The Everyday Transcendence series highlights products of culture that point to higher things, or to the sacred in unexpected places. I wanted to point to this exceptionally creative promotion for the Veritas Forum at Oxford, where the subject is on friendships and social networks. These are the kinds of cultural products that are savvy, winsome, and inviting. A great example of engaging with culture: Read more
The dust is settling from the battle of Albany, and the smell of red herrings is in the air. Gay-marriage is now legally recognized in the state of New York. Out of every 9 Americans, 1 now lives in a state that legally affirms gay marriage, and with California likely to follow soon, the proportion will soon swell to 1 out of every 6. While the air is filled with commentary on gay marriage, I wanted to address three red... Read more
I’m not a prude. I swear. I was raised in a devout but non-legalistic home. There was a stretch in grade school and junior high when I swore like the sailor who made other sailors blush. Even today, there are one or two of the lesser expletives that escape my lips on rare occasions. I enjoy sharing a glass of wine, a beer, or a Long Island Iced Tea with friends, or (more rarely) a cigarette or two. I laugh... Read more
Note: This is part of a series on Christianity and Homosexuality. See the introduction and first and second parts. I’ve stated as clearly as I can (links above) that the church should confess for its poor treatment of gays, that the church should express the extravagant and self-sacrificial love of Christ for gays as for all people, and that being or becoming homosexual cannot be reduced to a simple matter of choice. The proper question is whether homosexuality is voluntary. Whereas a... Read more
This was too late to make the Sunday Funnies for last week, but some things just have to be shared: (HT Bradley Wright) Read more
If you’re not familiar with Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, then you’ve been missing out on one of the most fearfully and wonderfully named of contemporary religious writers and cultural commentators. I’m not quite sure how this came to my attention — and I’m not sure how I find myself defending Al Mohler so often lately. But here we are. Listen to the Boteachings of Rabbi Shmuley: Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, tweeted a message to Congressman Anthony... Read more
From my recent Religion Notebook in World Magazine: Eight months ago, New Birth Missionary Baptist Church of Lithonia, Ga., was one of the largest and most dynamic megachurches in the nation. The church and its multiple ministries provided the local poor with food, shelter, transportation, and financial assistance. It delivered munificence and missionaries around the world. In 2010 alone, the church claims that its worldwide mission support reached 172 countries. And the church was most renowned for its unique and... Read more
0. Teacher does Meth with schoolchildren. 1. Matthew Paul Turner’s “A Letter to Christianity (From Creativity)” is a great example of writing that is funny and yet purposeful and profound. 2. Amy Poehler gave a funny speech at Harvard’s Class Day — the day before commencement when the Senior class comes together and listens to someone they chose to invite. Past Class Day speakers range from Tom Brokaw, Bill Clinton and Mother Teresa to Will Ferrell, “Ali G,” George Plimpton... Read more
The Obedient Wives Club was founded about a month ago in Malaysia, where it attracted a great deal of attention and 800 members, and now it’s establishing an Indonesian branch. What is the Obedient Wives Club? Reuters describes it as a collection of Muslim women who are “urging wives to avoid marital problems by fulfilling their husbands’ sexual desires like prostitutes.” Well, this takes the “biblical womanhood” conversation to an entirely new level! I can’t help but quote this portion... Read more
0. Patheos columnist Robert Crosby on “Five Reasons We Don’t Tell Each Other the Truth.” 1. Four Tips on How to Disagree in an Agreeable Way. 2. Bryan Allain with “21 Things I Couldn’t Care Less About.” 3. “Summer Reading Recommendations” from the High Calling. Some great suggestions here. 4. A Patheos writer suggests “Ten Questions for the 2012 Campaign.” I’m not fully aligned with Mr Muldoon, but he has some good questions to consider. Read more
Philosophical Fragments
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