This stinks to high heaven. Wheaton loves to think of itself as the "Harvard of evangelicalism." It's acting like the Bob Jones of evangelicalism. And Wheaton's current president, Philip Ryken, seems determined to turn it into the Corinthian College of evangelicalism. Read more
Suspending a tenured professor based on an implausible twisting of her words is not polite. Abusing administrative power is not polite. Attempting to intimidate your entire faculty is not polite. And scapegoating a professor as retaliation against student leaders for their commendable behavior is not polite. Read more
Bob Smietana's exposé of a spiritually, financially, physically and sexually abusive "prosperity gospel" cult in Nashville is a fascinating, devastating and disturbing read. But it's the link between that cult and one of the most popular "worship song" writers in white evangelicalism that gives this story broader importance. Read more
This is a few hours early, but let me wish a happy and blessed winter solstice to everyone here in the northern half of the world. Starting tomorrow, the days will get a little lighter. Here’s Dar Williams with one of my favorite Solstice-y things. I loved this bit in the Doctor Who Christmas special a few years back: On every world, wherever people are, in the deepest part of the winter, at the exact mid-point, everybody stops and turns... Read more
Lamont Cranston, these pedants insist, was an uncharitable and uncivil fellow. He failed in his moral duty to give everyone the eternal and inexhaustible benefit of the doubt at all times. He failed the test of the presumption of charity, which they say means that everyone, everywhere should always be assumed to be acting and arguing in good faith. These are the Rules of civility and charity, and these Rules must always be followed. Read more
Insightful commentary from theologians Miroslav Volf and J.R. Daniel Kirk, Paul Moses of "Commonweal," Wheaton alumnus Marty Troyer, and from the other Wheaton College -- the one in Massachusetts that didn't hire a bunch of anti-Muslim bigots as administrators. Read more
How should Christian leaders respond to escalating violence and bigotry toward Muslims? The leaders of Wheaton College suggest the best course of action would be a monomaniacal focus on preposterous semantic hair-splitting premised on a willfully hostile and perverse reading of non-controversial remarks about the God of Abraham. I disagree. Read more
Mark down the page number. Page 147. Rayford Steele acquires his first faint glimmer of self-knowledge. After more than a hundred pages of treating others' suffering as an obstacle and inconvenience, he begins to suspect that perhaps he is capable of selfishness. Sure, his main concern seems to be that Hattie doesn't hate him, so he's still thinking mainly of himself. But still, it's something. Read more
The resignation of Wheaton College president Philip Ryken wouldn't completely unsoil the sheets there, but it might be a good start. Plus: Municipal broadband beats however you're reading this; Ted Cruz has some hideous friends; the Webby Awards apparently still exist; and yes, of course I'll link to a piece on "Buffy" and the folklore of Hell. Read more
What should you do when some offense-addicted hegemon sneers a weaponized "Merry Christmas" at you, their fingers twitching over the holster of their quick-draw culture-war six-shooter as they evaluate your response to this tribal shibboleth? You should say, "Thanks! You too!" And give 'em a big smile. Read more
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