Evolution is not random. Chance is a harnessed tool rather than a metaphysical conundrum. This is Denis Alexander’s well supported claim in chapter 4 of Is There Purpose in Biology. The claim that evolution undermines Purpose, metaphysical capital P purpose, is ridiculous. So too is the claim that constraints and convergence in evolutionary biology demonstrate such Purpose. Darwinian evolution is not a theory of chance. We can look at this in a little more detail, following Denis’s argument. Genetic variation happens.... Read more

We turn in our reading of the patristics to Ignatius, who evidently wrote these letters on his march to Rome to be martyred — sometime during Trajan’s reign. We don’t know much about Ignatius until these letters and in the middle of his trip — somewhere around Philippi — the story of his life is lost. The tradition is that he died in Rome. In our series on the patristic writings, we use the text Michael Holmes, The Apostolic Fathers.... Read more

Begin by reading this amazing passage in Philippians 2:6-11, considered by many to be an early Christian hymn. Phil. 2:6    Though he was in the form of God, he did not consider being equal with God something to exploit. 7 But he emptied himself by taking the form of a slave and by becoming like human beings. When he found himself in the form of a human, 8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death,... Read more

The first Christmas was a Magnificat kind of Christmas. It wasn’t a Dickens kind of Christmas, and it wasn’t a Midwestern kind of Christmas, and it wasn’t a tender Tennessee kind of Christmas. It was a Mary kind of Magnificat kind of Christmas that turns our kinds of Christmases on their head. Christmas is about God. Mary was poor. Mary was oppressed. And Mary was yearning, with the rest of the poor in Galilee and Israel, for the Day God... Read more

Reuters: VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – The traditional nativity scene in St. Peter’s Square won’t be so traditional this year. For the first time, it is made of sand – 720 tons of it. For the past two weeks, Rich Varano, a professional sand artist, has been guiding three sculptors from the Netherlands, Russia and the Czech Republic, to craft the work, which measures about 5.5 meters high by 16 meters wide (18 feet high by 52 feet wide). Varano, 60,... Read more

It’s Christmas Eve Day. It’s a day that gets swallowed up by yearning for Christmas, so much so that we often live today for tomorrow. Not a bad posture in general for the Christian life, but today’s post asks us to pause to consider the God of wisdom. A big theme in Proverbs is — yes — God — so Glenn Pemberton, in his excellent new book, A Life That Is Good. Proverbs has been secularized and its God has been... Read more

Fourth Sunday of Advent Today we relight the first three candles of the Advent Wreath — the candles of HOPE, PEACE and JOY. Now we light the fourth candle of Advent. This is the candle of LOVE. Jesus demonstrated self-giving love in his ministry as the Good Shepherd. Advent is a time for kindness, thinking of others, and sharing with others. It is a time to love as God loved us by giving us his most precious gift. As God... Read more

Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. BCP Read more

Advent coming to an end, Christmas Day on the horizon. We will soon enter into other stories about Jesus. Merry Christmas to you and yours and God bless us, every one. A wonderful website about Women Biblical Scholars. Speaking of women, here’s one of the best female basketball coach with sage advice: Muffet McGraw at Notre Dame on how to help kids learn through failure. (CNN) – “Oh the times, they are a changin’.” Those words from a famous Bob... Read more

By Mike Glenn The Worst Christmas Present Ever I can remember it like it was yesterday. I had turned 16 the previous November, and for the first time, I was able to drive and buy Christmas presents all by myself. I was working after school. I had my own money. I was almost totally self-sufficient. I can still remember the exhilaration of freedom while I drove in and out of the shopping centers and paid for the gifts with my... Read more