An accidental blog

"If God is sovereign, then his lordship must extend over all of life, and it cannot be restricted to the walls of the church or within the Christian orbit." Abraham Kuyper Common Grace 1.1.

Saturday 20 April 2013

Two of Irving Hexham's books on-line

Irving Hexham has made available two of his books - one co-written with Karla Poewe - available as pdfs on his Understanding World Religions website. These are some of the best introductions to religions and the cults. Possibly the best introduction is Irving's latest book Understanding World Religions.



         

Friday 19 April 2013

Politics and prose: two new books on Kuyper reviewed by Byron Borger

The first review of On Kuyper has been spotted. This is from Bryon Borger, he reviews Bratt's excellent biography of Kuyper and On Kuyper. This is what he says about the latter:


On Kuyper: A Collection of Readings on the Life, Work & Legacy of Abraham Kuyper is an indispensable resource for those wanting to discern the implications of Kuyperianism for contemporary thought and social action. While it may not be a page-turner like the epic new biography by Bratt, it is the best anthology of essays about Kuyper to date. Compiled by individuals deeply rooted in the neo-Kuyperian movement, the collection features some of the most astute Christian intellectuals of the last half a century ruminating on, and in some cases incisively dissecting, important details of Kuyper’s perspective and programs.
John Kok, an esteemed philosopher at Dordt College, and Steve Bishop, a feisty cultural critic and teacher who maintains the neo-Calvinist website allofliferedeemed.co.uk, have brought together in one major volume the world’s finest Kuyperian scholars, from philosophers like Dooyeweerd, Zuidema, Klapwijk and Strauss to theologians, churchman, political theorists, and historians.  The collection also has excerpts from biographies, scholarly articles, and popular speeches, along with several pieces never before published in English, and a few introductory essays about Kuyper’s life, including one by his daughter, Catherine.
Many of the chapters explore specific aspects of Kuyper’s work such as Mary Stewart Van Leuween’s detailed study of Kuyper’s writings on women, Del Ratzch’s report of Kuyper’s view of evolution, Peter Heslam’s chapter on Kuyper’s view of the arts, and George Harinck on the legacy of Kuyper in South Africa. There are numerous pieces on the tradition of Christian Democracy, Kuyper’s statesmanship, and anti-revolutionary politics. James Skillen’s chapter shows how Kuyper’s framework shaped CPJ’s significant contribution to welfare reform.  
Pondering the treasures of these two new Kuyperian books will help us clarify how to think about and propose fresh policy initiatives in ways that are different from conventional liberal or conservative ideologies and will help CPJ be true to its heritage and calling.   
-Byron Borger runs Hearts & Minds Books. Capital Commentary readers can get a 20% discount on books listed here by ordering through Hearts & Minds.

The full review is here.

Saturday 13 April 2013

Odds and sods

Jeremy Ive has series of three excellent YouTube videos describing the basis of a Christian worldview: Elements of a working Christian philosophy

Jonathan Chaplin debates debates "A Secular Society: Should faith play an active role in public debate?" with the National Secular Society's Alistair McBay:



On Kuyper: A Collection of Readings on the Life, Work & Legacy of Abraham Kuyper is now available from amazon.co.uk (£23.60) and the bookdepository (£23.59). Expensive but great value for  money!


Anthony Smith looks at Jamie Smith's Desiring the Kingdom

Why scholars tend to be awful writers!

Peter Escalante looks at the two kingdoms debate

Douglas Groothius reviews Bill Edgar's Schaeffer book

Wednesday 3 April 2013

Eric Miller's Christianity Today review of Bratt's Kuyper biography

Christianity Today have published a review of Bratt's soon to be released biography of Abraham Kuyper by Eric Miller entitled: "Father Abraham: Meet the Dutch neo-Calvinist who helped birth an enduring intellectual movement."

Miller writes:
Bratt is an invaluable guide, with a sprightly, erudite style and a sharp grasp on Kuyper's sprawling career and writings. To be clear, this is anything but a heroic gloss; Bratt's Kuyper is prescient, canny, profound, and flawed. 

Keep calm ...


Monday 1 April 2013

Five new Kuyper books for 2013


2013 is proving to be an excellent year for Kuyperania.
Five new books have been recently announced:

On Kuyper: A Collection of Readings on the Life, Work & Legacy of Abraham Kuyper, edited by Steve Bishop and John H. Kok. Sioux Center: Dordt College Press. (April)

Rooted and Grounded: The Church as Organism and Institution, by Abraham Kuyper. Christian's Library Press. (March)

Abraham Kuyper: Modern Calvinist Christian Democrat, by James D. Bratt. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans. (May)

Abraham Kuyper: A Pictorial Biography, by Jan de Bruijn. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
(August)

Going Dutch in the Modern Age: Abraham Kuyper's Struggle for a Free Church in the Netherlands, by James Halsey Wood Jr. Oxford: Oxford University Press. (May)



Links thanks to Gregory Baus:

2: Rooted&Grounded
http://www.clpress.com/publications/rooted-grounded

http://www.amazon.com/Rooted-Grounded-Organism-Institution-ebook/dp/B00C0DI2ZK

3: AK: Modern Cal XianDemocrat
http://www.eerdmans.com/Products/6906/abraham-kuyper.aspx

http://www.amazon.com/Abraham-Kuyper-Calvinist-Christian-Religious/dp/0802869068

4: AK: Pictorial Bio
http://www.eerdmans.com/Products/6966/abraham-kuyper.aspx

http://www.amazon.com/Abraham-Kuyper-A-Pictorial-Biography/dp/0802869661/

5: Going Dutch
http://www.oup.com/us/catalog/general/subject/HistoryWorld/European/?view=usa&sf=toc&ci=9780199920389

http://www.amazon.com/Going-Dutch-Modern-Age-Netherlands/dp/0199920389

Tom Wright bargains

Several of N. T. (Tom) Wright's books are available for free on Scribd and cheaply under (£1.50) as kindle files:

Scribd

Simply Christian
Jesus and the Victory of God
What St Paul Really Said
The Last Word

There may well be (c) issues with the above so take care.

Kindle
Simply Jesus
How God became King

Both available for under £1.50.

N T Wright Simply Christian available on Scribd!