Category Archives: christianity

Modern Circles of Hell: Some New Proposals

Posted on January 18, 2019 by Ryan Buesnel

As Dante’s tour guide through hell, the Roman poet Virgil introduces the former to the nine circles of torment that will face the condemned upon death. These concentric circles roughly correspond to the seven deadly sins, but are extended to … Continue reading →

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Jack T. Chick and The Witches of Nar Nar Goon

Posted on January 6, 2019 by Ryan Buesnel

The sociological phenomenon known as the ‘satanic panic’ hit the country town of Warragul in the early 1990’s, where for a brief time the locals had become alarmed at the rise in satanic ritual activity amongst the towns youth. Rumours … Continue reading →

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The Journey of Prayer: Part I

Posted on December 18, 2018 by Ryan Buesnel

I would like to welcome you to my new short story series on prayer. I have gathered together some of my writings on the nature of prayer, in which I reflect on those who have influenced my understanding of what … Continue reading →

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Teilhard de Chardin and the Unity of Experience and Intellect

Posted on December 17, 2018 by Ryan Buesnel

In his introductory essay to a collection of works by renowned German theologian Wolfhart Pannenberg, Richard John Neuhaus draws attention to the unity of thought and experience in Pannengerg’s theological corpus. He writes of Pannengerg’s commitment to a ‘comprehensive idea … Continue reading →

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Bishop Ambrose of Milan and the Relationship between Church and Emperor: A Snapshot

Posted on December 3, 2018 by Ryan Buesnel

For contemporary Western democracy, the idea that the Church and state should remain separate entities free from mutual influence enjoys popular acceptance. In a religiously plural and multicultural country such as Australia, it is widely thought that the Government administration … Continue reading →

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Søren Kierkegaard’s Existential Hermeneutics

Posted on November 29, 2018 by Ryan Buesnel

Introduction Although widely recognised for his contribution to the fields of Western philosophy and psychology, Denmark’s Søren Kierkegaard was first and foremost a religious author. In this simple truth lies the key to unlocking the underlying convictions of Kierkegaard’s vast corpus. … Continue reading →

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Nietzsche’s Hermeneutics: Chaos, Morality and the Future World

Posted on November 27, 2018 by Ryan Buesnel

Of all the influential philosophers to have graced the 19th century European intellectual landscape, Friedrich Nietzsche rates as one of the most profound and controversial. Nietzsche’s influence towers over the Western philosophical tradition, and his concepts continue to inspire rigorous … Continue reading →

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The Souls Need For Silence

Posted on October 29, 2018 by Ryan Buesnel

In the early 18th century the brilliant yet cantankerous German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer penned a scathing indictment of the way in which the abrasive noise of modern society had shattered his sense of inner peace and diminished his ability to … Continue reading →

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Friedrich Schleiermacher’s Ethical Vision

Posted on October 12, 2018 by Ryan Buesnel

I present to you the following question for reflection: how would you define the essential difference between ethics and morals? At first, the problem may seem straight forward. Many conventional interpretations often view ethics merely as a form of meta-morality, … Continue reading →

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Falling into the Abyss: Dostoevsky’s The Double and Mental Illness

Posted on August 28, 2018 by Ryan Buesnel

I. Picture this: you overhear your work colleagues talking in the break room one lunch time. You find out they have planned a party for that very evening.  Everyone in the office is invited, and there will be plenty of … Continue reading →

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