Why Another Blog?

While I have deep misgivings about the entire “blogosphere,” I hope I can use 21st century technology without falling into the typical pitfalls. Blogs encourage: (1) introspective rambling, (2) hasty generalizations, (3) loose tongues, (4) self-importance, (5) bad spelling and bad grammar. People say things on blogs they would never say face-to-face. Many bloggers should practice the discipline of silence for a time …

That said, there are temptations and pitfalls in any new technology. Plato debated whether or not the written word was a snare or not. He noted that books detracted from memorization and oral tradition. He had a point. The Jews and the church fathers memorized large portions of the Scriptures. We, with our glut of information, don’t need to memorize anything. I have chosen, at times, to stop reading blogs so I can read the classics. If people spent as much time reading Scripture as they do reading blogs, would we suddenly start winning the culture wars?

So, why another blog? This blog will be entirely devoted to my doctoral studies. It will function as a note-taking resource for me, a place to try out rough-hewn ideas. If anyone else is interested in the same issues (Protestant liturgics), perhaps we will see some helpful interaction and sharpening of iron.

The main point of this blog is to force me to interact intelligently (in writing) with the long list of books and articles stretching before me. I hope to include links related to Protestant/Reformed liturgy for anyone else involved in this field.

UPDATE: I’ve asked a few gentlemen to join my in this endeavor. I hope they add their expertise in areas where I’m weak. Perhaps we’ll get a real web-site up someday …

No Comments Yet

No comments yet.

Comments RSS TrackBack Identifier URI