When I came to ICS I was an historian who had been trained in an interdisciplinary program of medieval studies. I quickly found out that that was good enough to get started at ICS but that I would have to turn myself into a philosopher too; otherwise I would not be serving ICS Junior Members nor my Senior Member colleagues well. So I began to read widely in the history of philosophy, far beyond the medieval philosophers I'd been trained to read in the course of my graduate studies. As I read my way up and down the history of philosophy, I came to collect for myself a list of those themes that marked out Christian interventions in the history of philosophy and thought. I eventually began to work those themes into the courses I developed for teaching at the ICS. In the days in which ICS sold its curriculum to potential Junior Members as so many different "fields of study", there was an expectation that each Senior Member would develop a coherent program of study in her or his "field". My plan was to take my list of typically Christian themes and make them the coordinates of such a coherent curriculum. This year both of my seminars in the history of philosophy either centre upon or deal in an important way with one of those themes, the individuality of creatures. In the Greek and Roman world in which Christianity was born individuality was thought of in terms of particularity. Individuals were particular instances of kinds. In a world of bodies, mortal bodies, individuals existed in order to perpetuate the existence of the kind to which they belonged. Individual cows existed and reproduced in order to perpetuate their bovine kind, to give but one instance. The individuals had meaning and indeed the whole of their meaning in the existence and nature of the kind to which they belonged. Their individuality contributed nothing intelligible in addition to the meaning intrinsic to their kind. Each individual was adequately identified when it was identified as a particular instance of its kind. But in the long centuries of Christian cultural leadership in Europe, one sees a new thought. Particularity does not exhaust the meaning of individuals in their individuality. Individuals were not just particulars, the smallest unit one was able to divide a kind up into, indivisible in and of itself. No individuals were in addition irreplaceable. Each one was a separate, intended creation of the Creator, bound to the Creator by a bond that was uniterable, filled with a meaning known only to the Creator, at least in full. There were many ways of representing this intuition in thought. If you think about it, this need to deepen the significance and value of creaturely individuality makes a lot of sense in the context of revelation. God's providence we read in Scripture counts the hair on our heads, the sands of the desert, the drops in the ocean. God emptied Godself even unto death, not only for humankind in general but for you and me. And through us, unto the redemption and consummation of not just the creation itself but each of its irreplaceable and unspeakably precious creatures. Whether many or few we whoever we be are intended and cherished, world without end. This is a comfort for we few who work and study at ICS as frail and insignificant as we are. It is a source of gratitude and prayer. We would invite you who support us to think of us in that light too, each of us intended and cherished, irreplaceable, thought worthy by our Lord himself of a sacrifice beyond our most capacious words. May we all pray out our heartfelt thanks, together, each and every one of us, this month.
For the President,
Bob Sweetman
Monday, October 3: We offer prayers of praise for the talents of Senior Members Bob Sweetman, Doug Blomberg, Lambert Zuidervaart and Nik Ansell, and Junior Member Joe Kirby who represented ICS at the Christian Philosophy Conference at the VU in Amsterdam in August.
Tuesday, October 4: As the second month of the fall semester begins, we ask God's guidance and wisdom for all our Junior Members who are working hard in their courses and for a sense of balance as they deal with families and jobs as well. We pray too that student jobs will be found where they are needed.
Wednesday, October 5: The Finance and Fundraising Committee meets today. We pray for God's wisdom to guide their discussions and decisions.
Thursday, October 6: This weekend Senior Member Shannon Hoff will be presenting a paper at the Canadian Society for Continental Philosophy in St. John's, Newfoundland.
Also, Senior Member Emeritus Cal Seerveld will be introducing three performances of his translation of Ecclesiastes in Chicago this weekend. We pray for safe travel for Shannon and Cal and good responses to these events.
Friday, October 7: ICS alumna Janet Read is participating in two art shows this month. We pray for God's blessing on Janet and everyone who attends these shows.
Monday, October 10: Today is Thanksgiving Day in Canada. As we celebrate and give thanks for the bounty of the harvest, may we reflect on the grace of God and the rewards of our labour. May we remember that ICS is sustained by both God's grace and the dedicated work of its support community, administrative staff, and Senior and Junior Members.
Tuesday, October 11: As the Thanksgiving weekend ends, we offer prayers of gratitude for the many people who have given ICS gifts of prayers, money, concern and appreciation. It is truly a blessing to have the interest and support of so many people.
Wednesday, October 12: The Interfaculty Colloquium will be held this afternoon. We pray for God's blessing on all participants, and for good and positive insights that will further important academic work.
Thursday, October 13: Senior Member Shannon Hoff's father, Bram Hoff, was involved in an accident on his scooter several weeks ago. He had multiple serious injuries, but is improving slowly. Please pray for a full recovery.
Friday, October 14: ICS President Chris Gort will be going to the inaugural of the new president, Rev. Julius T. Medenblik, of Calvin Seminary in Grand Rapids tomorrow.
Also, Junior Member Jelle Huisman is travelling to Dallas this weekend to present a paper at an international Bible Translation conference. We pray for safe travel for Chris and Jelle and blessings on all who attend these events.
Monday, October 17: We are now fully into our new academic year! Give thanks for the insightful, talented, and hard working ICS faculty and staff, and pray for energy and enthusiasm to sustain with their workloads.
Tuesday, October 18: ICS is seeking a Senior Development Officer. We ask God's blessing on this search and we pray that we will find the right person for the job.
Wednesday, October 19: We ask God's blessing on the Academic Council as they meet today. We pray for guidance and wisdom.
Thursday, October 20: We ask God's help and guidance for all those who are doing advancement work for ICS. Please pray that support for the vision and mission of ICS continues to grow.
Friday, October 21: Reading week begins next week! Please pray that our Senior and Junior Members will be able to use this break from classes to catch up, get ahead, or use the week for whatever they may need to help them in their studies.
Today Associate Academic Dean and Registrar Shawn Stovell has been invited to attend and take part in the inauguration of Dr. Raymond Louter as Professor of Theatre Arts and Communication at Redeemer University College. We pray for God's blessing on all who attend.
Monday, October 24: The Gala Launch Celebration of the Centre for Philosophy, Religion and Social Ethics is this evening. We pray for an evening rich in discussion and celebration.
Tuesday, October 25: We offer prayers of praise for the talents of ICS alumnus Peter Lok who has begun work as a lecturer in the Liberal and Cultural Studies Program at Hong Kong Baptist University.
Wednesday, October 26: We ask for God's blessing on those who are planning the Annual General Meeting to be held on Wednesday, November 16. We pray for energy and enthusiasm for all who are involved.
Thursday, October 27: As Reading Week continues, please pray that it will be a fruitful week for the academic body at ICS as many Senior and Junior Members have projects they are working on beyond normal class work. Whether these are publications, papers for conferences, or other scholarly activities, pray that this week will afford extra time to make progress in these areas.
Friday, October 28: We offer prayers of praise and gratitude for the talents of former ICS president John Suk who has published a new book entitled Not Sure: A Pastor's Journey from Faith to Doubt.
Monday, October 30: Reading week is over! We ask God for insight, energy and enthusiasm for everyone who is returning to classes this week.
Tuesday, October 31: We ask for God's blessing and guidance for those who are involved in the planning for the Social Justice and Human Rights Conference to be held next April.
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