An Afternoon With John Polkinghorne (RJS)

Last updated on: February 10, 2011 at 7:01 am By RJS

In this post today I would like to point to a video featuring Rev. Dr. John Polkinghorne. Dr. Polkinghorne was a very successful scientist, an expert and creative theoretical physicist involved in the discovery of quarks. He was Professor of Mathematical Physics at Cambridge University before he resigned to study for the priesthood. He has since been a parish priest, Dean of the Chapel at Trinity Hall Cambridge and President of Queen’s College, Cambridge. After retirement he continues to write,... Read more

On Writing Well

Last updated on: February 8, 2011 at 8:07 pm By Scot McKnight

It’s against the grain to say so, but for the life of me I can’t see why there’s so much gloating over Stanley Fish, How to Write a Sentence: And How to Read One. Fish is well known and a leading light among the literati, and such connections may be the source of the gloating. I’ve enjoyed plenty of his essays and criticism. Someone must have asked him to turn his hand to writing a book about writing, he did... Read more

One of the most pleasant scenes in the world…

Last updated on: February 5, 2011 at 10:40 am By Scot McKnight

Evening sun on an Italian piazza’s cafe. Read more

CyberConfession

Last updated on: February 8, 2011 at 8:32 pm By Scot McKnight

From CNN.com: (CNN) — Bless me father for I have sinned. It has been 300 tweets since my last confession. Whether you’ve been “borrowing” free Wi-Fi or coveting your neighbor’s avatar — or, heaven forbid, something worse — a new mobile app is designed to help you atone for it. Lame tech jokes aside, the makers of “Confession: A Roman Catholic App” say their software is seriously designed to help believers with the sacrament, and to help those who have... Read more

Are Denominations Broken?

Last updated on: February 8, 2011 at 5:43 pm By Scot McKnight

The question, Are denominations broken?, is a big one today and this recent letter by a group of Presbyterian pastors reveals the depth of the problem. The question is chased by a second one: Are denominations capable of change? What is the future of the major denominations in the USA? (the letter is printed exactly as received Wednesday afternoon) A Letter to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) February 2, 2011 Brothers and Sisters in Christ, To say the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)... Read more

German Theologians Appeal to Catholic Church

Last updated on: February 7, 2011 at 1:16 pm By Scot McKnight

From AP News service. The appeal ties all sexuality issues into one big bundle: celibacy, female ordination and gay couples. Has anyone been following this story? What are the prospects? JUERGEN BAETZ Published: Feb 4, 2011BERLIN (AP) – University theologians in Germany have called on the Catholic Church to abandon the vow of celibacy for priests, open up the clergy for women and accept gays couples. The 143 professors said the church must implement bold reforms because of “a crisis... Read more

“Surf and Turf”

Last updated on: February 7, 2011 at 1:50 pm By Scot McKnight

Surf and Turf redefined… (From AP) SEATTLE (AP) – Authorities in Seattle say bovine met the shoreline when beachfront residents found the body of a 400-pound cow washed up by the surf. Seattle Animal Shelter enforcement supervisor Ann Graves says animal control officers received a report Thursday that the carcass of an adult cow had beached in West Seattle. The tide later moved it in front of a home. A Seattle Police Department Harbor Patrol vessel towed the cow to... Read more

The Day Mark Twain was edited

Last updated on: February 8, 2011 at 4:44 pm By Scot McKnight

Mark Twain tells stories so well one never knows how much of it got confused in fiction. It was he who once said, and I don’t remember where, that he never let facts get in the way of his fiction. But let’s assume this story happened. One time Twain was asked to write the Introduction to a translation of the evidence presented in the Joan of Arc Trials and Rehabilitation. He was pleased to write for this editor. The reason... Read more

belief … What is the point? (RJS)

Last updated on: February 8, 2011 at 7:51 am By RJS

I am going to go off on something of a tangent today, away from the usual issues of science and faith – but I would like to put up an idea and start some discussion, hear what people think. Over the years I have heard many sermons – two a week in my childhood and youth, more in college if you count chapel services. One a week in much of my adulthood… well over 2000. Favorite stories, favorite passages have... Read more

Health Care in Sweden, part 2

Last updated on: February 7, 2011 at 6:32 pm By Scot McKnight

Do you think we should all “foot” our own bills when it comes to medicine? Or do you think some kind of actuarial tables or taxes or general fund can be used in order to provide “security” when it comes to medicinal costs? What role does your Christian faith play in this? What are the main themes that you “tap into” when this discussion occurs? Compassion or justice or personal responsibility? Now I’m going to ask you to think about... Read more

Who was Saul's son?