Jun 05, 2017 A Summary of the Doctrine of God. June 5, 2017. This blog post is the first of my Summer Summary Series. In these blog posts I am providing an examination of the ten articles of the statement of faith of the Evangelical Free Church of America (the organization which I hope to receive my ministry license through). This knowledge of God is.
John Frame does an excellent job on this first book in his Systematic Series. The Doctrine of the Knowledge of God deals relatively thoroughly with the paradoxes and conflict that has often risen between reformed theologians. He provides a system that stays incredibly consistent and balanced. He focuses on the relationship between the rational, existential and situational perspectives that goes into every thought.
He addresses the Clark vs Van Til controversy briefly and adds his own thoughts John Frame does an excellent job on this first book in his Systematic Series. The Doctrine of the Knowledge of God deals relatively thoroughly with the paradoxes and conflict that has often risen between reformed theologians. He provides a system that stays incredibly consistent and balanced. He focuses on the relationship between the rational, existential and situational perspectives that goes into every thought. He addresses the Clark vs Van Til controversy briefly and adds his own thoughts about the terms quantitative and qualitative.One of the most beneficial concept I learned while reading this book was the complexity and inter-connectivity of the three perspectives in theology, thought and communication.My only criticism was that this volume didn't have a section that thoroughly addressed (even in passing) the Christians presupposition of scripture as the authoritative standard. Leaving the connections in his criticisms of other authoritative systems very loose.
I am sure this will be addressed in his other volumes and this criticism would be only of this one book.Readability: 9/10 technical only in sections, overall very easy and accessible. Having a brief background in philosophy and in recent reformed theologians would be beneficial coming into this book.Very informative! I wrote a review, but then I washed dishes and was able to process what I wanted yo say a bit more. So here is my actual review!(Also, this was typed on a phone, so forgive any typos!) Reading this book felt like hanging out with John Frame in his office and listening to him casually teach me how to be a better theologian. His vision of theology is beautiful: subject to the covenantal Lordship of God, relevant to the needs of God's people today, sufficient to withstand modern and ancient I wrote a review, but then I washed dishes and was able to process what I wanted yo say a bit more.
So here is my actual review!(Also, this was typed on a phone, so forgive any typos!) Reading this book felt like hanging out with John Frame in his office and listening to him casually teach me how to be a better theologian. His vision of theology is beautiful: subject to the covenantal Lordship of God, relevant to the needs of God's people today, sufficient to withstand modern and ancient heresies, generous in its efforts to understand other views, humble in its attitude, doxological in its understanding that theologizing should lead to worship, and warmly personal.
A few ideas that have especially impacted me were:-My utter dependence upon God at every level of epistemology, and His superiority to me, especially with regards to how He knows things.-The inevitable decline of rationalism into irrationalism, and vice versa: the rationalist has no real reason to trust his rationalism, so he clings to them irrationally, while the irrational list holds his views as normative, and therefore rational.-There is no such thing as a brute fact. The scientific method is often held to be a neutral approach to understanding the world, but every observation is filtered through biases, presuppositions, and ideological commitments.
Even our technology can't rightly be regarded as neutral, because we use it according to our ideas about how the universe works.-Logic is fallible, because humans are fallible.-Logical fallacies are useful because they reveal what a person's presuppositions are and how his or her thought system works. Also, simply the appearance of logical fallacies in someone's argument in no way deems their ultimate point untenable. They should be understood in full context, not just critiqued for minor slip-ups.-Christian Unity has often been disrupted by people who should have known better. Christian brothers have assumed the worst about each other without adequately seeking to understand one another.-Circularity in any epistemological system is eventually unavoidable.
Christians do not have to be embarrassed, for example, about the fact that we ultimately believe the Bible is the word of God. Because it is the word of God.and the word of God says so.-Christians are not primarily tasked with creating sound arguments. They're tasked with being persuasive. A lost person might quite easily reject a sound argument. Our neighbor is to persuade others, not just to have better arguments.
Also, apologetics are person-variable: one size doesn't fit all. We need to know the Word, but also spend a lot of time listening to those we are speaking to. Our knowledge of them, of how they see the world, shapes our efforts to persuade them.-It's okay to not know everything. It's not okay to neglect faithfulness and evangelism because of a feeling of inadequacy.
Study hard and be faithful. Another way to think about this is that we are called to persuade but not to convert. We are called to do our best to persuade others to Christ, but it is God's prerogative to save.-We need to be careful to react to what theologians actually say, not just what it sounds like they are saying.There were other ideas that stood out to me as well, but these probably have made the most immediately tangible impact on how I think. At times I felt a bit lost, but Frame helpfully included an analytical table of contents at the beginning. Frame's focus in 'The Doctrine of the Knowledge of God' is epistemology, as one would expect with that kind of title.
Epistemology is the study of knowledge-what knowledge is, how we acquire it, and how much we may acquire. Frame follows John Calvin, and Cornelius Van Til in arguing that we may only know because God knows us, and we know him. This is the source of all knowledge.Through our knowledge of God, we receive the authority of Scripture and it becomes foundational. This is the first of Frame's focus in 'The Doctrine of the Knowledge of God' is epistemology, as one would expect with that kind of title. Epistemology is the study of knowledge-what knowledge is, how we acquire it, and how much we may acquire. Frame follows John Calvin, and Cornelius Van Til in arguing that we may only know because God knows us, and we know him.
This is the source of all knowledge.Through our knowledge of God, we receive the authority of Scripture and it becomes foundational. This is the first of Frame's four-book series 'A Theology of Lordship', laying the groundwork for the series. The book is therefore concerned with the basic epistemological questions.He also uses his triperspectivalism to show that some of the age-old debates (rationalism, empiricism, and subjectivism) in epistemology can be answered by uniting them together rather than pitting them against one another.
He then goes on to show how the normative, situational, and existential perspectives all unite to explain that we can, in fact, know the world around us because God has created the world and gives us a variety of means to interact with and experience his creation.For those that have read other works by Frame, you will find the familiar engaging writing style with numerous appendices-though this time interspersed throughout the book, rather than at the end. There does seem to be a lot of overlap with some of his other works-namely 'Systematic Theology', 'Apologetics to the Glory of God', and 'A History of Western Philosophy and Theology'.
The overlap does not warrant passing over this work, as Frame is always edifying and a pleasure to read. According to the author this book was completed in December 1984 (382). I finished this book thirty years after it was written on December 2014 and I would say that it is a work that is more relevant than ever. This book is an exploration of a Biblical view of knowledge and specifically the pursuit of the knowledge of God. John Frame does a masterful job showing us how Scripture’s teachings have bearing towards a Christian theory of knowledge. Frame does caution early in the book that this work According to the author this book was completed in December 1984 (382).
I finished this book thirty years after it was written on December 2014 and I would say that it is a work that is more relevant than ever. This book is an exploration of a Biblical view of knowledge and specifically the pursuit of the knowledge of God. John Frame does a masterful job showing us how Scripture’s teachings have bearing towards a Christian theory of knowledge. Frame does caution early in the book that this work is more theological rather than philosophical but I think this is the book’s strength in that Frame is driven by a high view of God’s Word in his construction of a distinctively Christian view of knowledge.This is the first volume in Frame’s four book “Theology of Lordship” series. It so happened that I completed John Frame’s Doctrine of the Christian Life first, which is actually Frame’s third volume and I found that some of the materials on perspectivalism wasn’t necessarily new when I read this present volume. Of course, the Doctrine of the Knowledge of God lays the foundation for the other volume in this series in that it articulate, explain and defend the concept that knowledge is perspectival; that is, there are aspects to knowledge that are inter-dependent though distinctions could be made.
Specifically, Frame sees a triade that there is a normative, situational and existential side of knowledge. Throughout the book this triade is mentioned again and again and Frame shows its usefulness in theology, apologetics and philosophy. I found it useful as a template in identifying people’s reductionistic fallacy when they assume only one perspective is right over and against the other. Frame’s perspectivalism is also useful as a tool to make one conscious of being balanced and well rounded when one approach theology and philosophy.The book is divided into three parts with part one focusing on the objects of knowledge, the second part on the justification of knowledge and the third on the method of knowledge. I enjoyed part two’s discussion of various traditional epistemology followed by Frame’s identification of their problem.
This is helpful in equipping a Christian apologist to know how to refute bad epistemologies. But I also appreciate John Frame’s direction in the second chapter of part two of the book in constructing a positive justification of knowledge.Other parts of the book that I really enjoyed include Frame’s discussion about anti-abstractionism in which he defends the notion that abstraction is not necessarily a bad thing in of itself and that we can’t help but to think abstractly in various degrees whenever we think or communicate. I also appreciate John Frame sharing his perspective on Reformed Epistemology which Frame devote an appendix of good length to the issue by means of a book review.
I also enjoyed the book’s discussion of the laws of logic and how the laws of logic ought to be thought of as a subset of ethics. Frame’s discussion about the human faculty involved in the process of knowing must not be missed. I was pleasantly surprised to find how holistic John Frame was in that he even discussed the qualification of a theologian! Sanctification is important in the knowledge of God and vice versa!As it is typical of John Frame’s work, I found the book to be extremely helpful and every page to be stimulating and thought provoking. Frame’s work often make me think of theological methods and makes me more aware of my own method and the method of others in arriving at a theological position. Typical of other work by Frame is that I enjoyed reading this book and enjoyed God in the process—his work often leads me to worship God!
It is not a dry systematic theology book, as I found the book to be quite a good devotional as well. This book is also good for those who have read a lot of introductory materials on Presuppositional apologetics and would like to expand more indepth Christian epistemology from a Van Tillian perspective. I highly recommend this work.
This, the first volume in a four-part Theology of Lordship series, lays the foundation for Frame’s study of God. Frame uses a tri-perspectival approach that sees everything related in three categories: normative, situational, and existential. With this structure in place, Frame is able to explore the interrelatedness of Scripture and its pervasive revelation of God.
He also addresses theological models, language, apologetics, and more. A helpful book that, while challenging at times, is worth This, the first volume in a four-part Theology of Lordship series, lays the foundation for Frame’s study of God. Frame uses a tri-perspectival approach that sees everything related in three categories: normative, situational, and existential. With this structure in place, Frame is able to explore the interrelatedness of Scripture and its pervasive revelation of God.
He also addresses theological models, language, apologetics, and more. A helpful book that, while challenging at times, is worth the effort. I read this book over 20 years ago, having just graduated from seminary. Rereading it was an interesting journey, showing me how influential this volume had been in my life without me even realizing it.Frame basically lays out how we are capable of knowing God, what does it mean to know God, and how can we justify our knowledge of Him?Every so often Frame runs off into the weeds, and his tri-perspectavilism wearies the soul, but overall he approaches his material reverently yet practically. He I read this book over 20 years ago, having just graduated from seminary. Rereading it was an interesting journey, showing me how influential this volume had been in my life without me even realizing it.Frame basically lays out how we are capable of knowing God, what does it mean to know God, and how can we justify our knowledge of Him?Every so often Frame runs off into the weeds, and his tri-perspectavilism wearies the soul, but overall he approaches his material reverently yet practically. He is self-aware enough to see his own flaws while developing an epistemology that helps one define their world.Highly recommended.
How do we know, that we know? Or better put, how do we begin to have any comprehension of the world that we know? For John Frame, a professor at Reformed Theological Seminary, all knowledge, of ourselves, of the world around us and anything beyond, the starting point begins and ends with knowledge of God. As such, revelation, knowledge gained from outside our own perspective, given directly to us, must come, or most of what our attempts at knowledge are mere stabs in the dark.This book is the How do we know, that we know? Or better put, how do we begin to have any comprehension of the world that we know?
For John Frame, a professor at Reformed Theological Seminary, all knowledge, of ourselves, of the world around us and anything beyond, the starting point begins and ends with knowledge of God. As such, revelation, knowledge gained from outside our own perspective, given directly to us, must come, or most of what our attempts at knowledge are mere stabs in the dark.This book is the result of years of teaching, and in fact, the book itself, written about twenty years ago, came about from a class on the Christian Mind. This is a deep and complex book.
Many have said, including its author (!), that a great many of its readers will find use of it as primarily a reference book. But there are great truths to think and dwell upon, and yes, wrestle with, if the reader digs deeper.A key concept expounded in this book is the concept of three perspectives - the rational, the situational and the experiential; with the idea that all forms of knowledge, that is that knowledge of the world, ourselves and God relates in an inter related triangle that are identical and interdependent. In other words they all rely on each other.
In other words, while different, all ways that we know, rely on each other. It would be strange to many Christians to think that it is not first the Bible, or revealed revelation that rules knowledge. But Frame, really arguing from a very traditional Reformed stance, says that what you bring to understanding the Scriptures, your reason, your world that you live in and your personal contact with God that determines the way that Scripture rules in the lives of believers. Because Frame writes of a sovereign God, who reveals himself through people, and through nature, that man is in God's image and that nature declares God, that he cites a three way understanding for how we know, beginning with how God reveals himself to us.Due to the first way of knowledge, God revealing himself to man, Frame cites the uses and abilities of tools of knowing: logic, language, history, science and philosophy, in service to a ruling and revealing God. He strongly believes that every man is a theologian and as a result wrestles with these questions every day, in every part of his life. Again, this is a deep book, but in many ways, it is just an introductory book for dealing with the idea of how do we know what we know, beginning with how God has revealed and continues to reveal himself to man.If the reader is looking for a long term read dealing with aspects of God's rule over every area of his life, including the religious portion, this would be a fine place to start.
In this book John M. Frame explores our relationship with God as a knowing relationship. John says that we tend to forget how frequently in Scripture God performs His might act so that men will know that He is Lord. The author thus examines our knowledge of ourselves as it connects to our knowledge of ourselves and of the world in which we live. This book shows to us that divinity is the application of God's word to our lives in all situations. Taking this point of view the author adds practical In this book John M. Frame explores our relationship with God as a knowing relationship.
John says that we tend to forget how frequently in Scripture God performs His might act so that men will know that He is Lord. The author thus examines our knowledge of ourselves as it connects to our knowledge of ourselves and of the world in which we live. This book shows to us that divinity is the application of God's word to our lives in all situations. Taking this point of view the author adds practical insight and counsel for how we should live.Frame combines trenchant analyses of theological, apologetic, and epistemological issues with refreshingly practical insights for living in the knowledge of God.I believe that this entire series of John M. Frame came in the right time with a fresh though and even a conservative theology which was needed for a long time.
I enjoyed the whole book, but I would highlight the first part of the book, 'God, the Covenant Lord,' as an interesting subject for all Christians to know about. This chapter deals basically with three points: A. The Biblical Concept of Lorship. Lordship and Knowledge. The Unbeliever's Knowledge. I cannot point a very specific weakness of the book, perhaps I was too exited reading it, only if I have to point to something it would be the lack of more historical reference, so we might relate more practically each subject with specifics historical events in the Christianity.This material will be very useful for me as a minister and a Bible College teacher. It will be nice to introduce some new thought in both areas.
It helped me realize how I can better relate with the Lordship of God. I would suggest this book to:1.
Anyone who struggles with how we can 'really know' anything.2. Anyone interested in the place where theology meets philosophy.This is one of the most influential books in my life.
John Frame has the single most logical writing-style I have ever read. Oftentimes, other theologians will divide topics up into seemingly random categories, but John Frame divides all topics into the most all-encompassing categories possible. He is not only a theologian, but a I would suggest this book to:1. Anyone who struggles with how we can 'really know' anything.2. Anyone interested in the place where theology meets philosophy.This is one of the most influential books in my life.
John Frame has the single most logical writing-style I have ever read. Oftentimes, other theologians will divide topics up into seemingly random categories, but John Frame divides all topics into the most all-encompassing categories possible. He is not only a theologian, but a philosopher as well.The two thoughts from this book that I found most enlightening, were 1) that God is the foundation of knowledge, and 2) that all things contribute to an accurate understanding of knowledge.
For the first point, Frame makes a powerful argument that all knowledge is a form of revelation from God. This revelation is logically prior to knowledge based on sensory data or reasoning. God can make a person certain that He exists directly through revelation. To the second point, there is no such thing as 'knowledge divorced from emotions, will, etc.' All experiences and logic and other facts contribute to an understand of the one thing itself.This book changed my perspective on knowledge, and was an example of how knowledge ought to be communicated. It is a lot to wade through, but I cannot recommend it highly enough. This is without doubt a foundational work in the world of theology and especially as it pertains to the philosophy of knowledge.
John Frame's writing is always written with a pastoral warmth even when it's on such a topic as epistemology. It would be remiss, though, to say that this book is solely on Christian epistemology.
It also is very much a book on theological method as well as apologetics.With the heart of a shepherd and all the precision of a theological surgeon, Frame takes the reader This is without doubt a foundational work in the world of theology and especially as it pertains to the philosophy of knowledge. John Frame's writing is always written with a pastoral warmth even when it's on such a topic as epistemology.
It would be remiss, though, to say that this book is solely on Christian epistemology. It also is very much a book on theological method as well as apologetics.With the heart of a shepherd and all the precision of a theological surgeon, Frame takes the reader through his book in three parts:The Objects of KnowledgeThe Justification of KnowledgeThe Methods of KnowledgeWhile this book is written well in a style that befits the layperson, the nature of the content is still very heavy at times. So this book may not be for all readers. However, for anyone in seminary or the Christian interested in philosophy (especially as it pertains to epistemology), this book is a must-read! Saturated with Scripture, a Biblical worldview, and a commitment to the Lordship of Christ in all areas of life, this book will not disappoint those seeking a deeper understanding of our relationship with the Lord Jesus, how we come to know Him as Lord, and what that means as it pertains to our relationship with the rest of the world. Frame uses his multiperspectivalism to put forward a series of coherent arguments in apologetics and epistemology.
The work is well-written and intelligent, and although the multiperspectivalism was certainly interesting nothing that was found by applying it felt particularly revolutionary. I suppose it was pleasing to see these arguments affirmed by someone firmly embedded in the modern evangelical tradition.I was pleasantly surprised at how willing he was to listen to non-orthodox theological Frame uses his multiperspectivalism to put forward a series of coherent arguments in apologetics and epistemology.
The work is well-written and intelligent, and although the multiperspectivalism was certainly interesting nothing that was found by applying it felt particularly revolutionary. I suppose it was pleasing to see these arguments affirmed by someone firmly embedded in the modern evangelical tradition.I was pleasantly surprised at how willing he was to listen to non-orthodox theological positions and to try and find some value in them. This attitude is quite unusual (and often discouraged) in evangelical circles I have been a part of. Perhaps if evangelicals followed Frame's examples they would be less disliked by the wider Christian community.The coherence and intelligence of this book were very reassuring, although this is as much of a criticism of the standard of Christian literature today as it is a commendment of this volume. The framework that this book provides for theology and doctrine feels robust and straightforward, yet it was sad that many of the common errors and fallacies Frame warns against felt all too familiar. John Frame is always an interesting writer. This is, essentially, both prolegomena to theology and an attempt to understand epistemology from a Christian perspective.
Frame seems to be interested in being careful about how we speak about our knowledge of God. He emphasizes three perspectives on our knowledge of God: the normative (God's Word), the situational (God's world), and the existential (ourselves). Each provides a lens through which we can view truth, but each also entails the other two. John Frame is always an interesting writer.
This is, essentially, both prolegomena to theology and an attempt to understand epistemology from a Christian perspective. Frame seems to be interested in being careful about how we speak about our knowledge of God. He emphasizes three perspectives on our knowledge of God: the normative (God's Word), the situational (God's world), and the existential (ourselves). Each provides a lens through which we can view truth, but each also entails the other two. So, for example, I can't know God's world without taking into account God's Word as well as my own subjective perspective.He covers interpretation, apologetics, and philosophy and logic, as well. Read this about 10 years ago. Loved it then, and still do.
Frame is a very clear thinker and writer. No taurus-scatology with him. He is also very pastoral. But over the last ten years I have noticed that his perspectivalism is often more of a grid he imposes on the Scriptures, rather than something he naturally gets out of them. This is not always bad, but I'm not so sure it is always beneficial. Besides, perspectivalism by definition employs the metaphor of eye sight too much in my opinion. I Read this about 10 years ago.
Loved it then, and still do. Frame is a very clear thinker and writer.
No taurus-scatology with him. He is also very pastoral. But over the last ten years I have noticed that his perspectivalism is often more of a grid he imposes on the Scriptures, rather than something he naturally gets out of them.
This is not always bad, but I'm not so sure it is always beneficial. Besides, perspectivalism by definition employs the metaphor of eye sight too much in my opinion. I think if Frame were more grounded in liturgics, sacramental theology, and symbolism, these endeavors would help his project tremendously.
A great introduction to epistemic issues and theological method. While I might be more 'Bahnsenian' in my 'VanTilianism', this is still a very important book. Frame firmly establishes knowledge is covenantal. And that is key!
He also establishes that knowledge is trinitarian, personal, ethical and multiperspectival. This book is academically rigorous - but still there are not many books on epistemology are as readily accessible as this volume. Even fewer still are as orthodox and as A great introduction to epistemic issues and theological method. While I might be more 'Bahnsenian' in my 'VanTilianism', this is still a very important book. Frame firmly establishes knowledge is covenantal. And that is key! He also establishes that knowledge is trinitarian, personal, ethical and multiperspectival.
This book is academically rigorous - but still there are not many books on epistemology are as readily accessible as this volume. Even fewer still are as orthodox and as practical/pastoral as this one. I have read it through several times over the last decade or so, each time finding more nourishment and edification. I would highly recommend this book. Highly recommend. Awesome overview of christian epistemology, apologetics, and general exhortation on how to 'do theology' in a godly manner. Really appreciate frame's clarity of thought, thoroughness, and subtle distinctions.
He's good at anticipating potential objections. His thinking seems very grounded in scripture and balanced when dealing with various viewpoints. His concept of 'perspectivalism' i find very, very helpful. Can't wait to start his 'the doctrine of God'. My only criticism highly recommend. Awesome overview of christian epistemology, apologetics, and general exhortation on how to 'do theology' in a godly manner.
Really appreciate frame's clarity of thought, thoroughness, and subtle distinctions. He's good at anticipating potential objections. His thinking seems very grounded in scripture and balanced when dealing with various viewpoints. His concept of 'perspectivalism' i find very, very helpful. Can't wait to start his 'the doctrine of God'. My only criticism would be his somewhat opaque treatment of anti-abstractionism.
For his education, Frame received degrees from Princeton University (A.B.), Westminster Theological Seminary (B.D.), Yale University (A.M. And M.Phil., though he was working on a doctorate and admits his own failure to complete his dissertation), and Belhaven College (D.D.). He has served on the faculty of Westminster Theological Seminary and was a founding faculty member of their California For his education, Frame received degrees from Princeton University (A.B.), Westminster Theological Seminary (B.D.), Yale University (A.M. And M.Phil., though he was working on a doctorate and admits his own failure to complete his dissertation), and Belhaven College (D.D.).
He has served on the faculty of Westminster Theological Seminary and was a founding faculty member of their California campus. He currently (as of 2005) teaches Apologetics and The History of Philosophy and Christian thought at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, FL. He is appreciated, by many of his students, for his charitable spirit and fairness to opposing arguments.
Doctrine Of The Knowledge Of God Pdf Reader Rating: 3,6/5 5329reviewsDoctrine of God 0001. The reader learns much about God but is also encouraged to draw. Basic Outline of the Doctrine of God for this Course; The knowledge of God. Study Guide to Doctrine of the Knowledge of God John M. Frame Lesson 1, pp. 1-40 Key Terms epistemology (2, 85) lordship attributes (17).
Study of Bible doctrine could require a knowledge of Greek and Hebrew. But the reader is often. The knowledge of God is certainly top. His previous volumes focused on the knowledge of God, attributes and names of God, and the Christian life.
Fully understand the doctrine of the word of God.Frame holds the J. Trimble chair of systematic theology and philosophy at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, Florida. This volume is the fourth and final installment in his Theology of Lordship series.His previous volumes focused on the knowledge of God, attributes and names of God, and the Christian life. In this volume the focus is on God’s Word. As Frame writes in the preface, he had intended to develop this work more fully, but reflecting on his own mortality led him to publish the present draft as “a more concise version of what I had originally hoped to write” (p. Xxvii), with the hope that later he could expand it further. Driver Digicom Palladio Wave 54 Cx Usb.
In its present form nearly half the pages are devoted to appendixes, and about half of the seventeen appendixes are extended book reviews.While reading his interactions with authors like N. Wright and Peter Enns is helpful, future editions may benefit from having these insights integrated into the body of the text and discussed with related topics. Most, if not all, of the appendixes seem to be included in the present volume because they are related to the topic, not necessarily because they were written expressly for this book. In part 1 Frame states his thesis: “God’s word, in all its qualities and aspects, is a personal communication from him to us” (p. “The main contention of this volume,” says Frame, “is that God’s speech to man is real speech. It is very much like one person speaking to another” (p.