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Joe and Matthew traveled to California last week to
attend GodBlogCon,
a gathering of Christian bloggers. In addition to several personal blog
projects, Joe and Matthew are now both blogging at
bioethics.com.
Nine years ago Biola University hosted a conference of scientists and
scholars on intelligent design. The conference goals were modest—to build a
community of thought, to share ideas and knowledge, to unite on common
ground—yet from this humble beginning a formidable and controversial
intellectual movement was born.
It would be presumptuous to think that the latest Biola hosted convention—GodBlogCon—would
have as significant an impact as that academic research conference. Yet it
is undeniable that there was something momentous about the occasion, and
that its effects will reverberate throughout the blogosphere. Although the
plenary and breakout sessions were certainly fruitful, the most important
aspect of the conference was the one-on-one interactions of the bloggers. We
are incredibly thankful for the opportunity to meet and fellowship with over
100 of our favorite bloggers.
One strong theme running through much of the conference was ironically the
importance of face-to-face community. Blogging, which primarily involves
sitting alone at a computer and typing, is in no way a suitable substitute
for direct human contact. In fact, blogging is at its best when it serves to
foster face-to-face meeting, interaction, and genuine community.
The dilemmas of bioethics arise in the midst of real human suffering. The
suffering of others is a summons to each one of us to come along side and
offer support, encouragement, and help—in a word, compassion—to those in
need. The literal translation of the word compassion is to bear with or to
suffer with. In both blogging and bioethics, there is no suitable substitute
for direct human contact.
A second theme was that of servant leadership. The speakers and panelists at
GodBlogCon are leaders not only in the field of blogging, but also in
various vocational arenas. They were, without exception, people of great
personal warmth who wanted only to see others grow, develop, and succeed.
Sounds a lot like the kind of doctor I want. CBHD
Joe Carter, CBHD Information Technology and Media Analysis
Manager
Matthew Eppinette, MBA, MA, CBHD Director of Research and Analysis
Copyright 2005 by The Center for Bioethics and Human
Dignity
The contents of this article do not necessarily reflect the opinions of
CBHD, its staff, board or supporters. Permission to reprint granted as long as The Center for Bioethics and
Human Dignity and the web address for this article is referenced.
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