The Fourth Heaven

"The Fourth Heaven" is a reference to the Divine Comedy, by Dante Alighieri. In "Paradiso" (Cantos X-XIV), the Fourth Heaven is the sphere of the Theologians and Fathers of the Church. I would not presume to place myself on the same level as those greats, but I am interested in philosophy and theology; so the reference fits. I started this blog back in 2005 and it has basically served as a repository for my thoughts and musings on a wide variety of topics.

About Me

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Location: Riverside, California, United States

I am currently a graduate student in philosophy, doing research on theories of moral motivation and moral reasons. I'm also interested in topics in the philosophy of science--especially theories of explanation--and would like to become better acquainted with the writings of Kierkegaard, Husserl, and Heidegger. I am currently a member of the Free Methodist Church, have a broadly Evangelical Christian background, and am learning to better appreciate that tradition and heritage. I have a growing interest in historical and systematic theology (especially the doctrine of the Trinity and soteriology) and church history. I'm always thrilled when I get the chance to teach or preach. I like drawing, painting, and calligraphy. I really enjoy Victorian novels and I think "Middlemarch" is my favorite. I'm working on relearning how to be a really thoughtful and perceptive reader. I enjoy hiking and weight training, the "Marx Brothers", and "Pinky and the Brain".

Thursday, May 09, 2013

FH 282: Dallas Willard Passes


Dallas Willard, philosophy professor at USC and renowned Christian author and speaker, passed away yesterday, 08-May, at the age of 77.  It was bittersweet to learn the news, knowing that his passing is a great loss to the Church in this world, but also recognizing that the words of the Apostle Paul are true: "[T]o live is Christ, and to die is gain."

I'll say more about my own thoughts and impressions of Dr. Willard in a later post.  In the meantime, here are some links to tributes, as well as to his own website (where many of his articles on both philosophy and the Christian life can be found), and to the website for the Dallas Willard Center for Spiritual Formation.

Tribute, Christine A. Scheller.
Tribute, John Ortberg.
Tribute, Richard Foster.

Dallas Willard's website.

Dallas Willard Center for Spiritual Formation, Westmont College.

--

Lead, kindly Light, amid th'encircling gloom, lead Thou me on!
The night is dark, and I am far from home; lead Thou me on!
Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene; one step enough for me.

...

So long Thy power hath blest me, sure it still will lead me on.
O'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent, till the night is gone,
And with the morn those angel faces smile, which I
Have loved long since, and lost awhile!

Meantime, along the narrow rugged path, Thyself hast trod,
Lead, Savior, lead me home in childlike faith, home to my God.
To rest forever after earthly strife
In the calm light of everlasting life.
-- John Henry Newman
--

God is in this place,
And that reality, seen and understood by the grace of God in Christ Jesus, through the work of the Holy Spirit, makes all the difference in the world.

posted by Metaphysician_delta | 10:42 AM

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