Items included on this page come from a variety of sources. The perspectives conveyed may or may not express a Lutheran ethos. They can serve our instruction as discussion-starters, examples (positive and negative), and illustrations of intersections between God’s two kingdoms, intersections sometimes characterized by tension, sometimes by congruence. Inclusion does not imply endorsement.
‘Of Kings and Prophets’ like ‘Game of Thrones’ minus the dragons: Students can weigh the merits and deficits of more Hollywood-and-the-Bible with this critique. “The creators of “Of Kings and Prophets” are aiming less for the religious home-schooled crowd and more for the HBO crowd.”
Nathan Deal makes a forceful, biblical case against Georgia’s ‘religious liberty’ bill: Students can evaluate the journalism, theology, and politics conveyed by this report on a bill moving through the Georgia state legislature.
Christian but Not Religious: “’Spiritual but Not Religious’ is a phrase many young Evangelicals now use to describe themselves, in order to highlight their personal relationship with Jesus. As someone who studies law and religion in America, I’m embarrassed to say that this was new to me.” The writer, Mark Movsesian, co-directs the Tradition Project at the St. […]
Miss Marple and the Problem of Modern Identity: This is a story in which several characters are not — or may not be — who they say they are. Agatha Christie’s character and amateur detective, Miss Marple, explains why the problem of identity is a particularly significant one for them, situated in their particular time and place. Alan Jacobs […]
Three Myths About the Crusades and What They Mean for Christian Witness: Paul Robinson sorts through the news, media, literature, and film portrayals of the Crusades to examine the fiction in the popular imagination and provide some alternate informed discussion. Helpful for classes in history, journalism, and media.
Death, the Prosperity Gospel and Me — A first person account from Kate Bowler, historian and author of Blessed: A History of the American Prosperity Gospel (Oxford Univ Press, 2013), recently diagnosed with stage four cancer at the age of 35. Helpful for analysis of the God’s will/God’s plan discussion, American notions of the Gospel, and faith […]
Christianity Today on the PP /CMP Case: Daniel K. Williams, a historian of the pro-life movement, and Focus on the Family president Jim Daly provide their perspectives on the ethics of the Planned Parenthood Fetal Tissue case. The articles link are Why Are Pro-Lifers Borrowing Pro-Choice Philosophy? and I Know Why the Government Went after Pro-Life […]
Digital warfare: RNS and PBS report anti-jihadi campaigns on social media — The real battlefront against ISIS and other terrorists is on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTubes–social media where jihadis are made and recruited. A corps of new warriors familiar with the terrain includes a West Point team (see this RNS coverage) in a contest for most effective online presence […]
Why sportswriters keep ignoring this MLB pitcher’s Christian faith: Daniel Norris makes no secret of his Christian faith — no secret at all. So why do sportswriters — again and again and again — either totally ignore that aspect of Norris’ character or keep the nature of his faith vague? There’s a reason why “God” talk […]
Hating the Way Jesus Hates – Why more believers need the courage to get angry at sin: Students in psychology, literature. the neurosciences, political science and other disciplines may find this interview applicable to the proper role of affect in Christian vocation. Aristotle defines “inirascibility,” as a deficit in anger which means not being angry when you should […]
