Chris explains how the tragic story of an Arctic expedition illustrates why, "for some Westerners in the late 19th century, science was a religion — as capable as any traditional faith of inspiring fanaticism and, ultimately, martyrdom." Read more
Chris explains how the tragic story of an Arctic expedition illustrates why, "for some Westerners in the late 19th century, science was a religion — as capable as any traditional faith of inspiring fanaticism and, ultimately, martyrdom." Read more
Last week, on one of the holiest days of the Christian year, over 120 families at a predominantly Asian American church in New Jersey gathered for their Good Friday Service to pray, sing, and commemorate the crucifixion of Christ. But the peaceful online service was interrupted by Zoom-bombers, who blasted pornographic images across the screen and assailed listeners with ear-splitting screams and racist slurs, including cries of “I hate Asians!” and “Chinks!” A member of the congregation described the incident... Read more
Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, the Easter Triduum… but for much of Christian history, the vast majority of Christians knew there was another essential part of the story, which they knew as well as any other part of the New Testament, and which they based on a series of beloved scriptures that we no longer treat as worthy of respect. If a Christian could visit us from Late Antiquity or the Middle Ages, it is this omission that would... Read more
I’ve written in this space from time to time on the subject of Christian scholarship, and I feel compelled to return to that topic today, but in a much more personal way. This past Sunday, my Calvin History Department colleagues and I were shocked to learn of the sudden death of our beloved colleague, Bert de Vries. Perhaps more than anyone I know, Bert has modled the best sort of Christian scholarship. His obituary traces a few highlights of his... Read more
It’s been a long year. Literally. Historians divide eras by cultural moments rather than strict dates. So future historians will likely consider us to still be living in “the long 2020,” at least until we reach herd immunity through mass vaccinations, and coronavirus restrictions are lifted. Historians will write not only about COVID-19, but also about our era’s racial tensions and political polarization. We have all been experiencing multifaceted trauma for over a year. And let’s not forget those of... Read more
Chris celebrates the PBS genealogy show, Finding Your Roots, whose host reminds us that the lack of genealogical evidence for African Americans "is a byproduct of the very design of the institution of slavery..." Read more
Tell me how you phrase the question and I will tell you the answer you will probably get. That statement is familiar enough to the world of survey research, and it carries special weight in the age of debates over secularization and the “Nones.” But a current British example illustrates the point beautifully. I will be drawing heavily on the piece linked here, by Harriet Sherwood in the Guardian. Here are two ways of asking a question. The current British... Read more
Before the Oral Roberts University Golden Eagles play their Sweet Sixteen game against Arkansas, learn about ORU's founder, his ambitions for that university, and the role that basketball played in those plans. Read more
I have a dilemma. I want to rave about a literary work that depends upon a wonderful twist of the plot, which you would never see coming until it actually hits you. But if I tell you the twist, or even that there is a twist, then I detract from the power of the story, even if I don’t actually ruin it. On the other hand, if I tell you nothing about the story at all, then perhaps you would... Read more
Anthea Butler’s White Evangelical Racism is a tough, hard-hitting book. She pulls no punches. There’s no spoonful of sugar accompanying this medicine. This is a book that sears without soothing. “Racism,” she begins, “is a feature, not a bug, of American evangelicalism.” What is American evangelicalism? While other historians point to theological definitions or situate the subject within a particular historical movement or moment, Butler employs the “working definition” in the contemporary United States. American evangelicalism is white. And conservative.... Read more
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In