Sunday, August 24, 2008

The Power of Ideas

Dallas Willard wrote powerfully about the way ideas, seemingly powerless and abstract in the world's perspective, shape, change and influence the world we live in. They lead to actions. They go beyond us. It's how movements happen. It's big, strong, powerful. It may not be an instant reaction but they seep through like yeast in the dough- good or bad. They are the mustard seed that grows to great heights.
"The ideas of economists and political philosophers, both when they are right and when they are wrong are more powerful than is commonly understood. Indeed the world is ruled by little esle. Practical men, who believe themselves to be quite exempt from any intellectual influences are usually the slaves of some defunct economist. Madmen in authority, who hear voices in the air, are distilling their frenzy from some academic scribbler of a few years back." -- The Divine Conspiracy.
"French novelist, Paul Bourget, describes the 'egghead' existence of a noted philosopher and psychologist: seeming lost in things 'merely academic' living an humdrum life. Three times a week he had visits from scholars and students. He lived and existence of and inoffensive, scholarly man who, in the words of his houskeeper, 'wouldn't hurt a fly.'
Then one day he was summoned to a criminal inquest concerning a brilliant young man who had been his student and had climbed those four flights of stairs to drink in illuminating and liberating discussions. In prison awaiting trial for murder, this young disciple had written an account of what he had done and of how those liberating doctrines enthusiastically discussed in the abstract had wordd out in actual practice.
World and individual events ride upon the waters of an ideational sea.
The killing fields of Cambodia come from philosophical discussions in Paris.
The ideas of people in current leadership positions are always those they took in during their youth." --D.C.


As Greg Boyd explains in "Waking up to Revolting Beauty" (above). Take every thought captive to Christ.

In order to have faith we must first have an idea. Something abstract. Then we can use our imaginations to make it vivid.

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