Posts by Carl Trueman

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Is all that we see or seem.....

Carl Trueman
Oct 8, 2010
....but a dream within a dream. So wrote Poe, words that have a peculiar relevance, given all the oohing and aahing about the profile of Al Mohler in Christianity Today . Some have felt the need to make it clear that Dr Mohler does not represent them as evangelicals; others have pointed towards the...

The View from Rome

Carl Trueman
Oct 7, 2010
Francis Beckwith offers a typically helpful and respectful commentary on the recent Christianity Today profile of Al Mohler on his website, which has moved to new premises here .

The View from Rome

Carl Trueman
Oct 7, 2010
Francis Beckwith offers a typically helpful and respectful commentary on the recent Christianity Today profile of Al Mohler on his website, which has moved to new premises here .

On the Feeling of Immortality in Youth

Carl Trueman
Oct 6, 2010
Reading the most recent post of Levy (known back in Blighty as `the unthinking man's Derek Thomas' -- though I have always thought that Derek Thomas himself fulfilled that role quite adequately) reminded me of the radical writer and critic, William Hazlitt, who, in an essay entitled `On the Feeling...

On the Feeling of Immortality in Youth

Carl Trueman
Oct 6, 2010
Reading the most recent post of Levy (known back in Blighty as `the unthinking man's Derek Thomas' -- though I have always thought that Derek Thomas himself fulfilled that role quite adequately) reminded me of the radical writer and critic, William Hazlitt, who, in an essay entitled `On the Feeling...

Liberal Democracy in Endgame?

Carl Trueman
Oct 5, 2010
The trial of outspoken Dutch politician, Geert Wilders,is a great example of the kind of problem ( crisis being such an overused and overhyped word) faced by liberal democracy: a man on trial for stirring up hatred again Muslims by using his freedom of speech. It is, of course, arguable that it is...

Liberal Democracy in Endgame?

Carl Trueman
Oct 5, 2010
The trial of outspoken Dutch politician, Geert Wilders,is a great example of the kind of problem ( crisis being such an overused and overhyped word) faced by liberal democracy: a man on trial for stirring up hatred again Muslims by using his freedom of speech. It is, of course, arguable that it is...

Privacy: Not Just a Right but Something Greatly to be Desired and Cultivated

Carl Trueman
Oct 1, 2010
CNN reports that bias (i.e., hate crime) charges are being considered in the sad case of the young man whose sexual encounter was secretly broadcast on the internet by a couple of students at his college. The whole issue of hate crime/bias is rather complicated and, frankly, speaks to the...

Privacy: Not Just a Right but Something Greatly to be Desired and Cultivated

Carl Trueman
Oct 1, 2010
CNN reports that bias (i.e., hate crime) charges are being considered in the sad case of the young man whose sexual encounter was secretly broadcast on the internet by a couple of students at his college. The whole issue of hate crime/bias is rather complicated and, frankly, speaks to the...

Towards an answer?

Carl Trueman
Sep 28, 2010
Jordan J. Ballor, over at the Acton Institute, offers a thoughtful response to my piece on work and dignity. Many thanks for this ; it contains much food for thought.

Towards an answer?

Carl Trueman
Sep 28, 2010
Jordan J. Ballor, over at the Acton Institute, offers a thoughtful response to my piece on work and dignity. Many thanks for this ; it contains much food for thought.

Vacancy at the Christian Mind: Only Arty Middle Class Intellectuals Need Apply

Carl Trueman
Sep 28, 2010
I confess that I am reeling from the fact that, at an age when I was still reading books with titles like Biggles Beats the Boche and comics where crowds of German soldiers, screaming words like `Achtung! Achtung!' and `Ze Britisher peegs must die!' were regularly massacred in hails of bullets...

Vacancy at the Christian Mind: Only Arty Middle Class Intellectuals Need Apply

Carl Trueman
Sep 28, 2010
I confess that I am reeling from the fact that, at an age when I was still reading books with titles like Biggles Beats the Boche and comics where crowds of German soldiers, screaming words like `Achtung! Achtung!' and `Ze Britisher peegs must die!' were regularly massacred in hails of bullets...

Kennedy-Nixon Revisited

Carl Trueman
Sep 24, 2010
Slate magazine has just published a fascinating article , calling into question the traditional wisdom that, in the 1960 televised debate, those who watched on TV thought Kennedy won, while those who listened on the radio gave the spoils to Nixon; and thus, so the wisdom goes, was born the modern...

Kennedy-Nixon Revisited

Carl Trueman
Sep 24, 2010
Slate magazine has just published a fascinating article , calling into question the traditional wisdom that, in the 1960 televised debate, those who watched on TV thought Kennedy won, while those who listened on the radio gave the spoils to Nixon; and thus, so the wisdom goes, was born the modern...

U2, Brutus my son

Carl Trueman
Sep 23, 2010
Well, if Liam can mark his opening day on the blog with links to the reactionary broadsheets, I'll match him with one to a reactionary tabloid here . So Bono's campaign for the poor is all about `raising awareness,' not actually helping people? Reminds me of how my wife and I managed to kill off...

U2, Brutus my son

Carl Trueman
Sep 23, 2010
Well, if Liam can mark his opening day on the blog with links to the reactionary broadsheets, I'll match him with one to a reactionary tabloid here . So Bono's campaign for the poor is all about `raising awareness,' not actually helping people? Reminds me of how my wife and I managed to kill off...

Important Advice

Carl Trueman
Sep 23, 2010
Anyone contemplating ministry in the postmodern world will find crucial advice here .

Important Advice

Carl Trueman
Sep 23, 2010
Anyone contemplating ministry in the postmodern world will find crucial advice here .

Goo Goo for Gaga? I Blame Bono (and Bush)

Carl Trueman
Sep 22, 2010
If the fact that the Senate did not repeal `Don't ask, don't tell' was a pleasant surprise, the tiresome role of celebrities (or, `slebs' as British journalist, Rod Liddle, calls them) in weighing in to campaign for such a repeal was not. This time it was `Lady Gaga,' who comes across as a cut-...

Goo Goo for Gaga? I Blame Bono (and Bush)

Carl Trueman
Sep 22, 2010
If the fact that the Senate did not repeal `Don't ask, don't tell' was a pleasant surprise, the tiresome role of celebrities (or, `slebs' as British journalist, Rod Liddle, calls them) in weighing in to campaign for such a repeal was not. This time it was `Lady Gaga,' who comes across as a cut-...

On Wives and Soul Patches

Carl Trueman
Sep 21, 2010
I was delighted today to see Bob Brady and congratulate him on his recent nuptials Bob is, of course, the evil organisational genius behind Reformation 21 (our one man equivalent to the Bilderberg Group , for whom myself, Derek and Rodney are mere stooges); yet I was somewhat shocked at the change...

On Wives and Soul Patches

Carl Trueman
Sep 21, 2010
I was delighted today to see Bob Brady and congratulate him on his recent nuptials Bob is, of course, the evil organisational genius behind Reformation 21 (our one man equivalent to the Bilderberg Group , for whom myself, Derek and Rodney are mere stooges); yet I was somewhat shocked at the change...

September 17: 2 Cor 6

Carl Trueman
Sep 20, 2010
2 Corinthians 6 continues the flood of gospel-saturated exclamations that have been flowing from Paul's pen since chapter 2. Now he reminds his readers that the age of the gospel is here, and, more specifically, that as that gospel lays its claims on each individual, there is no time like the...

Turbulent Priests: Newman versus Kingsley

Carl Trueman
Sep 19, 2010
Last week, we arrived at the point in 1845 when Newman converted to Catholicism. Shortly thereafter, he and his close friend, Ambrose St. John, traveled to Rome to train for the priesthood. St. John was to be Newman's constant companion until the former's death in 1875. Indeed, when Newman himself...

Turbulent Priests: Newman versus Kingsley

Carl Trueman
Sep 19, 2010
Last week, we arrived at the point in 1845 when Newman converted to Catholicism. Shortly thereafter, he and his close friend, Ambrose St. John, traveled to Rome to train for the priesthood. St. John was to be Newman's constant companion until the former's death in 1875. Indeed, when Newman himself...

What will they be saying next?

Carl Trueman
Sep 18, 2010
Bob Tarullo has brought to my attention this article which addresses the ambiguity of the reception of Newman in Catholic thought, especially the bizarre claim that he was a liberal. What will they be claiming next? The Meatloaf inspired disco? Or that former editors of the Crisis magazine and...

What will they be saying next?

Carl Trueman
Sep 18, 2010
Bob Tarullo has brought to my attention this article which addresses the ambiguity of the reception of Newman in Catholic thought, especially the bizarre claim that he was a liberal. What will they be claiming next? The Meatloaf inspired disco? Or that former editors of the Crisis magazine and...

No, Mr Beck is Part of the Problem

Carl Trueman
Sep 17, 2010
The confusing signals on syncretism coming from World Magazine are, indeed, confusing. While Andree Seu's column (which I linked yesterday) clearly points to Beck as a confused but genuine Christian, Marvin Olasky correctly points out that Beck's theology, or lack thereof, is a huge problem...

No, Mr Beck is Part of the Problem

Carl Trueman
Sep 17, 2010
The confusing signals on syncretism coming from World Magazine are, indeed, confusing. While Andree Seu's column (which I linked yesterday) clearly points to Beck as a confused but genuine Christian, Marvin Olasky correctly points out that Beck's theology, or lack thereof, is a huge problem...

September 16: 2 Cor 5

Carl Trueman
Sep 16, 2010
One of the common cliches of the modern evangelical church is that the church in the past has been too heavenly minded and we need to focus on creation and claiming it for Christ - whether we conceive of that as art, movies, politics or whatever. As an aside, it always interests me that such people...

September 15: 2 Cor 4

Carl Trueman
Sep 16, 2010
2 Corinthians 4 is a particularly important chapter for those in ministry and, indeed, for every believer. Building on the argument of earlier chapters, Paul points first to the fact that his ministry is something he has by the grace of God and which is therefore powered by the grace of God. For...

World Magazine on Mormonism

Carl Trueman
Sep 16, 2010
World Magazine offers an interesting take on Mormonism, Glen Beck, and Christianity here . So what is ultimately the one thing needful? Rom. 10: 9-10, or commitment to conservative politics?

World Magazine on Mormonism

Carl Trueman
Sep 16, 2010
World Magazine offers an interesting take on Mormonism, Glen Beck, and Christianity here . So what is ultimately the one thing needful? Rom. 10: 9-10, or commitment to conservative politics?

Turbulent Priests: The Guilty Pleasure I

Carl Trueman
Sep 15, 2010
Most of us have guilty pleasures which we enjoy, which are not in themselves particularly immoral, but of which might still be ashamed in certain contexts. My musical GP for example, is Meatloaf . That will be incomprehensible to anyone older than 45 or younger than 41. This is because I suspect it...

Turbulent Priests: The Guilty Pleasure I

Carl Trueman
Sep 15, 2010
Most of us have guilty pleasures which we enjoy, which are not in themselves particularly immoral, but of which might still be ashamed in certain contexts. My musical GP for example, is Meatloaf . That will be incomprehensible to anyone older than 45 or younger than 41. This is because I suspect it...

September 14: 2 Cor 3

Carl Trueman
Sep 14, 2010
In 2 Corinthians 3, Paul talks about the glory of the ministry which has been entrusted to him in a passage which draws a stark contrast between the old covenant and the new. The old covenant was indeed glorious. While Paul describes it as a ministry of death, this is not to be read as derogating...

Thought for the Day from GKC

Carl Trueman
Sep 14, 2010
Here is a striking quotation from G K Chesterton, writing in the context of a discussion of Aquinas's criticism of the slippery medieval theologian/philosopher, Siger of Brabant: "It is a fact that falsehood is never so false as when it is very nearly true. It is when the stab comes near the nerve...

Thought for the Day from GKC

Carl Trueman
Sep 14, 2010
Here is a striking quotation from G K Chesterton, writing in the context of a discussion of Aquinas's criticism of the slippery medieval theologian/philosopher, Siger of Brabant: "It is a fact that falsehood is never so false as when it is very nearly true. It is when the stab comes near the nerve...

September 13: 2 Cor 2

Carl Trueman
Sep 13, 2010
In this chapter we have one of those sudden gear changes which are so characteristic of the Apostle Paul and which, indeed, remind us that, although all scripture is God-breathed and authored in an ultimate sense by God, this does not override the personalities of the various human authors of the...

In Praise of the Generalist III: Some Suggestions

Carl Trueman
Sep 13, 2010
If being a generalist is, as I have argued, not simply possible but more than ever necessary, how does one set about becoming one? The first part (indeed, 90%) of the answer is likely the most unwelcome: disciplined use of time. I have a job and a half (Dean at a Seminary, plus a teaching load...

In Praise of the Generalist III: Some Suggestions

Carl Trueman
Sep 13, 2010
If being a generalist is, as I have argued, not simply possible but more than ever necessary, how does one set about becoming one? The first part (indeed, 90%) of the answer is likely the most unwelcome: disciplined use of time. I have a job and a half (Dean at a Seminary, plus a teaching load...

Two Notable Westminster Events

Carl Trueman
Sep 11, 2010
As WTS kicked off the 2010-11 year this week, there were two notable events. First, the Seminary Student President compiled music for the welcome barbecue not from the traditional 1980s gospelevator music list but on the basis of classic rock references in the MDiv Reformation lectures. Out goes `...

Two Notable Westminster Events

Carl Trueman
Sep 11, 2010
As WTS kicked off the 2010-11 year this week, there were two notable events. First, the Seminary Student President compiled music for the welcome barbecue not from the traditional 1980s gospelevator music list but on the basis of classic rock references in the MDiv Reformation lectures. Out goes `...

In Praise of the Generalist II: The Possibility and the Imperative

Carl Trueman
Sep 10, 2010
In thinking about the importance of being a generalist, the first thing to understand is that it is, indeed, a possibility. This might seem to be something of a stretch in the current climate of hyper-specialisation and oceans of information that no man can possibly navigate, but I do believe that...

In Praise of the Generalist II: The Possibility and the Imperative

Carl Trueman
Sep 10, 2010
In thinking about the importance of being a generalist, the first thing to understand is that it is, indeed, a possibility. This might seem to be something of a stretch in the current climate of hyper-specialisation and oceans of information that no man can possibly navigate, but I do believe that...

In Praise of the Generalist I: The Problem

Carl Trueman
Sep 9, 2010
One of the things that marks the world today, particularly the academic world, is the importance of specialisation and expertise. We all tend to trust the experts because who are we, poor mites, to question what somebody who has spent a lifetime studying a particularly narrow area says about a...

In Praise of the Generalist I: The Problem

Carl Trueman
Sep 9, 2010
One of the things that marks the world today, particularly the academic world, is the importance of specialisation and expertise. We all tend to trust the experts because who are we, poor mites, to question what somebody who has spent a lifetime studying a particularly narrow area says about a...

Turbulent Priests: The Theologian on Theology

Carl Trueman
Sep 8, 2010
One of the barriers which often hinders appreciation of the early church fathers is the sheer strangeness of the world in which they lived compared to that which we now inhabit. In many ways, the fundamental questions they asked were akin to those we face today. For example, `What does it look like...

Turbulent Priests: The Theologian on Theology

Carl Trueman
Sep 8, 2010
One of the barriers which often hinders appreciation of the early church fathers is the sheer strangeness of the world in which they lived compared to that which we now inhabit. In many ways, the fundamental questions they asked were akin to those we face today. For example, `What does it look like...