Here's to you my little loves … "Let Down," Radiohead "Let Him Fly," Patty Griffin "Let It Be," Nick Cave "Let It Out," The Hombres "Let Me," Christine Havrilla "Let the Day Begin," The Call "Let the Man Go Through," Soul Coughing "Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot," Sting "Let's Be Friends (Skin to Skin)," Bruce Springsteen "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off," Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald "Let's Get Lost," Chet Baker "Let's Go Crazy," Prince "Let's Go for... Read more
Two quick case studies in public relations for the morally stunted and intellectually challenged. 1. If you feel your religious tradition has been slandered, falsely accused of promoting violence and the "command to spread by the sword the faith," then it's probably best not to respond to such remarks violently. Bombing churches tends not to be an effective way of convincing others that your religion has not become corrupted by the adoption of violent coercion as a means of spreading/defending... Read more
If you're in the Philadelphia area during the next few weeks and you enjoy thought-provoking, charming romantic comedies about love and death, fantasy and responsibility, please come to the William Way Center (1315 Spruce St. — a block and a half from the Kimmel) and check out "Cakewalk." An ensemble cast of eight talented actors and one blogger bring Tom Minter's delightful story to life. (I realize I'm biased here, but the cast really is terrific and this play and... Read more
(One last thing on Niebuhr, then we'll move on, I promise.) Reinhold Niebuhr is regarded as a "Neo-Orthodox" theologian. The "neo" there doesn't mean that he presented a new orthodoxy, but refers rather to the way that his profound consideration of sin and human nature was a reassertion of the classic biblical and Augustinian views. On a lot of other matters, however, Niebuhr was anything but orthodox.* He did not believe in the resurrection — of Christ or of anyone... Read more
"Good pitching will beat good hitting any time, and vice versa." — Bob Veale Some interesting discussion recently in comments about human nature, specifically around the perennial question: Are people basically good? That's a perennial question, but perhaps not a very helpful one. The answer we Christians give is "Yes." And also "No." The Yes part has to do, in part, with the "imago Dei" — the image of God. Each and every person, we believe, is created in the... Read more
Let's make Friday part of the weekend … "Kill Eye," Crowded House "Kill the Poor," The Dead Kennedys "Killer Parties," The Hold Steady "Killermont Street," Aztec Camera "The Killing Moon," Echo and the Bunnymen "Kinda I Want To," Nine Inch Nails "Kinder Murder," Elvis Costello "King of Discount Ho's," Don McCloskey "The King & Queen of America," Eurythmics "King of Love," Kangaroo "King of Spain," Moxy Fruvous "King of the Mountain," Midnight Oil Follow the link above to Donnie's site... Read more
We have five fingers on each hand and five toes on each foot, so yesterday's fifth anniversary of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, was regarded as a bigger deal than last year's fourth or next year's sixth. The occasion was marked by ceremonies in towns and cities across America, and by a media blitz from newspapers, TV networks and, of course, from al-Qaida itself, which despicably marked the occasion with yet another video release. This last was predictable... Read more
if it's heads I'll go to Tennessee, and tails I'll buy a drink "Jesus Is for Losers," Steve Taylor "Jesus Loves You, Brian Wilson," Lost Dogs "Jesus Met the Woman at the Well," Nick Cave "Jesus the Mexican Boy," Iron & Wine "Jesus Walks," Kanye West "Jesus Was a Crossmaker," The Hollies "Jim Morrison's Grave," Steve Taylor "Jimmy Hickey's Waltz," The Waterboys "Jimmy Olsen's Blues," Spin Doctors "Jitterbug Boy," Tom Waits "Joe Astrospy," Charlie McGloughlin "Joey," Concrete Blonde "John Wayne,"... Read more
Early 20th-century idealism was based on an overly optimistic assessment of human nature. As such it received support from some of the "modern" and "liberal" theologians and church leaders of the time. This view of human nature wasn't compatible with the Christian view, and was resoundingly demolished after the fact by the Neo-orthodox theologian Reinhold Niebuhr. But this idealism was also rooted in the eschatology of early 20th-century America. You can't get much more millennialist than the idea of a... Read more
I’ve been trying to reconcile two things that I don’t think can be reconciled, which means, really, I guess I’ve been trying to figure out what it means that these two things can’t be reconciled. You’ve probably heard of PNAC — the Project for the New American Century. The think tank desribes itself as “A neoconservative organization supporting greater American militarization, challenging hostile governments, advancing democratic and economic freedom, and promoting American hegemony in the 21st century.” According to its... Read more
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