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Baptist leader: Critical battle involves absolute truth vs. 'postmodernism'

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August 16, 2007 09:55 PM    View printable version     Link to this comment   
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February 24, 2007

http://www.onenewsnow.com/2007/08/baptist_leader_critical_battle.php

Allie Martin OneNewsNow.comAugust 16, 2007 paige_patterson.jpg

The president of the largest seminary in the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) says it's vital that the denomination continue going against the tide of postmodernism.

Hear this Report
 

Dr. Paige Patterson is president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and also a former president of the SBC. He contends that unless Christians stand against postmodernism -- which says there is no absolute truth -- society will face a moral meltdown.

"You can see that in an author like B.F. Skinner, the Harvard behaviorist, who in his book Beyond Freedom and Dignity basically argued that since there was no God, that 'right' was just social convention," says Patterson. "There is a great need for some to swim against the postmodern tide and say [that indeed] there is such a thing as absolute truth -- and it grows directly out of the person of God Himself."

Toward that end, Patterson encourages churches to focus not on entertainment, but on proclaiming the whole counsel of God's Holy Word. He also says the popularity of the denomination can sometimes be a hurdle to overcome. For example, special interests often want the SBC's endorsement.

"I forever have some guy wanting me sign on to his ... particular political agenda, and it's often one that he knows I agree with -- but that's not what God called me to do," says the seminary president. "So, I have to say, 'I'm sorry. You know, I'm only one man, and I only have so much life to give, and my life is dedicated to rearing a generation of pastors and missionaries to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth -- and that's what I'm going to do.'"

Patterson said the SBC is strong in its worldwide gospel witness -- and that the organizational structure of the SBC makes it tough for any one group, liberals or otherwise, to control the denomination.

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August 17, 2007 10:58 AM    View printable version     Link to this comment   
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February 26, 2007

I have often asked people about their belief that there are no absolutes. I asked them if they could say without a doubt, with no reservations, and firmly hold to the belief that there were no absolutes. Most would say yes.

To the ones that said yes, my reply was that if they could say without a doubt with no reservations that there were no absolutes, then the statement " there are no absolutes" makes itself a lie, because the statement then becomes an absolute itself. If that be the case, then there has to be more absolutes.

If they said they don't think there are any absolutes, then there is doubt in their own statement, which to me means there must be some absolutes.



"Government is best which governs least" Henry David Thoreau Civil Disobedience
August 17, 2007 11:09 AM    View printable version     Link to this comment   
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February 8, 2007
If there were no absolutes, then there would be no boundaries, and then no laws. Can you imagine no right and wrong. Agressive people will feel its their right to walk in your house and take what they want. Now they are called criminals. What will they be called then, free thinkers and the strong that survive?

Deport congress and the president!!
August 17, 2007 03:25 PM    View printable version     Link to this comment   
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February 24, 2007
bugsygirl said: If there were no absolutes, then there would be no boundaries, and then no laws. Can you imagine no right and wrong. Agressive people will feel its their right to walk in your house and take what they want. Now they are called criminals. What will they be called then, free thinkers and the strong that survive?

 

that is exactly what the evolution theory does - there is no right and wrong, just the strongest in charge, "might makes right"

Agressive people will feel its their right to walk in your house and take what they want.

that's what the totalitarian countries do. The government can take away your home, business, property at any time, including  your freedom and your life. Too bad, they have guns, it's either cooperate or die.

August 17, 2007 03:55 PM    View printable version     Link to this comment   
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June 7, 2007

 

 

..."society will face a moral meltdown."...I see this happening more and more everyday...Frown
August 17, 2007 04:29 PM    View printable version     Link to this comment   
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May 20, 2007

"I forever have some guy wanting me sign on to his ... particular political agenda, and it's often one that he knows I agree with -- but that's not what God called me to do," says the seminary president. "So, I have to say, 'I'm sorry. You know, I'm only one man, and I only have so much life to give, and my life is dedicated to rearing a generation of pastors and missionaries to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth -- and that's what I'm going to do.'"

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The paragraph above sounds like my neighbors.  They see problems but they're going to let God take care of it.

I was taught to take care of what I could first -- and then let  God do the rest.  To each his own. 



Posted in good conscience after the great thread cleansing of November 2007 AD in which we stepped in unison to declare our good works.

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