Christianity’s Worst Enemies: Persecution Around the World — Open Doors. a U.S. based tracking group, unveiled its World Watch List at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. The group measures how much Christians are able to live out their faith to determine what countries land on the list. It considers spheres of private, family, […]
The Closing of the Scientific Mind
The Closing of the Scientific Mind — A critique on trends and voices in the sciences that, in the author’s view, overstep what science can claim. David Gelernter is a professor of computer science at Yale
Love, Sex, and Commerce: The Debate Over Prostitution
Love, Sex and Commerce: The Imminent Debate Over Legal Prostitution — Arguments about the ethics of selling sex are taking place just off the main stage of American politics. These arguments pit young evangelicals—who are fleeing the old culture war battlefields for the cause of fighting sexual exploitation—against those who argue for treating sex work […]
Public’s View of Evolution: The Pew Center
Public’s View on Evolution — The Pew Research Center’s 2013 update: six-in-ten Americans say that “humans and other living things have evolved over time,” while a third reject the idea of evolution, saying that “humans and other living things have existed in their present form since the beginning of time.”
Are We Genetically Inclined to Be Materialistic?
Are We Genetically Inclined to Be Materialistic? — New research suggests certain cultures place a brake on what social scientists call “the endowment effect,” whereas capitalistic societies put it on steroids. This 5 min. audio clip might be used to explore a biblical anthropology, the nature of community, or other themes related to human nature.
Science as Bits and Pieces
Science as Bits and Pieces — Philip Kitcher doubts the Grand Theory claims for science. His essay argues that science is not metaphysics but pragmatics and that the case for a seamless science is highly overrated, particularly by those who would like science to supplant religion. See Can Science Explain Everything? for a follow-up discussion.
A Christian Musician with More Questions Than Answers
A Christian Musician with More Questions Than Answers — In the fluid domain of music, pop culture, and CCM, Morning Edition offers this 6 min. audio profile of Josh Garrels, who says his music is “trying to peel back layers and find out where is God in the midst of this city that I live […]
Celibacy as Political Resistance
Celibacy as Political Resistance — This essay by Grant Kaplan at St. Louis University discusses a two kingdoms view for Christian peculiarity, papal primacy, and clergy celibacy advanced in the 19th century. Agree or disagree, this account prompts reflection on the church’s strategies for in-reach and outreach. (Spiritual descendants of Stephan and Walther may find […]
The Idea of a Christian College Reexamined
The Idea of a Christian College Reexamined — Todd Ream at Taylor University and Perry Glanzer at Baylor University have a new book out, The Idea of a Christian College: A Reexamination for Today’s University (Cascade). It should be read by anyone with an interest in the state of Christian higher ed.
Reading the Bible With Martin Luther
Reading the Bible With Martin Luther: An Introductory Guide — A new book by prominent Reformation historian Timothy Wengert who introduces the basic components of Martin Luther’s theology of the Bible and examines Luther’s contributions to present-day biblical interpretation.
