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Bach and the Sacred Secular
Get PDFJohann Sebastian Bach is one of the most important figures in Western music. His dedication to performing and composing music resulted in some of the most highly artistic and meticulously crafted works of the eighteenth century. However, recently scholars have been discussing how much of a role Bach\u27s religious beliefs as a Christian played in his compositions. Some argue for a highly spiritually sensitive Bach, that not only expressed his beliefs in his sacred pieces but also implemented hidden meaning and symbolism that pointed to his beliefs in his secular compositions. Others argue for a not-so-religious Bach that adapted to the different environments of his life and composed as a way of living and being paid, instead of his worship to God. I propose that Bach was not a black-or-white figure after all and, after evaluating his life and leaving to the side subjective arguments, we can tell that Bach, through his testimony, saw his work as a performer and composer as a way to glorify God, and did so through all of his musical efforts
One Grand Story: How the Bible Tells its Story and Why It Matters
No full textThis is a little book about the big picture of the Bible.
/= / \u3eAs a primer on the discipline of biblical theology, it examines the Bible\u27s message as a whole alongside some of the most important tools that help us discern and display this richly rewarding truth. It includes a framework for biblical theology, an introduction to specific reading strategies, and also a series of biblical-theological reflections on key biblical themes. /= / \u3e/= / \u3eIn the final part of the book, there is an annotated list of books for further reading, a series of topics for further research in the academic discipline of biblical theology, and a brief glossary of key terms. These final features of the book are designed for it to function well as a supplementary textbook in an academic course in biblical or theological studies. At the end of each chapter, there are also reflection prompts and discussion questions. This resource is designed to facilitate small group discussion (either in a church or a classroom setting)./= / \u3e/= / \u3e
In the end, the big idea of this little book is that biblical theology will help you navigate the world of the biblical text, and it will also help you locate yourself in the biblical text’s world.https://digitalcommons.cedarville.edu/faculty_books/1265/thumbnail.jp
Review of \u3cem\u3eBooks Make Good Friends\u3c/em\u3e by Jane Mount
Get PDFhttps://digitalcommons.cedarville.edu/intern_book_reviews/1413/thumbnail.jp
Humans Were Created To Engineer With Humility
Get PDFThe Genesis story reveals that God created humankind in His image with instructions to be fruitful and multiply. We know, too, that God placed humankind over the animals and instructed Adam and Eve to subdue the earth and till the soil. However, God did not design humans to walk on all fours, near to the ground to drink from streams or lakes. Nor did He provide humans with claws with which to dig. Thus, humans are not ready-made to live in the wild. Therefore, out of necessity, humans have used our God-given creativity and intelligence to engineer tools, shelter, means of communication, and other needed items and processes to provide for the masses. Although God can speak things into existence and change a situation with a word or a touch, humans must plan and work carefully within our limitations and abilities to accomplish God’s purposes for us and for humankind.
When Eve and Adam chose to disobey God in the Garden of Eden (called ‘the Fall’), their purpose didn’t change, but their work became hard and painful. Now, not only were they much more limited than God, but they also became prone to act out of selfishness and self-reliance.
In the 20th and 21st centuries, people have certainly set out to subdue the earth (e.g. through dams and terrain alterations), engineer explorations (e.g., in space, the human body, and the ocean), harness information (e.g. the Internet and Generative-AI), and seek agricultural solutions for providing food worldwide. Many of these efforts have been focused on living out God’s commands from Genesis. However, hubris has developed in which engineers often act and speak as if there is a technical solution to all of the world’s major problems. Carbon sequestration, mirrors in space to deflect the sun, and artificial intelligence are all examples of this hubris. Our ‘solutions’ have caused additional problems, such as climate change, weapons of mass destruction, and social turmoil. Yet, in perhaps a reinforcing cycle, engineers are drawn to seek technological solutions to these technology-caused problems.
We engineers must reclaim what God calls us to and what our codes of ethics faintly point to – intellectual humility. This humility recognizes our limitations and seeks to learn and grow, always with others’ needs in mind. Yet, humility is not prized in the West, so it must be taught and encouraged