tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-820798894846245311.post6887668240290920780..comments2024-02-03T20:47:08.995-06:00Comments on This Side of the Pulpit: On Anonymity and Pseudonymity (II)Christopher D. Hallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03906949438584923588noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-820798894846245311.post-36099264554795819762008-05-08T19:42:00.000-05:002008-05-08T19:42:00.000-05:00Okay, ironically, I posted that under a pseudonym....Okay, ironically, I posted that under a pseudonym...so I'll be brave...<BR/><BR/>Lora HornRPWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16686240798146992394noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-820798894846245311.post-44486754209769694162008-05-08T19:38:00.000-05:002008-05-08T19:38:00.000-05:00My main issue with this isn't even that they are h...My main issue with this isn't even that they are hesitating to put their reputations, calls, or whatever else on the line.<BR/><BR/>My concern is that at some point in time these issues are going to come to a head...It obviously is much bigger than Issues, Etc. <BR/><BR/>These men(?) are already doing a good job speaking for us and educating us. But when we need this to go further, and these men are willing to come forward and do so, we won't necessarily recognize the leadership as coming from them.RPWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16686240798146992394noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-820798894846245311.post-89897848032267457662008-05-06T18:06:00.000-05:002008-05-06T18:06:00.000-05:00Sorry about that. This comment should belong unde...Sorry about that. This comment should belong under "Why This Won't Work pt. 2."Rev. Eckerthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08128457657902689040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-820798894846245311.post-1220033052973622282008-05-06T09:21:00.000-05:002008-05-06T09:21:00.000-05:00Yes, excellent post. But perhaps a little short -...Yes, excellent post. But perhaps a little short - did you only write as much as you had to? Just kidding.<BR/><BR/>Perhaps you could expand in part iii on concrete aspects of how this has worked in the LCMS and elsewhere. For example, in private confession, we are told that no one should be forced to confess, so we have minimalistically dropped confession altogether (in most places).<BR/><BR/>Keep up the good work.Rev. Eckerthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08128457657902689040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-820798894846245311.post-61049746959612025522008-05-01T10:38:00.000-05:002008-05-01T10:38:00.000-05:00I don't disagree with you Pr. Hall. I think you ma...I don't disagree with you Pr. Hall. I think you make excellent and valid points. I do think comments carry more weight when one signs one's full name. <BR/><BR/>I don't understand enough of the other person's reasons for their decision to be anonymous on the 95 thesis to take a stand on it. Obviously, I'm not a pastor and I don't understand the finer points of the argument so I don't feel qualified to take a stand for that reason too!<BR/><BR/>The reason I don't use my last name is so I don't cause any flak to come my pastor's way when I make clueless comments or tick someone off online! It is a difficult time to be a pastor and I try to protect his reputation. :)<BR/><BR/>And a big thanks for your appreciation of my comment. My comments are not always appreciated!SJBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06417234624886204195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-820798894846245311.post-28257778104803199742008-05-01T09:00:00.000-05:002008-05-01T09:00:00.000-05:00Rev. Eckert,Thanks for stopping by. And you're ri...Rev. Eckert,<BR/><BR/>Thanks for stopping by. And you're right: not everyone has the gift of leading the charge, so to speak. But by golly, if you're gonna write down the charges and publish them, then you'd better sign it. That's my point. I don't care if Susan doesn't use her last name, or if her name's not even "Susan" (no offense). Susan is not calling folks into debate, into reform, into anything. I don't care if the Ochlophobist (from my blogroll) never uses his name: he's doing Orthodox philosophy.<BR/><BR/>I do care if someone is blasting the trumpet, calling for change and doesn't have the courage to sign it. If that's not you, if you don't have that certain gift, then don't do it, and don't write it. Let someone else who has the guts.<BR/><BR/>That's all. Sorry for the rant.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for visiting, Andrew. Don't be a stranger!Christopher D. Hallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03906949438584923588noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-820798894846245311.post-20297493161805004552008-04-30T22:12:00.000-05:002008-04-30T22:12:00.000-05:00Hmm, I'm not sure I agree that anonymous thoughts ...Hmm, I'm not sure I agree that anonymous thoughts have no value. I am tempted to mention the Book of Hebrews, which is anonymous. But I think that may be an apples and oranges argument. After all, the true Writer of Hebrews is One who is not anonymous.<BR/><BR/>But I'm inclined to think that having the courage to take a stand by writing nonymously (that is, revealing your name) is not necessarily a gift given to all. We are all to confess Christ before men, but not all of us confess in the same way. Ultimately, none of us should be ashamed of saying things openly, but some are just not ready yet (mature enough?) to do so.<BR/><BR/>Anyway, just a few thoughts. I'm not sure I'm even disagreeing.<BR/><BR/>P.S. Nice little site you've got here.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-820798894846245311.post-11072524065617493642008-04-30T21:55:00.000-05:002008-04-30T21:55:00.000-05:00Hi Susan! Thanks for visiting and commenting.Faul...Hi Susan! Thanks for visiting and commenting.<BR/><BR/>Faulting someone for being anonymous is difficult, and I really appreciate your sensitivity. I especially liked your last line, that it "only looks important before you lose it." That's very wise. I may have to quote you on that.<BR/><BR/>However, as I tried to express, anonymous thoughts have little value. But when one puts their name on it--their reputation--it becomes valuable. Anonymous posting of information, of tidbits, of philosophical musings is one thing. But when one writes a Confession, as I take the New 95 Theses to be, one must put their neck on the line. <BR/><BR/>Again, I appreciate your comments, and you may still disagree (please do so if you have more to say). I am open to debate on this.<BR/><BR/>Thanks again for your comment--very wise stuff, again.Christopher D. Hallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03906949438584923588noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-820798894846245311.post-12329733225044391552008-04-30T20:10:00.000-05:002008-04-30T20:10:00.000-05:00I would not want to fault anyone for choosing to r...I would not want to fault anyone for choosing to remain anonymous since the reasons for that choice are probably numerous and I am not qualified to know all the reasons behind a decision. <BR/><BR/>Sometimes, I wonder if it wouldn't be best for as many people as possible to tell the truth about their identity so we could join together and say, "Here We Stand" It seems like their should be safety in numbers? Perhaps I'm all wet on that.<BR/><BR/>As for the fear quotient, I liked your TR quote in the other post and I liked Fr. Hogg's comment. There is much truth in both of those statements. <BR/><BR/>Each person must face these kinds of difficult choices of whether to be a free man in Christ or crumble and be a slave to fear. It's not always so much a matter of courage, as it is simply setting your face like flint and doing what the Lord has set before you. One of those easy to say and not so simple to do situations. :)<BR/><BR/>And lest someone accuse me of being naive or lacking understanding. I have not had an easy life and have been through many of the viscitudes of life. I would not wish my life on my worst enemy and also would not trade my life for someone else's. God knows what he is doing when he gives a difficult path.<BR/><BR/>I do not mean to sound like I am speaking lightly of hardship - that is not my intent. But I do want to speak highly of a clean conscience and the pleasure of knowing you have done the Lord's will. As Paul said, it is all rubbish compared to knowing Christ. It only looks important before you lose it.SJBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06417234624886204195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-820798894846245311.post-84556651198472860502008-04-30T14:05:00.000-05:002008-04-30T14:05:00.000-05:00There are times not revealing your name is appropr...There are times not revealing your name is appropriate. This is when you are simply reporting information, when you are providing information, and if your name were revealed, that would be gone. I can understand that. I can also understand having user-names or what have you in an academic discussion.<BR/><BR/>However, when you are anonymous that isn't the time to be creative, to make announcements, to give opinions. That requires a person. Melanchthon can be Didymus Flaventus when engaging in a theological debate, but you can't do it when you are going to stand up and say "This is what we need to do." You have no name, you aren't part of we. . . you have no name.Rev. Eric J Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17747919365522145094noreply@blogger.com