Many Christians celebrated the Epiphany or manifestation of the Lord last week and remember Jesus’ Baptism today, though originally, they were celebrated together. Each event and celebration in their own way highlight the profound realization that God is with us—Immanuel (Matthew 1:23). To build on previous entries on Epiphany, Epiphany marks the occasion of God’s Son revealing himself as human, namely Jesus. Meaning “manifestation” or “divine manifestation,” it derives its name from “the Greek ‘epiphania,’ which denotes the visit of a... Read more

It is my privilege to interview Dr. Robert James Sutherland, a neuroscientist at the University of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, In this interview, we discuss the increasing challenges scientists face in pursuing their calling in view of various obstacles, including the charge that science is “fake news”. Here is Dr. Sutherland’s bio, which is adapted from his faculty page at Lethbridge. Dr. Sutherland received his PhD in Psychology from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He moved to the Department of Psychology... Read more

The following is an interview with S. Joshua Swamidass, M.D., Ph.D. of Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Dr. Swamidass is the founding scientist of the new organization “Peaceful Science.” Its motto is, “A civic practice of science, making space for differences.” You may know Dr. Swamidass from the two articles for Cultural Encounters he authored, one on Narnians, Martians and Neanderthals and another on Jesus and evolution. I first met Dr. Swamidass when he spoke at the New Wine,... Read more

A day after ordering the deadly strike of a celebrated Iranian general, an event which Iran deems an act of war, President Trump was reported as saying at an “Evangelicals for Trump” gathering: “‘I really do believe we have God on our side. I believe that, I believe that,’ the president said from the stage.” While the President believes God is on America’s side, and his party’s and Evangelical supporters’ side, can one ever rightly claim that God is on their... Read more

Epiphany highlights the manifestation of Jesus to the Gentiles, that is, to the Magi or wise men from the East. Further to what was stated in “At Epiphany and Beyond: What and Why You Worship ‘Manifests’ a Great Deal About You,” the wise men were truly wise: they valued Jesus based on his inherent worth. Like them, we need to value what really counts at Epiphany and beyond. The gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh are often taken to signify... Read more

Netflix’s newly released Messiah is all about perspective. It invites us to come to terms with our limitations as humans in our quest to achieve a God’s eye view. The series fittingly chronicles the emergence of a complex Middle Eastern figure, whom many hail as the second coming of the Messiah. Others are not so convinced. So, what is he? A religious savior or a cultic charlatan, a political force for good or a terrorist revolutionary? The possibilities are as varied as... Read more

We often formulate New Year’s resolutions with the intent of kicking a bad habit or getting a head start on improving our lot in life by way of exercise, economic well-being, moral enterprise, and more. If we are realistic and determined enough, we may succeed in attaining our goals. When we are victorious, it is quite easy to boast in our hard work and tenacity. How often do we resolve to boast in the Lord for his mercies in helping... Read more

God reigns with a humane face and heart, unlike those empires and nations that rule by impersonal force. We find this theme developed in the most striking terms in Daniel chapter 7. Thomas Hieke puts it well: Daniel 7 communicates the following message: after times of terror under the regimes of inhuman powers, a divine intervention will destroy all the violent enemies and hand over dominion and kingship to the holy ones of the Most High. Their kingdom will be... Read more

Religious liberty does not suggest that all views are true. Religious liberty does not reject out of hand all views that are considered false or inaccurate by the majority. But what happens to religious liberty if religious truth claims are by default deemed relative, or any religious view I don’t find appealing is rejected out of hand as fake news? Moreover, what happens to religious liberty if only ideas that are deemed useful or expedient are given air time? Such... Read more

Edward Gibbon famously remarked: “The various modes of worship which prevailed in the Roman world were all considered by the people as equally true; by the philosopher as equally false; and by the magistrate as equally useful. And thus toleration produced not only mutual indulgence, but even religious concord.”[1] I do not think the Roman Empire owned the copyright on this view of religion. It has triumphed in many eras. However, dissenting views have arisen throughout history. Take, for example, the... Read more