If an Orthodox bishop is kidnapped on a humanitarian mission, and the American press ignores it, did it happen? If a second Orthodox bishop is kidnapped while on a mission of mercy, and the American government is slow to respond, did it happen? Sadly, the answer to both questions is “yes, two Christian bishops were kidnapped in Syria even if American Christian have remained oblivious.” One of the bishops is Metropolitan Paul (Yazigi), brother of my Antiochian Patriarch, John X.... Read more
New Covenant Christian School gave me more in high school than I gave her. The coaches let me play a high school sport with limited talent. I was able to play an instrument and do a play with even less talent. Miss Balentine taught me English grammer and writing . . .and is not to blame for the mistakes I still make. (Miss Balentine: I still cannot edit my own work.) Mr. Larkin fired a passion for Church history. Mrs.... Read more
Talking about some issues is hard, because I do not share some of the assumptions in the mainstream conversation. That can make for misunderstandings and so every so often it is good to state what I think are the basic ethical truths that form my bigger ideas. Romance is good, but not a very important, if by romance one means the combination of sexual desire and intimacy sold with tooth paste, movies, and soap. Making romance very important never has... Read more
From my friend Josh Good at the Values and Capitalism project, here’s a great video showing how sustainable economic solutions can be built on free market principles: If you teach – at a university, at a school or at home – on values and economics, you might go to Values and Capitalism and learn more about their monographs. I’ve read a few and they’re great summaries of basic conservative principles of government and economics and how they serve the common good. Read more
My wife and I lived for eight years in the Boston area, including four years in the heart of Cambridge and two years in Watertown. The very same route from Cambridge to Watertown where the Marathon bombers led police on a deadly chase – we drove it multiple times every day. The police and press were gathered today at a mall we once frequented. Virtually every place they mentioned, every picture taken, referred to places we knew well. It’s beyond... Read more
Robert Gagnon, author of The Bible and Homosexual Practice, responds in this guest post to Justin Lee, executive director of the Gay Christian Network and author of Torn: Rescuing the Gospel from the Gays-vs.-Christians Debate. I’m grateful to Gagnon and to Lee for the conversation, and to be clear, I would also welcome Lee to respond here as well. * Dear Justin, I have seen your blog post, “Missing the forest for the A/Bs,” which constitutes your response to my Patheos... Read more
America was reminded yesterday of her vulnerability. Friendly neighbors and vast oceans once buffered the American homeland from the violence and savagery of other parts of the world. Yet now the world has grown too small for that. Technology, liberty, and the global clash of ideologies have made us vulnerable. It’s unthinkable that an army should invade the United States. But there’s little we can do against loose networks of angry young men inspired by pseudo-religious fantasies to claim as... Read more
Her alma mater may not be thrilled with her politics, but one American university would be happy to claim her. Margaret Thatcher came to Houston Baptist University and I cherish a picture of one of the university founders walking with her into the event held in her honor. I know from speaking to him the honor he felt: she was America’s friend and ally. Even my generation glosses over how marvelous the smashing of the Soviet Union was in the... Read more
I’m grateful to Douglas Groothuis and Sarah Geis for this guest series on the practices of a flourishing faith in college. * Faithful Christianity in College (Part 1 of 3) By Douglas Groothuis and Sarah Geis The greatest challenge which lies ahead in college for a Christian is not getting good grades or being taught well by professors, although these are important. The greatest challenge is to love God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind and to love... Read more
The Warren family lost a son. I wish there was something I could do to comfort them, but cannot form any helpful words. Should I reach out? I wonder if it is appropriate for me to write publicly about their private pain, until I see that this pain has become public. They have no need for any wisdom from me and I would not insult grief by pretending a parent can be talked out of the pain of losing a... Read more
Philosophical Fragments
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