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.
Freedom and Intellectual Life: This essay makes a case for the arts and humanities. “As enrollments decline, programs are cut, and tenure diminishes, mainstream educational institutions are becoming uncomfortable places for teachers who want to pass on a zeal for humanist learning. This is a crisis of confidence among ourselves, a crisis caused by a […]
Did Catholic theologians influence the Zubik order? Lyle Denniston, long-time reporter and commentator on the Supreme Court, offers this analysis of the problem of complicity in sin. Is the fire wall proposed between religious conscience and compelling government interest in health care “thick enough to meet the religious protest, and is the government going to be […]
Reasoning badly and reasoning well: A primer on practical reasoning — There are two difficulties. One lies in the intellect, because students may not know how to reason well. The other lies in the will, because they may not want to. Those who do want to reason well can be taught how to do so, although […]
‘Body Hacking’ Movement Rises Ahead Of Moral Answers: Body hackers view the world differently. They believe technology has reached a point where it can improve the human body instead of just fixing what’s broken. From pacemakers to color cameras for the brain of the color-blind, the goal is the human body augmented by devices. Students can […]
From ‘Exodus’ to ‘God’s Not Dead 2’: The new wave of religious movies, explained — If there were a family tree for modern religious movies, the forefather would be Mel Gibson’s 2004 phenomenon “The Passion of the Christ.” Observers group these movies together. but the movies tend to fall into a handful of different camps. Some are […]
Here is Sojourners’ interview with the producer of The Story of God, the National Geographic six-week series hosted by Morgan Freeman. “The with this series was to go beyond the things that divide us and investigate the biggest questions — ones that unite the human experience.” The series dives deep into the big questions that cut […]
Here’s Every Biblical Reference in ‘Hamilton’: The libretto is highly literate, loaded with references to the Founding documents, the age of Enlightenment, Shakespeare, contemporary rap—and of course, the Bible. From King George to Aaron Burr, the hit musical’s biblical literacy makes its story and characters even richer. Students can contrast this work with the more typical pop […]
The Rage Against God: an Interview with Peter Hitchens — Peter Hitchens, a British journalist who writes for The Mail, is the author of six books and an articulate Christian. His late brother, Christopher Hitchens, was one of the radical atheists in the popular media. Provided with a little background, students can compare and contrast […]
God, Cancer, a Videogame: This case involves the arts, journalism, health concerns, the problem of evil, addressing grief, and mediums for Christian outreach. The linked article is a commentary on the story of the case in Wired, January 2016. The instructor will need to determine whether and how to adapt the case to course content.
The Messy Secrets of Perfect Pitch: Genesis does not say that God created the world “perfect,” though we often insert that word. This article, written in popular style on the science and musicology of perfect pitch, uses the topic to examine this misnomer and its implications for our life in this world and our life with […]
