In my experience, Christians’ opposition to Hegel is based on the apparent support that his dialectic method gives to relativism and the idea the opposing truths can both be true. This is valid if one considers a narrow definition of knowledge. In this paper, I will argue that Hegel’s dialectical philosophy concerns the relations between…

Is this universe just right for carbon-based life because God makes it so or because it is one of many universes with diverse combinations of the fundamental constants of physics? Revd Dr Rodney Holder is a maths graduate with a DPhil in astrophysics. After 14 years in OR consulting, he gained a first in theology…

Divine guidance of a national leader The passages below are quoted from pages 223-226 of the book Lincoln by Richard J. Carwardine (2003) in the series Profiles in Power published by Pearson / Longman, London UK – the first purely political biography of the Civil War President of the United States.. “… Belief in the…

This paper contends that the Bible has been the single most influential document in British political history. It takes six major political ideas, each with contemporary relevance, and shows how the Bible has shaped our attitude to each, highlighting particular hermeneutical principles critical in explaining this influence. It is suggested that a continued, strong commitment…

I am a psychologist. If you put it like this, the answer to the question is no. Firstly because I’m not that clever. Partly because I don’t care whether the twitch in your left foot means you have mother-issues. But mainly because I don’t want to. It’s a really horrible thing to do to people.…

A research paper comparing some forms of Christian counselling with generic psychological therapy for survivors of sexual abuse in childhood was recently discussed in the e-mail group of the Network (now British Association) of Christians in Psychology.  A personal perspective on this paper that was developed subsequently is offered below, after a brief analysis of…

Effects of smacking on a child’s behaviour A quantitative evaluation (“meta-analysis”) of all the published research on the disciplining of children by use of physical punishment was published in March 2005 by Robert E. Larzelere and Brett R. Kuhn in Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review (volume 8, pages 1-37). The authors’ conclusions indicate that…

William R. Miller & Harold D. Delaney (2004).  Judeo-Christian perspectives on Psychology.  Human nature, motivation, and change.  American Psychological Association, Washington, DC.  336 pages.  ISBN 1-59147-161-3 The USA publisher’s/editors’ ‘blurb’ for this new book by Miller and Delaney is reproduced below in order to provide a general perspective on relationships between basic and applied psychological science…

To understand the Bible adequately as the Word of God, we must coordinate all of the concerns that continue to be fruitful about the words that were written, how our own claims to know the truth can be supported or not, God’s acts in history and the centrality of Jesus Christ. This is the conclusion…

My experiences during a visit to St Norbert College in Wisconsin have provoked continuing reflections on their relevance to British universities. Ideas matter St Norbert is small liberal arts college just a few miles down the road from Green Bay. What struck me most about this institution was the seriousness with which colleagues regarded their…