Openly Secular, Baptists, and Defending Religious Freedom — Christianity Today interviews Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary president Danny Akin who posted a 2-minute video for Openly Secular, which is dedicated to eliminating discrimination against atheists, freethinkers, agnostics, humanists, and nonreligious people. This event can serve as a case study for how Christians should or should not […]
Financial Divestment as a Biblical Justice Strategy
Financial Divestment as a Biblical Justice Strategy — Various campaigns have adopted the tactic of divestment to compel action toward a safer, more just, and more sustainable world. Does it work? The Sojourner editors answer yes. See their editorial and their June 2015 issue for the arguments that students can consider, pro and con.
Freedom Within the Disciplines
Freedom Within the Disciplines — The faculty at Notre Dame has been discussing the role of theology in its core curriculum and the nature of the academic disciplines: Are disciplines the building blocks of university education and thus the proper focus for a core curriculum? Or should we recognize that academic disciplines are “artificial” and […]
Comment Magazine: Inequalities
Inequalities — The June 2015 issue of Comment zooms in with a more granular understanding of the sources and causes of unjust inequalities, and makes a bold claim: There can be just inequalities, and with them often comes an unequal responsibility for the health of society.
The Slippery Slope to Polygamy: Pro and Con
The Slippery Slope to Polygamy: Pro and Con — This exchange between two thoughtful columnists can help students sort through the arguments whether the current culture is moving toward an acceptance and legalization of polygamy. In this order, The Prospects, The Polygamists, The Fascinating Politics, and Polygamy Redux.
The Real Christian Debate on Transgender Identity
The Real Christian Debate on Transgender Identity — Some have made mocking remarks about transgender news, but their attitudes obscure deep, meaningful questions about the meaning of gender, says this editor of The Atlantic. The writer seeks to set out the underlying philosophical, etiological, and theological themes (not the arguments) at stake in the debates. […]
Business as the Moderator of Civil Discourse on Religion
Business as the Moderator of Civil Discourse on Religion — Re-assessing the role of religion in the public square now includes discussion of and in the workplace. Here is a case study briefly presented in The Economist that considers situations in the UK and in the U.S. “What is striking about the latest judgment is […]
Justices Boost Workplace Religious Protections
Justices Boost Workplace Religious Protections — The Supreme Court strengthened religious civil rights protections for employees and job applicants ruling in favor of a Muslim woman who did not get hired after she showed up to a job interview with clothing retailer Abercrombie & Fitch wearing a black headscarf.
Bringing a Christian Perspective to Common Human Experiences
Bringing a Christian Perspective to Common Human Experiences — The Spring 2015 edition of Concordia Journal includes a set of articles that explore this intersection theme, including justice, marginality, and hospitality; suffering and joy; and vocation in work and rest.
Traces of the Trinity
Traces of the Trinity — In what sense or by what senses does the creation declare the glory of God? Peter Leithart explores the theme that the doctrine of the Trinity invites us to gain glimpses of God in vocation, nature, marriage, language, music, and even in the past-present-future quality of time. A Lutheran perspective […]
