New Project: The State of Christianity

It has been said, by Charles Williams, I believe, that Christianity always seems to be dying, but somehow it keeps coming back with ever new vigor. Today, the idea of its dying, is at the forefront of my mind. To encourage it to either die faithfully or live wholesomely, is a task that not only may help others who find the situation bewildering: but also will help me understand too.

Among the concerns of mine are
- the church's organization in the current political climate
- our understanding of theology after the scientific revolution
- christianity's teachings to young men and women after the sexual revolution

A major focus of this blog will be to analyze the state of Christianity throughout the world and then (perhaps) to give my take on what it could do to improve. In this way, I realize that I will be criticizing many who are better than me; that I am a drop in an endless sea of opinion; and that (hence) the only chance of good work is by great personal growth and by divine blessing.

But it is to be an honest attempt, and if it helps me and others understand our current situation and what to do about it just a little better, then it is worth it.

New Project: Programming in Everyday Life

Currently, I'm reading The Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs. It makes the following claim:

Educators, generals, dieticians, psychologists, and parents program. Armies, students, and some societies are programmed. An assault on large problems employs a succession of programs, most of which spring into existence en route. These programs are rife with issues that appear to be particular to the problem at hand. To appreciate programming as an intellectual activity in its own right you must turn to computer programming; you must read and write computer programs--many of them. 

The authors turn from our encounter with these patterns in everyday life to the theoretical study of these patterns in computer science. I'm going to reverse the movement they're making here. I'll note down their theoretical considerations, then I'll suggest practical conclusions we may draw from programs.

EAIM: Modes of Experience

"You shall not wear cloth of wool and linen mixed together."
- Deuteronomy 22:11

Your sense of sight is color and form. Your sense of hearing is sound.  Though they both inform you about the nature of your world of experience, we can't thereby say, "I am hearing the color blue." It's a confused idea. The world of hearing has nothing to do with the world of sight. They are separate worlds of experience.

While this much is obvious, Michael Oakeshott clarifies other, less obvious, kinds of confusion. By the way he sees things, the worlds of Science, History, and Practice are towards each other like sight and hearing are towards each other.