Some people see cosmic forces, even diabolical spiritual beings, at work whenever evil appears; others find such talk primitive and systemically dangerous. Within this either/or spectrum, James K. Beilby and Paul Rhodes Eddy find four approaches to “spiritual warfare”: (1) the world systems model of Walter Wink, the classical model of David Powlison, the ground-level deliverance model of Greg Boyd, and the strategic-level deliverance model of C. Peter Wagner and Rebecca Greenwood. Hence, there is a new “four views” book: Understanding... Read more

Did the election of 2008 indicate that emerging adults would turn the corner to become more engaged in the public sector? Christian Smith, with Kari Chistoffersen, Hilary Davidson, and Patricia Snell Herzog, in their book Lost in Transition: The Dark Side of Emerging Adulthood contend that the evidence shows that they are “less involved in various forms of overt political activity and are less reliably and consistently involved in politics than previous cohorts of young citizens” (195). The election of 2008... Read more

Well, it wasn’t a slam dunk guess but the first to get the “right” answer to the “To Scot from Scot” Christmas present was Mark Stevens, way down in Australia. So, to Mark we will be sending a box of Theologian Trading Cards. Here’s a picture of the Sperry shoes I bought for myself, at the strong urge of Lukas and Annika, who observed that at times my shoes tend to get old enough to be no longer recognizable as... Read more

From Brett and Kate McKay: “McKay, there are plenty of other guys on the team that have way more natural athletic ability than you. You’re not a naturally athletic guy, but what you lacked in talent, you made up for with hustle and heart.” That conversation impacted the rest of my life. It crystallized something I had hoped was true into something I began to really believe about my character. Since then, when I’ve faced challenges where I don’t feel... Read more

The most difficult dimension of politics is gaining access to what is really going on — and I’m not being a cynic here. Only by a stroke of luck — the right person informing us — or by some hard work — we ask enough people and enough questions — do we find out what is really going on. Politics, then, is the name of so much of the games people play, whether it is Washington DC or Wheaton or... Read more

The “60’s” and “sexual revolution” are synonymous. The 60’s generation nurtured children and taught the public the ways of the sexual revolution. The implications of that nurture and that teaching — that is, a generation of sexually liberated Americans — pervade our culture and it is hardly all good. Christian Smith and his team, in Lost in Transition, put it this way: “… for a significant number of emerging adults — especially but not exclusively women — sexual freedom is... Read more

The tragedy of Newtown Connecticut may lead us to ponder not just gun control but also the intersection of gun control and mental illness. Here is a clip from David Berreby: One consequence of mass killings like this week’s horror in Newtown, according to reporting by Kristina Fiore, is this: Involuntary commitments of mentally ill men will increase for a while. To which I can only say: Terrific. I hope they triple. Yes, it’s obvious that we need to reduce... Read more