This list of papers will be updated over time. Obviously, you will see that many of these papers were written for classes. And while I do not want to question the integrity of any reader, I request that these papers be used for personal reading only. This means that by clicking on the following links you agree not to publish, modify or plagerize these works in any way. Also, if you find a particular paper helpful to your understanding of the subject, feel free to leave a comment and let me know. Thank you for your interest.
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Philosophy
A Priori and A Posteriori Methods for Identifying Verbal Disputes in Metaphysics by John
Aquinas on Divine Freedom without Passive Potency by John
Knowledge as Mental States and the Tertiary Value Problem for Knowledge by John
Circularity in Thomas Kuhn’s Explanation of Incommensurability by John (You would do well to be already familar with Kuhn’s thought. See this brief overview)
Challenges for Explaining the Difference Between Objects and Systems in the Ontology of C. B. Martin by John (Quite possibly the most boring and abstract philosophy paper you’ll ever read.)
The Semantic Constraint on Epistemic Internalism by John
A Relational View of God and Time by John
Hume’s Argument against Rational Belief in Miracles by John
Lecture Notes on Process Philosophy/Theism (Just talking points, really) by John
Lecture Notes on Foundationalism (Again, just some talking points) by John
Theology
A Brief Articulation and Defense of the Lutheran View of Baptism by John
An Exegesis of Galatians 3:10-14 by John
Substance and Person: Toward an Understanding of Divine Ontology
by John
Church History
Lecture on the Life of Martin Luther by John
Culture
What Do We Do Now? Leadership in a Postmodern Context by John
Divorce and Remarriage: A Case in which the Scripture Must have Supremacy by contributor John Meade
Biblical Theology
OT Hesed in NT Theology by contributor John Meade
Dear John,
I discovered this site today. You have a great site.
Then I realized that a long time ago, I had asked you to e-mail me a list of apologetic arguments you had presented for the teenagers at our church.
Thank you.
Your title “Chaos and Old Night” comes from a Van Til quote, which inturn came from a poem of some sort…what is the basic history and meaning?
Pat,
Yes, it does come from a Van Til quote in “My Credo” and he borrows it from Milton’s “Paradise Lost” who borrows from Greek tragedy. Milton uses it to reference the Satanic realm: “and rattled the cages of chaos and old night”. Van Til uses it to reference the emptiness and meaninglessness of the non-theist’s belief structure. Ultimately, it is rooted in “Chaos and Old Night”.
Thanks for asking.