Items included for this subject area 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.
Reading the Reformation in 2017: No longer can one take for granted that students, clergy, laity, or the wider public understand the significance of the Reformation—how it convulsed the 16th century, and how it decisively shapes contemporary Christianity and the modern world. Check these recent titles on Luther, Erasmus, social media during the Reformation, and Protestant […]
From the GetReligion posts on religion and news stories: In Story 1, the AP reports on a state legislator’s bill to remove gov’t interest from marriage. In Story 2, Cosmo has a piece on the marry yourself movement. For a third account of peculiar social trends related to marriage–but in the time of the Reformation–see […]
Arthur Leff’s God-Haunted World: Without God, meaningful law becomes impossible. One powerful argument for this view comes from a surprising source—an atheistic law professor writing in the Duke Law Journal. Yale Law School professor, Arthur Leff, argued that unless God is taken to be the moral authority behind human law, the law collapses into various arbitrary arrangements, […]
Stone and Spirit: The Christ at the Core Curriculum — re-posted by request — This 15 min. Youtube video from Matt Milliner at Wheaton College is a thoughtful address to students on the college’s core curriculum. His presentation can help the viewer reflect on the nature and purpose a liberal arts curriculum in Christian higher […]
When the Wise Men Refused to Collaborate With Empire: This brief essay revisits the interesting story of the Three Wise Men and their decision not to comply with Herod, his commands, and his aims. Students can explore the two-kingdoms issues, related Biblical content such as Daniel, and how Christians can respond. See also “Freeing Freedom […]
Government’s ‘Honest Shanghai’ App Raises Privacy Concerns: This 4 min. audio clip describes a new system in Shanghai by which the government grades the behavior of its citizens. Students can asses this program in terms of the two kingdoms, source and norm for righteousness, matters of sovereignty, standards for ethics, morals, and judgment, and possible […]
Faithful Presence: Seven Disciplines That Shape the Church for Mission by David Fitch (IVP, 2016). Is there a way to be the church that engages the world, not by judgment nor accommodation but by becoming the good news in our culture? We have lost the intent and practice of the sacramental ways of the historic church, […]
Where Did The Universe Come From? This is the first of five brief audio clips from an NPR Morning Edition series on contemplating the universe. The series runs from 12/26/2016 to 12/30/2016, closing with “How Will the Universe End?” and might serve as a set of starter pieces for astronomy, philosophy, intro to religion, or […]
Top Ten Religious Liberty and Church-State Developments of 2016: Howard Friedman picks the most important church-state and religious liberty developments of the past year. “This was a busy year, and a number of the important developments amounted to themes that spanned many months. So here are my Top Ten picks for the rather chaotic year that […]
Love, Liberal Education, and the Secret of Human Identity: A truly Christian education in the liberal arts can raise the soul to see a glimmer of what Dante wishes for us to see. I have become painfully aware of the chasm between those who love the liberal arts, what I have called the free-making arts, and […]
