Book

A Commonsense Case for Christianity

Authors:
  • The Calhoun Institute

Abstract

An appeal to an examination of mere, authentic Christianity. I concluded my last book, The Philosophy of Commonsense with the premise that Christian values had informed the common-sense of ordinary and extraordinary people throughout the history of the West to culminate in the formation of American culture. This work is a continuation of that theme with a discussion of precisely what is meant by authentic Christianity and why anyone that seeks to understand their place in the cosmos should at least give it the old college try.
... d in my book The Philosophy of Commonsense, the Strauss-Howe Fourth Turning Theory and Samuel Huntington's Clash of Civilizations hypothesis. I see a hybrid of these two theories, applied in an approach I have called the Fourth Turning Inter-Civilizational Cultural Clash, explaining the world of politics and conflict since the end of the Cold War. (B. Clark 2019) I acknowledge, of course, the shifts in man's understanding of God and our relationship to God since the Enlightenment, and even prior has a tangible impact on what is occurring now. Socioeconomic and historiological theories absent that understanding are incomplete. That being said, I contend that the StraussHowe generational theory ha ...
Book
Christianity is a Permanent Thing; this work is about how Christians should defend Christianity and other Permanent Things in an increasingly hostile civilization. It is a continuation of the dialogue of Schaeffer, MacIntyre, Moore, and Dreher and owes much to Eliot, Yeats, and Kirk for inspiration.
... B. L.Clark, 2019a) Strauss-Howe Generational theory/Huntington Clash of Civilizations hypothesis FusionThe Strauss-Howe Fourth Turning Generational theory provides a workable explanation of cycles and trends since the Glorious Revolution, the beginning of classical liberal thought, that demonstrate a progressive shift from an acceptance of the metaphysical reality and toward nominalism and relativism.(Strauss & Howe, 2009) Samuel Huntington's Clash of Civilizations hypothesis argues that humanity has not reached the end of history, a time posited by some when nation-states, international geopolitical arrangements and democratic principles would stabilize conflict and usher in a new era of progress and tranquility. ...
Thesis
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Why did classical liberalism fail to achieve the results its original proponents envisioned? Given the popularity of social liberalism modern liberalism and progressive causes and ideologies, as derivatives and permutations of classical liberalism, one might argue it has not failed in the first place, rather, perhaps it has not yet been fully realized and implemented. But the fact is classical liberalism has failed, as can be conclusively proven, it has failed because it ignored immutable metaphysical laws, the historic reality and an approach to human nature based upon realism. At the end of the road of classical liberalism the West arrived at social liberalism and progressive liberalism which beckon its adherents to seek greater authoritarianism to compel compliance and ultimately reduce individual liberty and increase governmental power. iii Abstract I propose a unified theory of sorts that combines The Strauss-Howe generational theory with a hybrid of Samuel Huntington's Clash of Civilization's hypothesis explains in part the observation that the West has not reached the End of History as some propose. Rather, classical liberalism, as expressed through derivative ideologies of progressivism, social liberalism, socialism, and communism, has failed to provide the social order and tranquility that early proponents envisioned. At its core, classical liberalism failed to acknowledge immutable metaphysical laws, the historic reality and an approach to human nature based upon realism. The overarching intent of this work is to provide an umbrella under which related research will reside that fleshes out specific and more detailed aspects of the larger hypothesis presented above.
Article
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The megachurch movement was founded on bad ideology that can be traced to bad philosophy. Its communitarian ideologies are dangerous.
Book
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A presentation of an assertion that common-sense exists because first principles, natural moral law, and universal truths exist. Common-sense has served as a guide and a protection from ill-considered ideas and inflamed passions throughout history. It can guide us now through our current cultural war. Through an examination of the Strauss-Howe generational theory, the outcomes of past periods of history similar to our own era the book proposes that common-sense and the lessons our ancestors can teach us will be key in the solutions our children someday craft to resolve current issues. This book is important for parents to remind us of the knowledge we received from our parents and grandparents that we should pass along to our children. It is important for our children to help them understand that truth does exist and not everything from the past should be discarded willy-nilly.
Article
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The transition from nonfood producing to farming societies first took place during the Pre-Pottery Neolithic (PPN) of the Near East. It happened immediately after the end of the Pleistocene, between the 10(th) to the 8(th) millennium BC. One of the main questions that have exercised the minds of generations of archaeologists is why people first gave up a hunting and gathering way of life and start to domesticate plants and animals. In other words, why did the Neolithic Revolution take place? The new discoveries at Gobekli Tepe have turned up evidence for explanations that differ from the generally accepted wisdom on this issue.
Soul Searching : The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers
  • C S D W R K J P S U N Dame
  • C H U S A Of North Carolina Melina Lundquist Denton Ph
Dame, C.S.D.W.R.K.J.P.S.U.N., and C.H.U.S.A. of North Carolina Melina Lundquist Denton Ph. D. 2005. Soul Searching : The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers. Oxford University Press, USA. https://books.google.com/books?id=AN85V20yRmQC.
The Cambridge Ancient History: Plates to Volumes 1 and 2. The Cambridge Ancient History Plates
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Edwards, I E S, C J Gadd, N G L Hammond, and E Sollberger. 1977. The Cambridge Ancient History: Plates to Volumes 1 and 2. The Cambridge Ancient History Plates. Cambridge University Press. https://books.google.com/books?id=G3RoAQAACAAJ.
Aristotle on Non-Contradiction
  • Paula Gottlieb
Gottlieb, Paula. 2019. "Aristotle on Non-Contradiction." In The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, edited by Edward Zalta. Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University. https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/spr2019/entries/aristotle -noncontradiction/.
John Wesley the Methodist: A Plain Account of His Life and Work
  • J F Hurst
Hurst, J F, and J R Joy. 1903. John Wesley the Methodist: A Plain Account of His Life and Work. Eaton & Mains. https://books.google.com/books?id=LOJpAAAAMAAJ.
Mere Christianity. C. S. Lewis Signature Classics Series
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Lewis, C S. 2001. Mere Christianity. C. S. Lewis Signature Classics Series. HarperCollins. https://books.google.com/books?id=p1Pbhy6SugwC.
  • James Mays
  • Luther
Mays, James Luther. 1988. Harpers Bible Commentary. New York: Harper and Row, Publishers, Inc.
Evidence for Christianity
  • J Mcdowell
McDowell, J. 2006. Evidence for Christianity. Nelson Reference & Electronic. https://books.google.com/books?id=T74TAAAACAAJ.
Protestant Christian Evidences
  • B L Ramm
Ramm, B L. 1953. Protestant Christian Evidences. Moody Publishers. https://books.google.com/books?id=ugV_swEACAAJ.
A Harmony of the Gospels
  • A T Robertson
Robertson, A.T. 1950. A Harmony of the Gospels. New York: Harper & Row.
An Introduction to Research in English Literary History. Creative Media Partners
  • C Sanders
Sanders, C. 2018. An Introduction to Research in English Literary History. Creative Media Partners, LLC. https://books.google.com/books?id=UyDfvQEACAAJ.
The Annals of Imperial Rome. Penguin Classics. Penguin Books Limited
  • N Tacitus
Tacitus. n.d. The Annals of Imperial Rome. Penguin Classics. Penguin Books Limited. https://books.google.com/books?id=bzHAm7wZM-0C.
The Bible Knowledge Commentary
  • John F Walvoord
  • Zuck
  • B Roy
Walvoord, John F.Zuck, Roy B. 1985. The Bible Knowledge Commentary. Wheaton, IL: Scripture Press Publications, Inc.