I have attended 2 sessions held on Mondays for 5 weeks.
I must admit, somehow I was a bit tired, but I've managed to listen in a little here and there. After the course, chatted with Dr. Middlemann (son-in-law of the late Francis Schaeffer) last week and this week, a quick talk with his wife, third daughter of Francis and Edith Schaeffer, Deborah Middlemann.
Much short subject was brought up: from L'Abri to the connection of Edith Schaeffer to my current church...Jahja Ling, Stephen Tong, Lyna, etc.
I bought a book, "Neither Necessary Nor Inevitable", immediately after I saw the one with MAPC's senior pastor Fred Anderson's foreword. This is kind of two birds with one stone: I get to learn more about Dr. Udo and Fred.
Until last week, I wasn't aware that L'Abri had become much liberal and that Edith had left and founded theschaefferfoundation.com
Since then, I had been reading much about pertaining subjects.
I will also attend a open house gathering this Friday held by the couple at their apartment. Seems like a kind of L'Abri to me. Something unique started by the late Francis Schaeffer, whom Pak Tong claimed one of America's best theologians. I had looked into him before but I supposed I lost interest when I had to imprint in my mind "moved to europe".
The course description as follow:
The Ideal and the Real: From Plato to Stalin–Heirs to the Totalitarian Temptation
In this series of studies, taught by Udo Middlemann, President of
the Francis A. Schaeffer Foundation, we shall examine the attractive
lure of Utopianism, its social and historical attraction, and the
realism and obligations of a more Biblical outlook on society.
The philosophical justification for all manner of totalitarian
government, religion and economic systems is found in the vision of a
perfectible order. The common theme from Plato to Stalin, from Hitler to
the controlling state, is the desire for order and resolution, the
perfectibility of the human experience. In response to the pursuit of
grandiose expectations, which has led to immense human tragedies, we
will consider a more Biblical view of the individual and community, the
citizen and the state, reality and present responsibility.
This class will meet on Mondays at 7:30 pm on October 24, 31, November 7, 14 and 28 in the Dana Chapel.