What role should religion play in a University? In her earlier book, Science vs. Religion: What Scientists Really Think Elaine Ecklund asked 191 scientists at ‘elite’ universities “What place should religion occupy in a university like yours?” Of these scientists, ~42% mentioned some kind of positive role, ~36% saw no positive role for religious people, institutions, or ideas in the university, the remainder are mixed. Approximately 54% mentioned the dangers that religion can have for science. Ecklund outlines three models... Read more

By Ruth Tucker This morning while waiting for a dental appointment I noticed a copy of Cosmopolitan on the table next to me. The headline read: “Why Being Strong Isn’t Bitchy.” I was mildly interested in what someone would write to prove such an obvious truism, but, hard as I looked, I couldn’t find the article. When my dental assistant appeared I showed her the cover. She recounted that where she previously worked, the dentist repeatedly called Hillary Clinton the... Read more

I was delighted (ahem) to hear that my commentary on The Sermon on the Mount was unavailable until a new printing came out, and am happy to say it’s back available again. Read more

My friend Matt Williams, at Biola, has (re)produced a wonderful series of DVDs for adult Bible study contexts, and here is his summary of the lot: The “Life of Jesus” in the Deeper Connections Bible study series is the fourth DVD and participant’s guide to be released by Rose/Hendrickson Publishing. Along with “The Last Days of Jesus” DVD, one has a 12-study overview of the main events and teachings from the life of Jesus, one of the most popular Bible... Read more

In my academic life — from my college days until today — I have heard the Yeas and the Nays about developing a Christian worldview. As a college student I read Francis Schaeffer and Hans Rookmaaker and came away with a worldview. They were advocating worldview as a theory. Those were heady days for someone like me who had not been exposed to alternatives. A few years back I read David Naugle’s Worldview. I found Steve Wilkens and Mark Sandford’s Hidden... Read more

Chapter 4 of the new book, Religion vs. Science: What Religious People Really Think, by Elaine Howard Ecklund and Christopher P. Scheitle looks Christians active in the sciences. Elaine Ecklund’s earlier book Science vs. Religion: What Scientists Really Think focused on scientists at elite universities. It is clear that this population is far less religious than the general US population. It is not clear that the primary reason for this is conflict between science and religion.  We can consider several... Read more

In one of the New Testament’s definitive statements on the gospel, 1 Corinthians 15:3-5, we read that Christ died “for our sins” (hyper ton hamartion hemon). In Simon Gathercole’s Defending Substitution: An Essay on Atonement in Paul, we encounter a robust defense of the view that the expression “for” is substitutionary. His primary opponents are Morna Hooker and Harmut Gese, but he focuses most on the German scholarship. First, Gathercole contends 1 Cor 15:3-5 is a central gospel statement and that “for... Read more

By Patrick Mitchell, but my (SMcK) question is this: What do you know of Jordan Peterson’s ideas? Time to come out. For most of a year now I have been watching many of the University of Toronto clinical psychologist Jordan Peterson’s large collection of You Tube lectures and videos. I’d never heard of the guy until a year ago but such lack of awareness is becoming harder to achieve as his popularity and influence continue to grow.  His new book is bound to be... Read more

By Mike Bird My top five books to read after seminary, for continuing education and edification, are: N.T. Wright, Jesus and the Victory of God. Now over 20 years old, this book revolutionized my understanding of Jesus and the Gospels, read it if you  haven’t already. For me this was like leaving the Matrix. If you can’t handle the scholarly depth, then go for its smaller twin brother, The Challenge of Jesus. Read with two pairs of socks, first pair... Read more

Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of your people, and in our time grant us your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen. BCP Read more