by John Ellis A resurfaced video of a TED talk given by current NPR CEO Katherine Maher has gotten conservatives – whatever that means now – all up in their feels. Titled “What Wikipedia Teaches Us About Balancing Truth and Belief,” Maher’s talk has earned condemnation and scorn. Elon Musk tweeted the dire caution that … Continue reading Is Truth Relative? Well, It Depends on Your Definition of Truth
Category: Philosophy
Are You Allying with America’s Cows of Bashan?
“They trample on the heads of the poor as on the dust of the ground and deny justice to the oppressed.” Amos 2:7 by John Ellis The elegance and dignity with which she entered my car stood in stark contrast to our surroundings. The difference was so pronounced, I found it jarring, unexpected.[1] The way … Continue reading Are You Allying with America’s Cows of Bashan?
The Church and Its Double
by John Ellis As promised, I'm transitioning to a new site. I'm giving Substack a try. My first article is up. Please click the link below to read "The Church and Its Double" and please hit the subscribe button. P.S. I'm not sure this is the end of Practically Known Theology. I'm a little skeptical … Continue reading The Church and Its Double
Can God Create a Rock too Big for Him to Lift?
by John Ellis There’s only been one time in my life when I’ve been legitimately asked “how many angels can dance on the head of a pin?”. By legitimately, I mean it wasn’t asked by a buddy goofing around. The question was condescendingly posed to me by a smirking college kid who overhead me and … Continue reading Can God Create a Rock too Big for Him to Lift?
A Modern-Day Parable
by John Ellis Interestingly, when his disciples asked Jesus why he often spoke in parables he replied, “The secret of the Kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables so that they may ever be seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never … Continue reading A Modern-Day Parable
Biblical Critical Theory: The Enlightenment Tempts Us to Eat from The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil
by John Ellis “Therefore, no doubt, the sovereignty of man lieth hid in knowledge.” Francis Bacon[1] The masterful book The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity by anthropologist David Graeber and comparative archaeologist David Wengrow challenges the prevailing Western story about human progress. The first chapter, “Farewell to Humanity’s Childhood,” wonders, “why the … Continue reading Biblical Critical Theory: The Enlightenment Tempts Us to Eat from The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil
Did the Train Switch Problem Go to Sea? Rich Adventure Tourists Versus Poor, Oppressed Migrants
by John Ellis The train switch problem (or Trolley Problem) is a well-known ethics thought experiment created by the philosopher Philippa Foot. The problem operates as an exploration of the Doctrine of Double Effect and was formulated as part of the abortion debate of the late 1960s. Since then, it’s been largely reduced to a … Continue reading Did the Train Switch Problem Go to Sea? Rich Adventure Tourists Versus Poor, Oppressed Migrants
The Phenomenology of Teaghan
by John Ellis Nearing three months of age, our new daughter is entering a fun stage of development. All stages of a child’s growth are fun, to be sure, but there are certain stages that are extra interesting because those changes are not just physical but also existential and phenomenological. During her first few weeks … Continue reading The Phenomenology of Teaghan
The Cultural War: Parental Rights or Parental Tyranny?
by John Ellis This story is bonkers but predictable. Earlier this week, reports surfaced that the principal of a Tallahassee charter school had been fired because an art teacher showed the 6th grade students a picture of Michelangelo’s David and some parents complained.[1] There are so many exit ramps out of that previous sentence, it’s … Continue reading The Cultural War: Parental Rights or Parental Tyranny?
The Quixotic Pursuit of Pluralism Leads Into a Tower of Babel
by John Ellis The contemporary embrace of book banning reminds me of the adage that if you wait long enough your clothes will come back in style. Making that connection, though, may require the surrender of the belief that pluralism is part of this country’s warp and woof. I surrendered that belief a while ago, … Continue reading The Quixotic Pursuit of Pluralism Leads Into a Tower of Babel
Practically Known Theology 