The Enlightenment & the Modern World View
A paper exploring the world view that arose at the time
of the Enlightenment period. Emphasis is placed on the influence of Newton and
the popularizers of a materialistic/determinist universe.
The Enlightenment & The Disenchantment of Sex
Building
on the areas covered in the previous paper, this paper explores the way in
which the world view of the Enlightenment affected people’s concept of
sexuality. The essay goes on to explore how our own society has been the
unconscious heirs to the Enlightenment’s approach to sexuality. The result has
been a disenchanting of sexuality that can only be countered by recovering a
proper philosophy of modesty.
This is my personal testimony
of how the Lord miraculously healed my children of autism and my wife of
various health disorders.
The labours that Odysseus
encountered in his voyage home from Troy have received much attention over the
years. What has received less attention, however, is the emotional nature of
many of these labours. I am convinced that the emotional side of Odysseus is as
central to understanding his character as is his famed cleverness. In this essay
I have given special attention to this dimension, with an emphasis on the
important role that women play in Odysseus’ emotional journeys.
The Epistemology of
Disconnection
I consider the way in which
various modes of communicating effect the way we perceive the world. I then
explore how inventions such as the telegraph and the photograph altered the
texture of public discourse and anticipated the epistemological revolution
wrought by the television. As rational thinking is replaced by impressions and
context is replaced by image-based associations, mankind becomes intellectually
impotent. (This essay was inspired by reading Amusing Ourselves to Death,
by Neil Postman.)
Socrates and the Politics of Association
Building
on some of the conclusions from the previous essay, I consider how the power of
image-based associations was a factor in the trial and condemnation of
Socrates. Background information concerning the historical context of 5th
century Athens is presented and interpreted, while the figure of Socrates is
held up as a role model to lovers of truth throughout the ages.
This essay analyses Bernard Williams’
fascinating essay, ‘The Self and the Future’, in which Williams imagines a
scenario where two people enter a machine that enables them to switch minds
(or, if you will, exchange bodies). By then describing the same event in a
slightly different way Williams is able to show how this seemingly straight
forward scenario is in fact riddled with paradoxes. In my essay I have made a
humble attempt to resolve the mind-riddling paradoxes left us by Williams.
To many American Christians,
Bill Gothard is a respected teacher. The influence he wields in thousands of
American families is truly astounding and, in my opinion, alarming. In this
essay I have explained my main grounds for concern, concentrating on Gothard’s
approach to life, his method of scriptural interpretation and his view of God.
Many diverse interpretations have been suggested for the
Biblical book Song of Songs. In this essay I present the interpretation
that I think is the correct one, drawing on the scholarship of Arthur Eedle who
has rewritten the book as a play.
Building on some of the thoughts suggested
in the end of the last essay, I have put forward an argument for why we should
abstain from watching films that contain sexual content. While some people may
think that scruples about viewing such scenes are indicative of sexual
repression, I have suggested that the reverse is actually the case, namely that
exposure to sexual images in films can lead one to become de-sexualised.
When I was twenty years old I
attended Fairwood Bible Institute for one and a half years. Fairwood was a
strict fundamentalist Bible college, part of a movement that called itself ‘The
Kingdom.’ In this testimony I explain my struggles with the legalism and
anti-intellectualism of the college and my alarming discoveries about the
origins of the movement. (This essay is actually on somebody else’s website to
which the above tab will link you.)
Geoffrey of Monmouth was a historian
who lived from 1100 – 1154. He was the author of History of the Kings of Britain, a Latin work which spans 1900
years, beginning with the founding of Britain and going right through to the period
of the Saxon domination. Against the current climate of opinion which has
considered Geoffrey’s work to be a forgery, I have presented compelling
evidence that this work is an accurate and invaluable source of history.
Return to Robin Phillips HOMEPAGE
You are invited to join my mailing list!
As a member of my mailing list, you will receive automatic
notification about additional material and features on this site, as well as occasional
newsletters. To join, send a blank email to
largerhope @
tiscali.co.uk
with “Join” in
the subject heading. To unjoin, send a blank email with “Unjoin” in the subject
heading.
(Note: for
anti-spam purposes, the above email address has had spaced inserted before and
after the @ sign. The address will only work after deleting these spaces.)