RyanF,
In the gospel of John we have the most developed theology and Jesus using the 'I am" sayings.
Like god from the burning bush this is the prime ontological statement. It is also the basis of Christian epistemology. The believer participates in Being in that Christ is in us and we in Him.None of this relies on evidence from nature or on arguments from philosophy (perhaps on Heidegger?) In other words Jesus is the answer to the ontological problem and no causal problem.

How post modern are we? The description is going out of fashion mainly because most of our thinking is still very modern. We are on the cusp of something new and for want of a better description we use the term. But one thing is certain, modernity is failing on many fronts.

George,
When working on hearing I often marvelled at the intricacy of the cochlea. I think that we can be in awe of nature and understand nature as Being as we are Being and yet not make causal connections with the activity of God. To do so in the way we do is a late development from the seventeenth century.

here you can listen[materially]..of what the prophets foresaw
[especially in the middle]..its like watching a train wreck
but its time to chose sides..is the church with us..on one of the mountains we are meant to level..or make smooth.

http://rss.infowars.com/20140410_Thu_Alex.mp3

ye are gods..not folly of man
but you cant serve two masters..from here on
its time to chose..[remembering that the three represent...only one]
and your the one.

its funny peter has seen/the amassing function..of the cochlea..
[im presuming structurally]..but.the process BY which we actually 'year'/..ie recognize..this sound as meaning that/is so much more.

science isnt even sure yet what the brain..[let alone the mind]..'does'..but there ya go..another great topic/we maybe can get on with/later..right now its about 'these times being shorted'..and you might not know god..but you know these are the times we were told of/lest they be shortened..gods gift was wasted

jesus efforts for naught..nought/nadda/nuthin
pearl before swine.jesus told us..give back to Caesar
well its time to anti up..or quit the play...were all Yan-keys now.

http://rss.infowars.com/20140410_Thu_Alex.mp3

we live in the age of plenty
why so many crying..end the war...by the forces of satan..upon gods creatives.

however it ends/we deserved it
thank you lord..for all you do
yes..its happening..now/now what?

Yuyutsu,
Christ can never be reduced to an idea. If this were the case the Christian "idea" would compete with all of the other ideas in the world for recognition that it is the truth. Depts of theology would dedicate all of their time on proving that the Christian idea is more true than all of the other ideas. It would also mean that we could simply convey the idea to others and they could accept or reject it.

As my post above indicates Jesus is about ultimate human being, it cannot be summed up in an idea or manifesto but can only be encountered and followed. This is why we have Christian worship where the encounter happens par excellence.

Dear Peter,

Nobody can ever reduce Christ to an idea.

People may have this or that idea ABOUT Jesus Christ, but that makes no difference as to who Jesus actually is.

What is important about our ideas of Christ is whether and to what extent they show us the Way to God and encourage us to embark on it - and this can vary from age to age. In an age, for example, where ideas tend to alienate rather than attract people, it's best to forego ideas altogether.

Proving things to be true (or "more true") is a feature of modernism, so would not be necessary in a "post-modern" era. In your article you mentioned for example the alternative of overwhelmingly appealing BEAUTY, so perhaps beauty will take the place of "truth" and become the determining-factor for people to want to follow Jesus, or perhaps it will be something else, new altogether. Perhaps even departments of theology will convert into departments of art...

You say that "It would also mean that we could simply convey the idea to others and they could accept or reject it.", but isn't this the case already, where people are given free will?

There is of course nothing comparable with a personal encounter with Christ, but only a few are fortunate enough to have it. The masses, even while their bodies is present in Christian worship, are not there themselves.

So long as we are still immersed in modernism, regardless of our dislike for it, faith can be challenged by science. At any time Ponder could possibly find archaeological evidence that Jesus the man of Nazareth did not exist - and then what?

Personally, I believe that on the balance of probabilities, Jesus the man did live on earth and did show the Way by his personal example, but my faith will not be shaken if proven otherwise since I don't give a hoot about material science or allow it to direct my life. However, most people today are still modern, so their spirit would still be adversely affected by such a discovery (if made).

Peter (Sells),

>>I think that we can be in awe of nature … and yet not make causal connections with the activity of God.<<

Of course, we can, for instance atheists do it. As I understand it, “make causal connections with the activity of God” means simply seeing God as the creator (Genesis) of the natural world, the interpretation of which matured along with the “maturing” of our understanding of the physical world, an understanding that contributes towards the understanding St Anselm apparently had in mind.

I am not sure what 17th century development you are referring to.

ONE ACT/done..for other
IS WORTH A MILLION..words

and it/that one good deed for other..that..is the value behind an IMPLICIT WAY..we may chose to walk with our teacher..;..talk is cheap..[its by our works wee reveal the christ within..tO THOSE 'OTHER'..of gods sheep..LOST WITH-OUT...A KIND VOICE..that speaks out his works..by further works..with or without words.

a christian/without works/returns but the coin he was given
well may he know the gift that by gods grave has saved the wretch
but he saved none..but the one saved by an other.

all workers get the same wages..grace mercy.love life logic
its not how well you lived..but how many witness the truth you revealed.

a gift may be offered or promised or given
but the chists gift is only accepted..by passing it on.

WHAT DID YOU..DO WITH YOUR GIFT OF GRACE LOVE MERCY?
WITH THE STRESSING POINT..OF DO..not so much the gift..but what YOU DID..with it.

many more are forgiven
than fore-give..[ye can talk of forgiving..but its not a given..til you forgive.]..by forgiving other you accept thyne own forgiveness..

you AFFIRM IT..by giving..it away..
by giving it away..you accept it/thus have the right to give it to other...knowing its giving is without price and cost/yet the highest value..a sun of light..[can give unto other..of de-light]

http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?discussion=6040&page=0