Jonathan Merritt’s 3d Way

Last updated on: March 28, 2012 at 6:44 am By Scot McKnight

From USA Today by Tom Krattenmaker: But not far below the surface, change is afoot in the ranks of a once-reliable GOP voting bloc and around that term, “evangelical.” As has been widely reported, more evangelicals are breaking formation and tackling social problems such as poverty and human trafficking that weren’t on the evangelical political agenda a decade or two ago. Even more seismic, though, is a challenge being mounted against the notion that electoral politics is the way to... Read more

Tax Code, Tax Reform

Last updated on: March 25, 2012 at 10:18 am By Scot McKnight

By Fareed Zakaria, at CNN.com: Does anyone like our tax code? Who opposes tax reform? What say you? We’re going to hear a lot of polarized rhetoric over the next few months. The Republicans and Democrats will seem to disagree about everything. But there is one huge and important area where there is a possibility – a possibility – of bipartisan action and that’s tax reform. Most Americans – Republicans and Democrats – dislike the tax code. They’re right to... Read more

Protestant Critique of Catholic

Last updated on: March 27, 2012 at 7:24 pm By Scot McKnight

It’s been going on for almost 400 years now. Luther unleashed an understanding of the gospel and of justification in a way that criticized the Catholic understanding. It could be said, however, that Luther pushed Augustine against Aquinas, but that would not be entirely accurate. Regardless, Alan J. Spence, in his new book (Justification: A Guide for the Perplexed), pits Augustine over against Aquinas in some notable and even trenchant ways. Here’s a sketch of his sketch: First, Augustine taught... Read more

Business People 7 (Michael Kruse)

Last updated on: March 27, 2012 at 7:21 pm By Scot McKnight

I’m so grateful for this excellent series by Michael Kruse. Hope you all appreciate his fair-minded summaries. I believe one of the biggest issues in what Christians say and hope about politics and economics rests upon flimsy understandings of how economies work. Michael Kruse has been a teacher for many of us. How do we create coherence between faith and work? John Knapp has explained how important rethinking vocation is, and how important it is that we carefully consider a... Read more

Living Alone, Living Depressed

Last updated on: March 24, 2012 at 12:42 pm By Scot McKnight

From CNN: (Health.com) — It’s long been known that elderly people are more prone to depression and other mental-health problems if they live on their own. New research suggests the same pattern may also be found in younger, working-age adults. In a study of nearly 3,500 men and women ages 30 to 65, researchers in Finland found that people who lived alone were more likely that their peers to receive a prescription for antidepressant drugs. One quarter of people living... Read more

Mimi Chakarova, on sex trafficking

Last updated on: March 23, 2012 at 7:20 pm By Scot McKnight

From CNN: And after all, this human trafficking phenomenon isn’t a new criminal trend. It’s existed since the beginning of documented time. But what is astonishing to me is how recently we agreed to agree that sex slavery should be punished by law. Think about it. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime defined the Palermo Protocol in 2000 and implemented it in 2003. That’s only nine years ago! And The Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act was passed by... Read more

Is Science Ever-Changing and Thus Untrustworthy? (RJS)

Last updated on: March 27, 2012 at 5:29 am By RJS

Karl Giberson’s new book, The Wonder of the Universe: Hints of God in Our Fine-Tuned World, is divided into two parts. Part One describes the wonder of our universe, the process of discovery that led to our modern understanding of the universe, and the fine-tuning of the cosmological constants that make life on our planet possible. Giberson is an excellent writer and he tells this story well. Part Two looks at design arguments in more detail. But between these two... Read more

You and Your Church’s “Statement of Faith”

Last updated on: March 23, 2012 at 2:11 pm By Scot McKnight

This from a friend … If you attend a typical independent evangelical church, even one that is more pragmatic than doctrinaire, the church probably has a written “Statement of Faith,” which members are supposed to uphold. As someone who participates in a community like Jesus Creed, you’ve probably thought through some of the issues reflected in your church’s Statement with some care — and there likely are points at which, at the very least, you’d want to interpret your church’s... Read more

The Black Male Code

Last updated on: March 26, 2012 at 11:09 am By Scot McKnight

By Jesse Washington, explained to his twelve-year old: Always pay close attention to your surroundings, son, especially if you are in an affluent neighborhood where black folks are few. Understand that even though you are not a criminal, some people might assume you are, especially if you are wearing certain clothes. Never argue with police, but protect your dignity and take pride in humility. When confronted by someone with a badge or a gun, do not flee, fight, or put... Read more

Writing Science

Last updated on: March 23, 2012 at 6:23 am By Scot McKnight

By Adam Ruben: I’m still fairly new at this science thing. I’m less than 4 years beyond the dark days of grad school and the adviser who wouldn’t tolerate “lone.” So forgive my naïveté when I ask: Why the hell not? Why can’t we write like other people write? Why can’t we tell our science in interesting, dynamic stories? Why must we write dryly? (Or, to rephrase that last sentence in the passive voice, as seems to be the scientific fashion, why... Read more

What does "Eden" (as in Garden of Eden) mean?