tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28189019.post116717806995917438..comments2023-11-03T11:37:04.473+00:00Comments on nothing new under the sun: Free of Chargebyron smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17938334606675769903noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28189019.post-1168057399577591542007-01-06T04:23:00.000+00:002007-01-06T04:23:00.000+00:00For those wondering about Volf's take on universal...For those wondering about Volf's take on universalism, you might be interested in <A HREF="http://sibboleth.blogspot.com/2007/01/end-of-memory.html#comments" REL="nofollow">this review</A> of a recent heavier book: <I>The End of Memory</I>.byron smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17938334606675769903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28189019.post-1167487885989006972006-12-30T14:11:00.000+00:002006-12-30T14:11:00.000+00:00according to a recent podcast i heard volf sounds ...according to a recent podcast i heard volf sounds more like he'd buy the possibility of conversion offered after death (2nd chance)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28189019.post-1167388112983232732006-12-29T10:28:00.000+00:002006-12-29T10:28:00.000+00:00Yeah, I am with you: leave it God. He just might s...Yeah, I am with you: <BR/><BR/>leave it God. He just might surprise us.michael jensenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15379361601019023165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28189019.post-1167384855829326292006-12-29T09:34:00.000+00:002006-12-29T09:34:00.000+00:00Hey Byron,I actually attended the Laing Lectures a...Hey Byron,<BR/><BR/>I actually attended the Laing Lectures at Regent this year and heard Volf speak. It was good to hear Volf speak and I enjoyed the dialogue a great deal but, if you've read his books (which I think you have) then I think you might be better off saving your money. As far as I can tell, Volf didn't say anything too new, at best he made explicit certain points that were implicit Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28189019.post-1167371617223113142006-12-29T05:53:00.000+00:002006-12-29T05:53:00.000+00:00In his new book about Memory, (I can hear you lick...In his new book about Memory, (I can hear you licking your lips Byron) my understanding is that he comes closer to universalism...michael jensenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15379361601019023165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28189019.post-1167353919023640192006-12-29T00:58:00.000+00:002006-12-29T00:58:00.000+00:00Even though the chapter on gender was a bit wierd,...Even though the chapter on gender was a bit wierd, I still find that I come back to it in discussions about the naming of God. For all its wierdness Volf does provide some useful dialogue on the subject.One of Freedomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02479227411431959461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28189019.post-1167294648418393502006-12-28T08:30:00.000+00:002006-12-28T08:30:00.000+00:00MPJ - Yes, I think it's a great little book to giv...MPJ - Yes, I think it's a great little book to give to inquirers - gets into the heart of the gospel in a very personal way.<BR/><BR/>I agree that the gender chapter of E&E was the weirdest - didn't seem to really be necessary in the flow of the book. I too quite liked the final chapter - I just wanted to re-read it in light of FoC.<BR/><BR/>Universalism? I don't think so. He's pretty clear that byron smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17938334606675769903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28189019.post-1167286378893445352006-12-28T06:12:00.000+00:002006-12-28T06:12:00.000+00:00YEs, I have been reading this book too! Wondering ...YEs, I have been reading this book too! Wondering whether I should give it to some inquiring non-believer friends - what do you think?<BR/><BR/>Actually, I really liked that chapter in E and E... to my mind the Gender Identity one was the weakest one. Perhaps universalism is now more Volf's position.michael jensenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15379361601019023165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28189019.post-1167264617832501172006-12-28T00:10:00.000+00:002006-12-28T00:10:00.000+00:00Frank - I've been meaning to get to After Our Like...Frank - I've been meaning to get to <I>After Our Likeness</I> for the last couple of years. I was going to read it in a course on ecclesiology, but it never quite made it onto my desk. Let me know how you like it. <I>E&E</I> was indeed more theological, though I've still been impressed at the depth he's included in <I>Free of Charge</I> without losing accessibility. <I>Exclusion</I> also had a byron smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17938334606675769903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28189019.post-1167264489588605012006-12-28T00:08:00.000+00:002006-12-28T00:08:00.000+00:00Michael - I had a similar feeling and will have to...Michael - I had a similar feeling and will have to go back and re-read the final chapter of E&E in the light of this one when I'm finished. He certainly hasn't abandoned the idea that reconciliation (which is the goal forgiveness serves) must begin with naming and condemnation of the wrong. However, he does explicitly reject any further satisfaction of punishment is needed after Christ. Thus, he byron smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17938334606675769903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28189019.post-1167264067302668642006-12-28T00:01:00.000+00:002006-12-28T00:01:00.000+00:00It's so nice when a theologian bases our response ...<I> It's so nice when a theologian bases our response on God's character. It shouldn't be quite so refreshing!</I><BR/>An astute observation Theoblogian. Volf is, however, careful to outline both the similarities and significant differences between God's (for)giving and ours. This is actually one of the highlights theologically of the book so far (I'm 5/6ths of the way through), and helps him byron smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17938334606675769903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28189019.post-1167254484292345192006-12-27T21:21:00.000+00:002006-12-27T21:21:00.000+00:00This was my first foray into Volf, an excellent bo...This was my first foray into Volf, an excellent book. I loved Exclusion and Embrace, which is more theologically oriented. I got After Our Likeness for Christmas from my loving wife who has to listen to me rave about Volf.One of Freedomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02479227411431959461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28189019.post-1167251921398946742006-12-27T20:38:00.000+00:002006-12-27T20:38:00.000+00:00I like Volf's work very much, but hadn't gotten to...I like Volf's work very much, but hadn't gotten to this one, yet. The part you quote, Byron, seems to stand in tension with his conclusions at the end of Exclusion and Embrace. I'm not unhappy about that--I was unhappy about the last chapter of that otherwise fine book! But what do you think? Does Volf here contradict his previous conclusion that Christians can be nonviolent and forgive others Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28189019.post-1167229272873239432006-12-27T14:21:00.000+00:002006-12-27T14:21:00.000+00:00Great recommendation Byron...thanks. I've been ha...Great recommendation Byron...thanks. I've been hailing Volf's book left, right, and centre, to anyone that'll listen. It's so nice when a theologian bases our response on God's character. It shouldn't be quite so refreshing! interestingly, i'm waiting for my copy back from my father! he's not a slow reader, but i think has too much to read (i also just sent him my thesis so i'm not going to Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28189019.post-1167217399776042572006-12-27T11:03:00.000+00:002006-12-27T11:03:00.000+00:00Yeah, we gave out a number of copies for Christmas...Yeah, we gave out a number of copies for Christmas - since the first half of the book is about generosity and giving, it only seemed appropriate. It's been really valuable for us over the last couple of weeks to think about how abundantly and freely God gives us so many good things.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the heads up about the lectures - they sound interesting. <A HREF="http://www.regentaudio.com/byron smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17938334606675769903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28189019.post-1167217043353318232006-12-27T10:57:00.000+00:002006-12-27T10:57:00.000+00:00Hi Byron - thanks for the recommendation. I bought...Hi Byron - thanks for the recommendation. I bought this book just before moving house so gave it to my father-in-law to read and safekeep! Have to get it back (he's a slow reader too!). <BR/><BR/>Miroslav Volf gave the Laing Lectures at Regent College this year, the topic being 'A Voice of One's Own: Public Faith in a Pluralistic World'. It is downloadable (at cost) at http://www.regentaudio.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com