Comments on: C. Michael Patton of Reclaiming the Mind Ministries: The Internet Monk Interview http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/c-michael-patton-of-reclaiming-the-mind-ministries-the-internet-monk-interview ...dispatches from the post-evangelical wilderness Sun, 12 Feb 2012 14:43:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: andrew jones http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/c-michael-patton-of-reclaiming-the-mind-ministries-the-internet-monk-interview/comment-page-1#comment-213478 andrew jones Sat, 15 Mar 2008 10:23:28 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/c-michael-patton-of-reclaiming-the-mind-ministries-the-internet-monk-interview#comment-213478 excellent. thanks for this. really good! excellent. thanks for this. really good!

]]> By: When I don’t want to write… « Journeying On http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/c-michael-patton-of-reclaiming-the-mind-ministries-the-internet-monk-interview/comment-page-1#comment-212909 When I don’t want to write… « Journeying On Fri, 14 Mar 2008 10:18:38 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/c-michael-patton-of-reclaiming-the-mind-ministries-the-internet-monk-interview#comment-212909 [...] One that I have recently been reading and perusing is Pen and Parchment.  It is the blog outlet for Reclaiming the Mind Ministries. Michael Patton is the founder and president of Reclaiming the Mind Ministries. He thinks deeply about theological issues, grappling with them in such a way that they are accessible to both lay person and pastor alike.  He also has some excellent contributors to his site, all of whom are seminary trained and either teach on the university level or have ministries of their own that assist the church and its members in understanding the truth in greater measure.  For a great interview about Michael and his ministry that just came out within the last two days, go to internetmonk.com.  [...] [...] One that I have recently been reading and perusing is Pen and Parchment.  It is the blog outlet for Reclaiming the Mind Ministries. Michael Patton is the founder and president of Reclaiming the Mind Ministries. He thinks deeply about theological issues, grappling with them in such a way that they are accessible to both lay person and pastor alike.  He also has some excellent contributors to his site, all of whom are seminary trained and either teach on the university level or have ministries of their own that assist the church and its members in understanding the truth in greater measure.  For a great interview about Michael and his ministry that just came out within the last two days, go to internetmonk.com.  [...]

]]> By: j.Michael Jones http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/c-michael-patton-of-reclaiming-the-mind-ministries-the-internet-monk-interview/comment-page-1#comment-212736 j.Michael Jones Thu, 13 Mar 2008 22:44:57 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/c-michael-patton-of-reclaiming-the-mind-ministries-the-internet-monk-interview#comment-212736 I was not familiar with C. Michael Patton prior to this interview but “reclaiming the mind” is an interesting and worthwhile concept for a ministry. Mark Noll’s Scandal of the Evangelical Mind took a well-thought-out look at the Evangelical mind and I think is an excellent exposé of the historical roots of the problem. I’m not sure from the interview with Mr. Patton, or from my brief visit to his web site, what his take is on this. I really agree with Mark Noll that the fundamental (no pun intended) problem when the Evangelical mind is the Church’s on again, off again love affair with Gnostic Dualism. Since the Second Great Awakening went to seed at the end of the nineteenth century, it seems that the love affair has been “on.” My point is, the problem with the Christian mind is not simply the Church is failing to teach their people at a scholarly level, but it has to do with their foundational philosophical paradigm. With Dualistic tainted glasses, the line of demarcation, between the good and evil (or at least the good and insignificant), is along altitudinal lines. According to that view, the brain/mind is of the body, which is of the material world, thus not that important. The soul is of the heavenly, thus of far great importance (Plato is smiling here). Practically, in the everyday Evangelical world, this translates to knowledge (in the Gnostic sense, unlearned, straight from God knowledge) supersedes real Knowledge (of the brain/mind) which is learned through disciplined study. Therefore “God speaking directly to me” in my quiet time that I should do, or think, X, Y or Z is considered far more spiritual, than studying history, philosophy, arts or even theology. Instead of spending the effort of reading books . . . lots of them, books by early church fathers, great theologians, philosophers, politicians and just great authors (and depending on God’s grace to show me the truth) . . . it’s much easier to roll my eyes into the back of my head, place my palms into the air and receive (Gnostic “truth”) directly from God. Besides replacing objective, learned truth with subjective Gnostic truth . . . there has also been the tendency to replace (objective) intellectual conviction with subjective dogma. In other words, “I believe such and such because my denomination tells me to,” not because of personal study. So, if Mr. Patton is attempting, in his ministry, to bring the church back to the view that God has given us a wonderful mind (not just “us” Christians, but all created people) that is to be used to study, learn and seek truth again . . . then he’s got my vote for president. I was not familiar with C. Michael Patton prior to this interview but “reclaiming the mind” is an interesting and worthwhile concept for a ministry. Mark Noll’s Scandal of the Evangelical Mind took a well-thought-out look at the Evangelical mind and I think is an excellent exposé of the historical roots of the problem.

I’m not sure from the interview with Mr. Patton, or from my brief visit to his web site, what his take is on this. I really agree with Mark Noll that the fundamental (no pun intended) problem when the Evangelical mind is the Church’s on again, off again love affair with Gnostic Dualism. Since the Second Great Awakening went to seed at the end of the nineteenth century, it seems that the love affair has been “on.”

My point is, the problem with the Christian mind is not simply the Church is failing to teach their people at a scholarly level, but it has to do with their foundational philosophical paradigm. With Dualistic tainted glasses, the line of demarcation, between the good and evil (or at least the good and insignificant), is along altitudinal lines. According to that view, the brain/mind is of the body, which is of the material world, thus not that important. The soul is of the heavenly, thus of far great importance (Plato is smiling here).

Practically, in the everyday Evangelical world, this translates to knowledge (in the Gnostic sense, unlearned, straight from God knowledge) supersedes real Knowledge (of the brain/mind) which is learned through disciplined study. Therefore “God speaking directly to me” in my quiet time that I should do, or think, X, Y or Z is considered far more spiritual, than studying history, philosophy, arts or even theology. Instead of spending the effort of reading books . . . lots of them, books by early church fathers, great theologians, philosophers, politicians and just great authors (and depending on God’s grace to show me the truth) . . . it’s much easier to roll my eyes into the back of my head, place my palms into the air and receive (Gnostic “truth”) directly from God.

Besides replacing objective, learned truth with subjective Gnostic truth . . . there has also been the tendency to replace (objective) intellectual conviction with subjective dogma. In other words, “I believe such and such because my denomination tells me to,” not because of personal study.

So, if Mr. Patton is attempting, in his ministry, to bring the church back to the view that God has given us a wonderful mind (not just “us” Christians, but all created people) that is to be used to study, learn and seek truth again . . . then he’s got my vote for president.

]]> By: TerryJ http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/c-michael-patton-of-reclaiming-the-mind-ministries-the-internet-monk-interview/comment-page-1#comment-212603 TerryJ Thu, 13 Mar 2008 17:23:41 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/c-michael-patton-of-reclaiming-the-mind-ministries-the-internet-monk-interview#comment-212603 Thanks for posting this interview. Michael Patton is indeed a fine teacher. I've benefited greatly from his writings and podcasts. His taste in television is impeccable, and he also bears a striking resemblance to the actor Cary Elwes (has anyone else noticed this?). Thanks for posting this interview. Michael Patton is indeed a fine teacher. I’ve benefited greatly from his writings and podcasts. His taste in television is impeccable, and he also bears a striking resemblance to the actor Cary Elwes (has anyone else noticed this?).

]]> By: Charlie http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/c-michael-patton-of-reclaiming-the-mind-ministries-the-internet-monk-interview/comment-page-1#comment-212520 Charlie Thu, 13 Mar 2008 13:43:51 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/c-michael-patton-of-reclaiming-the-mind-ministries-the-internet-monk-interview#comment-212520 Michael, Thanks so much for this wonderful interview. I really appreciated Michael Patton's comments on the importance of good Theology, Catholicism, the EO Church, and the Emergers. Oh well, I enjoyed it all. One word seems to sum up his views...balanced. Would that all of God's people would strive for a faith that is a nice blend of solid truth and abundant grace. Grace and Truth. Seems like I remember those two terms used to describe another One of inestimable importance. Press on! Michael,

Thanks so much for this wonderful interview. I really appreciated Michael Patton’s comments on the importance of good Theology, Catholicism, the EO Church, and the Emergers. Oh well, I enjoyed it all. One word seems to sum up his views…balanced. Would that all of God’s people would strive for a faith that is a nice blend of solid truth and abundant grace. Grace and Truth. Seems like I remember those two terms used to describe another One of inestimable importance.

Press on!

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