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Secondly, as a writer/editor I'm very familiar with my strengths and weaknesses.  Using this article as an example I will make a statement that can be generalized.  You suggested (in your first note above) that this article be either (1) replaced by two separate articles, one treating Harnack in detail and one treating historical criticism in detail, or (2) the article should stay intact, but be supplemented by the two separate articles as described.  I agree that that would certainly be a great contribution to the Wiki, but I'm probably not the right person to do that.  The gift which God has bestowed upon me, in the mystery of his wisdom, is very distinct and very limited and I try hard to recognize it for what it is and not overstep it.  That gift is the ability to plow through the caverns of massive verbosity (such as Karl Barth for instance!) and emerge with a tiny jewel called "THE ESSENCE."  I then take that jewel, add it to the other jewels I have found, and string them all together into a necklace with symmetry and balance, to create a single object of--hopefully--beauty as well as usefulness.  With Harnack the jewels are threefold: (a) he reversed the standard equation of authority, (b) he almost singlehandedly propagated what is still the standard in biblical scholarship, and (c) he believed that Christianity was obscuring a simple but profound truth at its own "core."  In my editorial mind, that's all that matters about Harnack.  To write a lengthy article on, for example, the life and times of Harnack would, for me, be tedious and dreary.  And it would feel essentially like plagiarism--an agonizing exercise in finding new phrases to rewrite everything my sources were saying.   

Secondly, as a writer/editor I'm very familiar with my strengths and weaknesses.  Using this article as an example I will make a statement that can be generalized.  You suggested (in your first note above) that this article be either (1) replaced by two separate articles, one treating Harnack in detail and one treating historical criticism in detail, or (2) the article should stay intact, but be supplemented by the two separate articles as described.  I agree that that would certainly be a great contribution to the Wiki, but I'm probably not the right person to do that.  The gift which God has bestowed upon me, in the mystery of his wisdom, is very distinct and very limited and I try hard to recognize it for what it is and not overstep it.  That gift is the ability to plow through the caverns of massive verbosity (such as Karl Barth for instance!) and emerge with a tiny jewel called "THE ESSENCE."  I then take that jewel, add it to the other jewels I have found, and string them all together into a necklace with symmetry and balance, to create a single object of--hopefully--beauty as well as usefulness.  With Harnack the jewels are threefold: (a) he reversed the standard equation of authority, (b) he almost singlehandedly propagated what is still the standard in biblical scholarship, and (c) he believed that Christianity was obscuring a simple but profound truth at its own "core."  In my editorial mind, that's all that matters about Harnack.  To write a lengthy article on, for example, the life and times of Harnack would, for me, be tedious and dreary.  And it would feel essentially like plagiarism--an agonizing exercise in finding new phrases to rewrite everything my sources were saying.   

The other day (in one of our dialogues) I denied being a "Harnackian."  Shortly after I posted that, I was thunderstruck by the realization (previously unconscious) that I, in fact, am a thoroughgoing Harnackian in two respects: (1) he is really the single most influential of all Christian theologians on my own life and thought, and (2) like Harnack, I am always in quest of the "kernel" of everything.  I suppose the reason this has gone unrealized for so long is because way back in my early studies, Harnack sort of unconsciously became a lens through which I subsequently studied everything else.  I was never looking '''AT''' the lens, just '''through''' it.

My suggestion is that you, knowing what I can and will do with written words, call upon me when "jewels and necklaces" are required and I will step up to bat as time allows! I can see where you would want to set some kind of limit on outside links, but are you opposed to the idea of using the Symposia to present an original and distinct editorial voice in support of the mission [to cast the light of general knowledge onto the path of spiritual advancement], and for general reference purposes, use quality outside links to refer readers to standard and readily available topics? (Such as I did with Fowler and Ellul).

My suggestion is that you, knowing what I can and will do with written words, call upon me when "jewels and necklaces" are required and I will step up to bat as time allows! I can see where you would want to set some kind of limit on outside links, but are you opposed to the idea of using the Symposia to present an original and distinct editorial voice in support of the Symposia's mission [to cast the light of general knowledge onto the path of spiritual advancement], and for general reference, use quality outside links to refer readers to standard and readily available topics? (Such as I did with Fowler and Ellul).

And finally, you have raised a very good point.  This article is not really about "Adolf Harnack" per se.  Nor is it about Protestant liberalism or even the historical-critical method, though all those things come into play.  If it is to remain it should be retitled according to what it really is.  I will suggest "Adolf Harnack and the Search for Hidden Christianity."  The first paragraph could be changed a bit to set up the mystery.  But it's your site and I may be exploring outside of your map here.  What do you think?  --[[User:Davidc|Davidc]] 17:09, 9 April 2009 (EDT)

And finally, you have raised a very good point. This article is not really about "Adolf Harnack" per se. Nor is it about Protestant liberalism or even the historical-critical method, though all those things come into play.  If it is to remain it should be retitled according to what it really is.  I will suggest "Adolf Harnack and the Search for Hidden Christianity." The first paragraph could be changed a bit to set up the mystery.  But it's your site and I may be exploring outside of your map here. What do you think?  --[[User:Davidc|Davidc]] 17:09, 9 April 2009 (EDT)

PS: The other day (in one of our dialogues) I denied being a "Harnackian."  Shortly after I posted that, I was thunderstruck by the realization (previously unconscious) that I, in fact, am a thoroughgoing Harnackian in two respects: (1) he is really the single most influential of all Christian theologians on my own life and thought, and (2) like Harnack, I am always in quest of the "kernel" of everything.  I suppose the reason this has gone unrealized for so long is because way back in my early studies, Harnack sort of unconsciously became a lens through which I subsequently studied everything else.  I was never looking '''AT''' the lens, just '''through''' it.