have quite the cult (or is it mob) following. There must be a spray or ointment for it. ;)Joseph
December 3, 2006
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