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Book Plunge: Journeys of Faith

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  • Book Plunge: Journeys of Faith

    Why do you hold the position you hold?

    Link

    -----

    What do I think of Robert Plummer's book published by Zondervan? Let's plunge into the Deeper Waters and find out.

    Journeys of Faith is about prominent Christians going to a different faith tradition within the Christian community. Each one tells their story and then there is someone who gives a rejoinder followed by a response from the original writer. The four views presented are Orthodoxy, Catholicism, Evangelicalism, and Anglicanism.

    In terms of debate style, I thought the most convincing essays were done by Francis Beckwith for Catholicism and Chris Castaldo for evangelicalism. I thought Wilbur Ellsworth glossed over many of the doctrines of Orthodoxy that I have a problem with. Lyle Dorsett for Anglicanism did give a great piece about it, but I just found it odd that Anglicanism was included and there wasn't really much to argue with. Still, when talking about transformative stories, his is probably the most incredible.

    As for responses, those often weren't as good. I thought Gregg Allison responding to Catholicism and Brad S. Gregory responding to evangelicalism were both weak responses. Allison seemed to have a prepared statement for Catholicism. While I thought the information was good, it did not interact with Beckwith's points well. I don't think Allison even mentioned Beckwith by name once.

    In Castaldo's piece, he had talked about how a problem he had with Catholicism was shown by Peter Kreeft. Kreeft talked about students who come to Boston College. He asks them why they should get to go to Heaven someday. Most of them say something about how they are doing their best and trying to be a good person. He said nine out of ten of them don't mention Jesus Christ at all. The lack of hearing the gospel is something Castaldo is concerned about.

    Yet you get to Gregory's reply and Castaldo is only mentioned once by name from what I recall. A point like this was not interacted with. If you are a Catholic writing a response to an evangelical, you want to hit at the areas of concern for evangelicals. Hearing the gospel is a big concern for evangelicals.

    Instead, Gregory gave what seemed also like a prepared statement and went on about how you need an infallible interpreter. I find this an incredibly weak position since it treats the Scriptures like a postmodern document that no one can understand. Second, there is not given any reason why it has to be the Roman magisterium that is this interpreter. Why not Orthodoxy or Mormonism or the Watchtower? All of them claim to have the word from God on the Scriptures.

    Fortunately, all the participants in the discussion did get along. There was no claiming that XYZ was a heretic or anything like that. This is a true discussion in ecumenicism. It is the way it should be done. We need to be able to come together and discuss our differences.

    A format like this is also incredibly helpful because if you get a book on Catholicism or Orthodoxy or Evangelicalism or any other position, well, of course, it could sound convincing! It's always convincing if you only get one side of the argument. A work like this gives you both sides of the argument. This is the kind of approach that is needed.

    I encourage those looking into these questions to read material like this.

    In Christ,
    Nick Peters

  • #2
    I don't know that a book much helped with any of my issues with Orthodoxy before I converted; IIRC all my issues were resolved in debate here (though TBH I wasn't planning to convert when the discussions took place).
    Enter the Church and wash away your sins. For here there is a hospital and not a court of law. Do not be ashamed to enter the Church; be ashamed when you sin, but not when you repent. – St. John Chrysostom

    Veritas vos Liberabit<>< Learn Greek <>< Look here for an Orthodox Church in America<><Ancient Faith Radio
    sigpic
    I recommend you do not try too hard and ...research as little as possible. Such weighty things give me a headache. - Shunyadragon, Baha'i apologist

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    • #3
      Is Anglicanism really that much different? Is it there just as an example of a non-catholic, Western high-church perspective or is it unique as a major view point? What areas of faith does it focus on?
      I am become death...

      Comment


      • #4
        Anglicanism is highly liturgical. I didn't notice much difference beyond that.

        Comment


        • #5
          Originally posted by Apologiaphoenix View Post
          Anglicanism is highly liturgical. I didn't notice much difference beyond that.
          Anglican CAN be highly liturgical. It can also be low church; it depends on the parish.
          Enter the Church and wash away your sins. For here there is a hospital and not a court of law. Do not be ashamed to enter the Church; be ashamed when you sin, but not when you repent. – St. John Chrysostom

          Veritas vos Liberabit<>< Learn Greek <>< Look here for an Orthodox Church in America<><Ancient Faith Radio
          sigpic
          I recommend you do not try too hard and ...research as little as possible. Such weighty things give me a headache. - Shunyadragon, Baha'i apologist

          Comment


          • #6
            The one presented in the book was high liturgy. I haven't got to ever visit an Anglican Church. The one in the area is several miles away.

            Comment


            • #7
              Anglicanism is all over the map. I'm not surprised they included it as a separate category, because many Anglicans from broad to high church (and less frequently the low churchers, as they're not so concerned with the retention of traditions) really tout themselves as the "via media," the "both Catholic and Reformed." In Texas we attended a couple of Anglican churches, both highly Anglo-Catholic (virtually indistinguishable from my Western Rite Orthodox parish), but when we went up to Massachusetts the only English speaking, conservative communion Anglican church was painfully low church.

              "Fire is catching. If we burn, you burn with us!"
              "I'm not going anywhere. I'm going to stay here and cause all kinds of trouble."
              Katniss Everdeen


              Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast.

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