So as a lead-in to the chapter-by-chapter reviews I’m going to do on the two books I recommended this weekend, let me ask you to consider something: what do we mean when we call something “pastoral”?For example, a lot of people are hot for teaching the word because they are . . . . Continue Reading »
A good sign that a party is headed for an electoral wipe-out? The absence of candidates down toward the bottom of the ticket, which leaves uncontested elections for minor offices. Comes now, however, the news from South Dakota that the Democrats have decided not to field a candidate to oppose John . . . . Continue Reading »
Tonight, we express our sorrow at the news that blog-neighbor Michael Spencer (the Internet Monk) has gone home to be with the Lord.Michael has been in the Christian blogging community for a long time, and it’s no lie to say that his voice and witness are irreplaceable. He will be . . . . Continue Reading »
“Red Sox rally past Yankees 9-7 on Opening Night” read the very cheering headline on one of the sports magazines’ websites. It was cheering to see the team that has held onto its traditions, notably continuing to play in its old-fashioned stadium and resisting the appeal of . . . . Continue Reading »
Because it was something I had on my “bucket list.” I think everyone should have a list of things they want to do before they expire. — Patricia Edwards explaining why she robbed a bank(!) in Deland, Florida. When people speak of their low self-esteem, they imply two things: first, . . . . Continue Reading »
The recent and dramatic rise of modern Gnosticism, implemented in part, by the capture of the vocabulary of reality, is merely the continuation of the effort, identified by Eric Voegelin, to form a Western civil theology by immanentizing the Christian eschaton. The totalitarians of the previous . . . . Continue Reading »
Der Spiegel is one of the best news magazines around. In the current issue, it carries an interview with an emergency room physician who thinks he should be able to refuse to save the life of patients whose quality of life he finds too low, and kill others, based on the same criteria. From the . . . . Continue Reading »
To say that a Corpus Christi church’s Easter spectacle of giving away cars, flat screen TV’s, bicycles, and a cornucopia of other prizes is appalling would be a gross understatement. Just watch:Even after all the press they received, the bulk of press reports focus on the giveaway, and . . . . Continue Reading »
Joseph Bottum has an op-ed in USA Today on the media and abusive priests: There are two parts to the scandal that has obsessed Europe in recent weeks. The first part — the most evil, disgusting part — is over. Every group has a small percentage of members with sick sexual desires. By . . . . Continue Reading »
Speaking of resurrection, Newsweek has an excerpt from Lisa Miller’s new book, Heaven, that ask why religious believers are so skeptical that we’ll have bodies in heaven. As Miller asks, “If you don’t have a body in heaven, then what kind of heaven are you hoping for?” . . . . Continue Reading »
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