Jerry Walls is always doing or saying something unexpected. In some, this is a mere eccentricity, but in Walls it is the fecundity of a restless first-rate intellect. He is so reasonable, but not in a grinding way, in a passionate way. Jerry Walls loves to think and so he leaps into an argument and then argues carefully. He says of himself: “There is no sense ignoring the elephant in the room something I am seldom disposed to do anyway.” This is true.... Read more

Brooklyn, yes Brooklyn, has a saint and he wrote on religion and science. For those who think the only interesting thing about Brooklyn left when the Dodgers went to Los Angeles, the life and thought of Raphael is a corrective. In December of 1895, Raphael spoke to a group of men on science. His talk came during the height of the Victorian era when robber barons were gilding the age, the sun never set on colonial empires fueled by a... Read more

Bilbo Baggins almost passed on adventure. Who could blame him? Gandalf was excellent at fireworks, but very secretive about this plan. The dwarves showed up for an entirely unexpected party and the only thing certain about the quest was that the odds were against success. The dragon Smaug was able to point out more than one flaw in the plan. And yet Bilbo went, was changed for the better, frequently was terrified out of his wits, and had the time... Read more

Given the recent decision to bless vice, the status of the Presbyterian Church USA is difficult. Is it Christian? The PCUSA has removed itself from the line of historic Christian churches and we can only pray for her recovery. Talking to the Presbyterian Church USA will now be interfaith, not ecumenical dialog, yet discussion must continue as we would with any sect historically related to Christianity, but not Christian. The PCUSA fits the classic definition of a “cult,” though the... Read more

Temar Boggs and Chris Garcia saw a girl being abducted by a stranger. Boggs says he did what “anybody else would do,” but I think he is being generous to the rest of us. Temar Boggs is not just a hero, but a modest young man. When they saw evil, Garcia and Boggs chased after the girl on their bikes. When the evil man saw the two brave youths were chasing him, he let the little girl go. The story... Read more

Nancy Pearcey* makes the complicated so clear a reader can forget how insightful she has been. Don’t be deceived: her new book Finding Truth is an intellectual powerhouse. You might not notice because it is also readable. Intellectual poseurs will be disappointed, but the rest of us rejoice. Pearcey is not arguing for Christianity to pagans in this book. She has done that elsewhere. Here she is showing Christians how to retain their faith, and to guard and defend it in hostile... Read more

Dear Nate, Both of us agree sin is bad. For Christians this is not, perhaps, the most remarkable of agreements or insights. We also agree that there is a difference between a sinner who is sorry he sins and one who thinks his sin is awesome or justified. We come as we are to become different than what we are. Easy enough to write, but in reality these truths imply making some tough judgments. Here is an easy example. We... Read more

Andrew Jackson was a maniac, racist, and perpetrator of a lawless attempt at genocide. Andy Jackson was a war hero (War of 1812) and if there is a monument to his deeds in that battle, he earned it. There is a memorial to Benedict Arnold’s heroism in the Battle of Saratoga after all. Leave his battlefield memorial and let him rest in peace with moral failures like Arnold. Outside of the battle of New Orleans, the American nation should apologize... Read more

Today is a friend’s birthday and he has been, is, and will be a good friend. He is a good man, one of the smartest and most talented I know, and I know a great many talented and intelligent men, but he would not wish me about  to say this publicly about him! What I will do is comment on how excellent friendship is or can be. I hope he gets the message. Friendship is now viewed as much less important than... Read more

I think the worst arguments are the ones where the response of the critic is so obvious that only willful ignorance allows the argument to be made.* Whenever I discuss sexual morality in American, I often hear: Does your church contain sinners? If so, why pick on this particular community?  Generally I read or hear this dreadful argument in the context of those who want to have sex outside Christian until-death-do-you-part-marriage between a man and a woman. Before making the obvious... Read more