Last Friday, I had the great pleasure of interviewing Michael Lindsay, a Rice sociologist who recently published the results of the most expansive study ever of evangelicals at elite levels in education, media, business and politics. We talked about everything from how evangelicals should engage the Obama administration to the conspiracy theories around “The Fellowship.” I thought it was a great conversation, and I hope you enjoy it. Find the interview here. Read more
One Christian’s perspective on the day’s news: 0. Laura Ling and Euna Lee tell their own story. They tell it well. I’m reserving comment for later. 1. The Roman Catholic Church (as explained here) has issued a Prayerbook for Couples that looks quite nice, and that features a prayer to say together before sex. I like it. A nice counterweight to the animalization of sex in the broader culture, the focus on performance and self-satisfaction and gymnastic variety. The prayer... Read more
A few additions to today’s pseudo-morning-report: 4. What do you think of race-based voting? Is it all right only for minorities? If so, why? Is it a necessary “evil” in order to redress racial imbalances in our country? 5. All you have to do is read the comments to this article about Sarah Palin’s PAC to see the bitter venom against cultural and religious conservatives. I have mixed feelings about Palin and her stances, but the bile she brings to... Read more
I have to postpone today’s “Morning Report” because I am trying to finish an article for Patheos. In the meantime, however… 1. One point for conversation. A commenter here suggests that Senators perhaps should be elected again by the state legislatures. It’s unclear to me whether this is intended as a general statement, but it makes sense at least as a specific remedy for situations where the Senator dies or leaves his/her seat. So, why should the Massachusetts legislature not... Read more
One Christian’s perspective on the day’s news: 1. August was a terrible month for the Obama presidency–according to Rasmussen, his approval rating is down to 46%, another new low–and September looks no less challenging. Along with tough situations regarding health care, Afghanistan, Iraq, Obama had set a September 15th deadline for the Iranians to respond to his call for negotiations designed to end the threat of a nuclear Iran. While Obama is highly unlikely to achieve any significant victory on... Read more
Okay, it occurred to me that I should look to “Do Unto Others” for some clean comedy. Enjoy: Read more
Funnies. I ran across this Tom Cruise impersonator some time ago, and this is the cleanest video you can find with him: Inspiration: Thomas Merton speaking about Bernard of Clairvaux. For those of you who appreciated Thomas Merton but may not be aware, the lectures Merton gave to the incoming brothers at the Abbey of Gethsemane are available. Read more
One Christian’s perspective on the day’s news: 1. Ted Kennedy was remembered last night, and whatever your politics it was a pleasure to hear the stories and remembrances of some of the most prominent people in the nation. (A note for Bostonians: didn’t Mumbles Menino come across poorly, like a kid at the adult’s table?) Today there is a funeral mass, and Kennedy will be flown down to Washington for a prayer at the capital and burial at Arlington National... Read more
Since the Morning Report was growing long already, and I had two versions of Today’s Two-Sides, I decided to pull the longer and more important one out as its own post. So here it is. First, from the Left, a very sobering reminder of the Church Commission of 1975-76 and all the wild excesses it uncovered at the CIA and NSA in the early decades of the Cold War. Younger Americans, as well as those with short or selective memories,... Read more
One Christian’s perspective on the day’s news: 1. An excellent new website directs families to ministry opportunities locally and internationally. Families looking to spend purposive time together will find great resources, and organizations in need of volunteers will find families eager to serve. I am interested in creating a similar resource for individuals at Patheos, so try it out and let me know what you think works and what could be improved. 2. An astronaut takes a piece of missionary... Read more
Philosophical Fragments
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