Science Fiction – public discourse on spirituality

Last updated on: August 15, 2012 at 10:16 pm By Bob Robinson

In a previous issue of Christianity Today, the cover story was about Science Fiction and “how the genre draws us to its own views of redemption.” The author, James A. Herrick, writes, “Ironically, the universe that science stripped of the supernatural is being resupplied with deities and redemptive purposes by science fiction writers and moviemakers. Apparently, we cannot do without myths.” Having been a fan of the genre for most of my life, I am very in tune with this. And the future... Read more

Work in Community for Community

Last updated on: August 15, 2012 at 10:10 pm By Bob Robinson

Humanity is built for community and community is built for humanity. We were created to work in harmony with others in order to serve the community, a synergistic force for the good of all. We work together to move society forward. This work is the Hebrew concept of Shalom – the universal flourishing of everyone in the community through our work. In the community there are mini-communities that do the same basic services – creating specializations for the good of the larger community. There are mentors and apprentices, whether... Read more

The Seven Deadly Sins of Evangelicals and Politics

Last updated on: August 15, 2012 at 9:40 pm By Bob Robinson

Here, courtesy of John Ortberg at the Out of Ur blog, are the “Seven Deadly Sins of Evangelicals and Politics.” Messianism. The sin of believing that a merely human person or system can usher in the eschaton. This is often tipped off by phrases like: “The most important election of our lifetime” (which one wasn’t?); or “God’s man for the hour.”Selective Scripturization. The sin of using Scripture to reinforce whatever attitude toward the president you feel like holding, while shellacking it with a... Read more

Can We Affirm the Good, True and Beautiful in the Art of Unbelievers?

Last updated on: August 15, 2012 at 3:43 pm By Bob Robinson

In the amazing film Amadeus, the Viennese court composer Antonio Salieri becomes spiritually hardened because he cannot understand how God would allow the obviously pagan Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to be so incredibly talented while Salieri flounders as just a mediocre composer. There is a moment where he looks at the sheet music from Mozart and is astonished: Was Salieri hearing the voice of God through the music of Mozart? Isn’t this impossible, since “those who are in the realm of the... Read more