Truth Project, Review, critique, Part 3
This is part three in a review, critique, and criticism of Focus on the Family the Truth Project.
What is evil?
The video starts with people trying to define evil. This is as usual rather funny. I have to admit I kinda feel bad for the Unitarian Universalist, as people in the group heavily picked on her.
This was a rather unfulfilling and somewhat confusing for some of the people I talked with. Which again, I had few if any problems with the whole thing.
There are serious problems with much of the logic and usage of terms that Dr. Tackett uses, as in other places, Tackett defines terms that he wants to use in the way he wants to use them. This of course is an issue about scholarship.
Let me take a minute and ask some questions on scholarship. One of the things, I was told about this study, this man is a great scholar. Tackett mentioned that while doing his doctorate work, in every class he came back to Maslow. Well this begs the question, what did he do for doctoral work?
Tackett received a Doctor of Management from Colorado Technical University. First, I have an earned degree from an online university as well as a brick and mortar college so I have no problem with non-traditional schools. The one problem is that CTU is not an accredited school. This does not mean much other then it does not have to meet certain standards of education. The degree is also not accepted by all other colleges. The degree is also a degree in management and not one in philosophy, religion, or anything else similar. Just a simple degree in management. According to his bio at Focus on the Family Institute, Tackett has never served as a professor or taught a classroom full of students at a college or a high school. He does teach a class at New Geneva Seminary (not accredited by ATS) called “The Church’s Ministry to its Culture.” He also has no professional memberships or Awards and Recognition (as of Jan. 31, 2009 at 16:16 CST). His articles include the non-peer reviewed articles in Focus on the Family magazines of various types. He has also published for the USAF. The funny thing is that Dr. Tackett would not qualify to be a chaplain in the Air Force. Dr. Tackett would seem to be more of a management trainer then a speaker for the church at large. So in my mind, Dr. Tackett is a spokesperson or an actor for The Truth Project rather then a researcher or a real professor. This is not an ad hominen attack. With this I am looking at the qualifications of the alleged expert.
Scholarship. Where do I start? Most of the quotes that are cited at second hand quotes. Rather then citing the original source, as in Maslow, he cites Summit Ministries, Understanding the Times book rather than the original sources. Why? This I have not figured out, other than basic laziness and poor scholarship. If Tackett knows the sources then he should provide them. If not, then do not claim with knowing all there is to know about Maslow.
The real question from the video is man evil? The answer has to be no. How can a person who is a ‘sinner’ do a selfless act, such as running into a burning building?
Many moons ago, I did something totally selfless, that was before I ever heard of the name of Jesus. So, how did I do something that was a good deed? Man has to be born at least mostly good. Hence, society may pervert man. Of course this leads to the “The Lord of the Flies” question. Remember though that these boys had already been corrupted by society.
I do believe that people, while not born evil, have the predisposition to evil and hence have the ‘evil inclination.’ Check on the link for the evil inclination also look here and here.
I would also suggest that Tackett define many of words for the average Christian sitting in the pew.
So what have I concluded from the study so far. It is still not at a decent level and moves way too fast for the average Christian. I would also question the qualifications of Del Tackett as the 'professor.'
This next week is Super Bowl, so no study and hence no review.
Technorati Tags: Truth Project, Tackett, The Truth Project, Evil, Church, Philosophy
What is evil?
The video starts with people trying to define evil. This is as usual rather funny. I have to admit I kinda feel bad for the Unitarian Universalist, as people in the group heavily picked on her.
This was a rather unfulfilling and somewhat confusing for some of the people I talked with. Which again, I had few if any problems with the whole thing.
There are serious problems with much of the logic and usage of terms that Dr. Tackett uses, as in other places, Tackett defines terms that he wants to use in the way he wants to use them. This of course is an issue about scholarship.
Let me take a minute and ask some questions on scholarship. One of the things, I was told about this study, this man is a great scholar. Tackett mentioned that while doing his doctorate work, in every class he came back to Maslow. Well this begs the question, what did he do for doctoral work?
Tackett received a Doctor of Management from Colorado Technical University. First, I have an earned degree from an online university as well as a brick and mortar college so I have no problem with non-traditional schools. The one problem is that CTU is not an accredited school. This does not mean much other then it does not have to meet certain standards of education. The degree is also not accepted by all other colleges. The degree is also a degree in management and not one in philosophy, religion, or anything else similar. Just a simple degree in management. According to his bio at Focus on the Family Institute, Tackett has never served as a professor or taught a classroom full of students at a college or a high school. He does teach a class at New Geneva Seminary (not accredited by ATS) called “The Church’s Ministry to its Culture.” He also has no professional memberships or Awards and Recognition (as of Jan. 31, 2009 at 16:16 CST). His articles include the non-peer reviewed articles in Focus on the Family magazines of various types. He has also published for the USAF. The funny thing is that Dr. Tackett would not qualify to be a chaplain in the Air Force. Dr. Tackett would seem to be more of a management trainer then a speaker for the church at large. So in my mind, Dr. Tackett is a spokesperson or an actor for The Truth Project rather then a researcher or a real professor. This is not an ad hominen attack. With this I am looking at the qualifications of the alleged expert.
Scholarship. Where do I start? Most of the quotes that are cited at second hand quotes. Rather then citing the original source, as in Maslow, he cites Summit Ministries, Understanding the Times book rather than the original sources. Why? This I have not figured out, other than basic laziness and poor scholarship. If Tackett knows the sources then he should provide them. If not, then do not claim with knowing all there is to know about Maslow.
The real question from the video is man evil? The answer has to be no. How can a person who is a ‘sinner’ do a selfless act, such as running into a burning building?
Many moons ago, I did something totally selfless, that was before I ever heard of the name of Jesus. So, how did I do something that was a good deed? Man has to be born at least mostly good. Hence, society may pervert man. Of course this leads to the “The Lord of the Flies” question. Remember though that these boys had already been corrupted by society.
I do believe that people, while not born evil, have the predisposition to evil and hence have the ‘evil inclination.’ Check on the link for the evil inclination also look here and here.
I would also suggest that Tackett define many of words for the average Christian sitting in the pew.
So what have I concluded from the study so far. It is still not at a decent level and moves way too fast for the average Christian. I would also question the qualifications of Del Tackett as the 'professor.'
This next week is Super Bowl, so no study and hence no review.
Technorati Tags: Truth Project, Tackett, The Truth Project, Evil, Church, Philosophy
Labels: Evil, Philosophy, Review, The Truth Project
posted by The Isaac Group @ 6:57 PM
4 Comments:
At 1:11 PM ,
TucsonGeek said...
You present yourself as being highly intelligent and educated yet you need to learn basic English. To and too are different words. You need to learn to use too as in "moves way TOO fast for the average Christian". You make this same mistake in every post I have read from you. Perhaps you should purchase a copy of Strunk & White and study it. Arguments designed to criticize another man's scholarship hold little weight when the person throwing stones cannot use the basic tools of the language. I recall learning the proper use of to, too, and two in an episode of Schoolhouse Rock when I was 8.
You need to read C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity too. It would educate you on the concept of Natural Law. Man is not inherently evil because God implanted natural laws on all humanity when he created us. Stealing, adultery, and murder are abhorred in all cultures despite the fact that, in a truly selfish world, engaging in those activities could benefit us materially. If I am hungry and Joe has some food, why should I not steal it? If I need to reproduce and Joe's wife is available, why should I not copulate with her? If Joe tries to stop me, why should I not kill him? If humanity had no natural law, committing all those acts would not be considered heinous. Yet it is, in all cultures and in all religions. Why? Read C.S. Lewis and find out.
I have not seen the Truth Project yet but probably will. I have my doubts about the complete accuracy of most theological presentations. However, because something is flawed does not mean the entire presentation is worthless. If that were the case, your blog would be worthless because of your grammatical errors.
At 10:20 AM ,
The Isaac Group said...
I have always had a problem with to and too. I get two. This is why I did not write a thesis for an MA.
I do not have a problem with Jack and enjoy his books. The only area I would disagree with Jack in Mere Christianity is with communion.
However, this post is not about Jack and his work. It is about Tackett and The Truth Project. Tackett scoffs at the idea of man being good or having any good.
My real problem with The Truth Project is that; TTP is infecting or affecting the church with little critical examination. Most of the people who write about The Truth Project are rah-rahs for the program.
At 4:11 PM ,
TucsonGeek said...
I wasn't trying to be a jerk although I probably came across that way. It's a common problem in writing. Sort of like the usage of it's and its. However, grammatical errors hurt the credibility of the writing and give your critics ammunition.
I agree with the fact that the Truth Project needs an honest review. I also don't like the way they control access to the material. However, the motive for the truth project seems pure. They are trying to re-energize churches to evangelize.
I find myself falling back to Lewis every time I see one of these modern theologians trying to present the same ideas in a simpler or slicker way. Lewis' writing style is a little challenging for some, but the effort is worth it. If more people read Mere Christianity and The Screwtape Letters, they wouldn't need things like the Truth Project. Unfortunately, getting people to read anything nowadays is a struggle. I would bet that most people attending the Truth Project seminar haven't even read their Bible from cover to cover yet.
I think you're right about TTP infecting the churches. Most people I have talked to are so enamored with the presentation that they do not question the material. It was the same way with the Left Behind series when it came out. Many people treated it as a legitimate presentation of Biblical prophecy even though its theology was suspect. Presentation is everything now. Look at Al Gore's movie. A slick slide show and a good soundtrack get's you the Nobel Peace Prize.
At 10:44 AM ,
Anonymous said...
huh? if you were around in Jesus' day, you'd be one of the pharisees questioning His credentials too.
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