The Burr in the Burgh

The Telegraph has this interesting article written by an avowed British atheist who is pleased to hear the Archbishop of Canterbury telling believers to stop apologizing for being a Christian. In the uber-politically correct environment of modern Britain - much like America - speaking about Christ and Christian doctrine publicly is frowned upon. Diversity means that the comfort levels of every non-Christian religious believer and every unbeliever is to be respected above all else. Christians, as the alleged dominant class, are to be marginalized to supposedly balance the historic inequities experienced by those of other faiths or no faith at all.

In any case, here is a clear-thinking atheist Englishman who recognizes the cultural debt owed by Western civilization to Christianity. He writes: "I rejoice wholeheartedly as an atheist that I live in a Christian culture...."

Dr. Kurt Marquart, a much beloved professor of mine, has recently been diagnosed with ALS, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. This is a serious and very unpleasant disease. And I am requesting prayers on his behalf and for his family.

I was a student of his during my years at Concordia Theological Seminary (1991-1995) in Fort Wayne, IN. His area of expertise is systematic theology or dogmatics. While I loved many of my professors and admired a number of them. Dr. Marquart is certainly one of my most loved and admired.

Professor Marquart is particularly gifted at being clear. And in the field of theology, you may not realize how important that is. He is able to take complicated subjects and explain them and their ramifications with clarity without oversimplification. He is also particularly skilled at being simultaneously witty and winsome as well as bold.

A number of Lutheran bloggers are commenting on Dr. Marquart, not to eulogize him as if his life were over, but to speak well of a man who has accomplised much, is accomplishing much, will continue to accomplish much and, I suspect, will always accomplish much for the Church.

His pastor, Rev. David Petersen, has these touching comments.