This past week on Star Island in the Atlantic, IRAS hosted an engrossingly intense conference on the astro-sciences and religion. Should we humans depart earth and colonize other planets, leaving our home planet to devolve into lifelessness? Read more
Whereas I think the alternative history proposed by so-called ancient astronaut theorists is an attempt to support materialism -- even extraterrestrial materialism -- George Mason University professor Jaimie Gunderson proposes a different hypothesis. She proposes epistemological "pleasure." Fascinating. Read more
Jürgen Moltmann along with the Muslims composing Al-Mizan have heard our scientists prophesying planetary ecocide and have responded theologically, ethically, and politically. Justice and liberation belong inextricably with sustaining the fecundity of God's creation. Read more
Are Americans mirroring Russian Christian Nationalism? No, not exactly. Religious nationalism in both lands is sparked by a shared anxiety leading to resentment (French: ressentiment) over the injustice of having traditional culture replaced. This is dangerous. Evangelical, progressive and liberal Christians are right in prophetically judging religious nationalsm. But what we really need is a way to reduce the anxiety that gives rise to it. Read more
Brian Kaylor and Beau Underwood's new book, "Baptizing America," blames yesterday's mainline Protestants for today's evangelicals and Pentacostals who tout Christian nationalism. What is meant by "Christian nationalism" is so vague that it's become an arrow we can shoot at anybody we don't like. Read more
Was this a disgrace? Yes, indeed. But a dis-grace of a special sort. No tone or mood or feeling of graciousness was present here. This was a graceless moment. Read more
Since 2017 the movement pressing for government disclosure of UAP documents has picked up avalanche force. It is now crashing down on the U.S. Congress. It is also now widely recognized and accepted that scientists should have access to as much data as possible to conduct research on anomalous aerial reports. Resistance to disclosure is frequently justified by government claims that disclosure would put national security in jeopardy. Most scientific researchers accept this. Yet, some voices seem to scream for disclosure even if the wall of national security gets breached. Is this a good idea? There may be good arguments to support disclosure only to the extent that national security remains protected. Read more
Might we legitimately interpret the pine tree on the "An Appeal to Heaven" flag as an invocation of divine justice to render judgment against our nation when it sins? To appeal to heaven on Christian nationalism could very well petition God to render judgment against earth on behalf of a heavenly dose of justice, compassion, and peace. Read more
Intra-Christian fighting over Christian Nationalism draws attention away from confronting the real existential problem America faces, namely, the threat of a tyrannous autocracy posed by the MAGA-Moscow army within the Republican Party. If Donald Trump can keep Christians clawing at each other’s throats, he can watch the blood spill while walking away with votes. Read more
Muslims fear that the Christian understanding of God as Trinity denies Allah's oneness. Christians commit shirk. But Christians affirm God's unicity, even if it is a dynamic interactive unicity. Read more
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