Today's New York Times describes yesterday's Supreme Court confirmation hearings as increasingly tense, as Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee pressed Judge Alito for specific answers which were not forthcoming. Experts are now predicting something close to a straight-line party vote from the committee and in the larger Senate. Such a vote would confirm Judge Alito, given the 55-seat Republican position.

Listening to the hearings on NPR and reading about them in a variety of newspapers, it's clear that two worldviews are in play. We are hearing two different versions of individual liberties and freedom, the role of the Court in our political system, and the importance of various ethical positions. Worldviews--how we see ourselves and the universe around us--are crucial.

We now live in a world more dominated by religious pluralism than ever before. Yesterday's tragic stampede at Mecca killed 345 and highlighted the global significance and growth of Islam. The remarkable popularity of the Dalai Lama signals a growing interest in Eastern spirituality among materialistic Americans. There are reasons why we think the way we do. Unfortunately, we don't always know what they are or why they matter. And so we can become victims of our culture without knowing it.

As a result, I would like to try something with the next few Friday essays which I've never before dared in a public forum--a philosophy conversation. My Ph.D. is in philosophy of religion, a subject I taught for several years at Southwestern Seminary. In fact, I thought I would be a philosophy professor for the rest of my life, never imagining that God would call me into the pastorate. Across these years I have been extremely grateful for the way that background has helped me to understand better the culture we are commissioned to reach with the gospel.

Now I'd like to inflict some of that information on you. Today and for a few more Fridays I'm going to ask you to join me on a tour of Western intellectual history. I've tried to boil things down to the basics, and point out the relevance of our journey all along the way. I hope you'll watch the movie until the credits at the end. But if you'd like to fast forward to the gripping finale each week, just read the summary at the essay's end. You'll still get credit for the course.

I hope these conversations are as helpful for you to read as they are for me to write. And that we'll all learn a little more about the culture we're called to bring to Jesus.