Secularism in the modern political meaning – the idea that religion and political authority, church and state are different, and can or should be separated – is, in a profound sense, Christian. Its origins may be traced in the teaching of Christ, . . . Continue reading →
Civil Life
If It’s News Is it Still A Slippery Slope?
Given that, under the American constitution, we do not have a state religion, the types of arguments Christians can realistically expect to make in the civil sphere as it actually exists are limited. We have American history, our Constitution, the Declaration, Supreme Court . . . Continue reading →
The Forgotten Second Point
In a controversial decision, at synod Kalamazoo (1924), the Christian Reformed Church adopted “Three Points” on “Common Grace” (Gemeene Gratie). They are: Concerning the favorable attitude of God toward mankind in general and not only toward the elect, the Synod declares that . . . Continue reading →
S-T-O-P Means Stop (or Does it?)
In 25 years of ministry one of the most profound changes I’ve seen is the growing inability and/or unwillingness of Americans to read texts according to the intent of the author. One of the major reasons for this change was the mutation . . . Continue reading →
Malthus or Althusius? An Introduction To A Pioneering Reformed Social Theorist
We seem to live in a Malthusian age, i.e., an age of increasing scarcity or perhaps fear of scarcity, where concern over how to divide an economic (and environmental) pie of limited size (called a “zero sum game”) has replaced the idea . . . Continue reading →
We're Talking About Practice; Not a Game, Not A Game, Not a Game
CNN has the story (HT: RNS). The ban still must pass the French Senate before it becomes law. This is a complicated issue. On the one hand the burqa (full body covering) and the niqab (partial face covering) are religious and political . . . Continue reading →
Religious Freedom Watch: Rancho Cucamonga, CA Demands CUP (Updated)
Update: Rancho Cucamonga has dropped the action against the Bible Study. Original Post 27 Mar 2010 First it was San Diego, then Gilbert, AZ and now Rancho Cucamonga.
Darryl Hart on the Manhattan Declaration
At the Front Porch Republic. RELATED POST Here’s Mike Horton’s critique.
The Return of Eugenics
In 7 July interview published in the NY Times, Justice Ginsburg makes a stunning admission: JUSTICE GINSBURG: Yes, the ruling about that surprised me. [Harris v. McRae — in 1980 the court upheld the Hyde Amendment, which forbids the use of Medicaid . . . Continue reading →
Civil Liberties Watch: Arab Christians Muzzled in Dearborn?
So Jihad Watch claims.
HR 1913: Problematic for Churches? (Updated)
UPDATE 3 June 2009 Robert Gagnon, NT Prof at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (a PCUSA school!) has published a new essay replying to HR 1913. The bill has been passed by the House and is now in a Senate committee as SB 909. . . . Continue reading →
Pray for Peace in Sri Lanka
I just received a post from some friends in Sri Lanka. As you may know there is a violent struggle between the government and the Tamil Tigers ongoing. The result is a great deal of suffering by civilians trapped by the fighting. The report . . . Continue reading →
When the Process Becomes the Penalty
This is an alarming story by and about a Canadian publisher who was hauled before a human rights commission for daring to reprint the Danish cartoons about Muhammed. It cost Levant $100,000 to defend himself. He also mentions the case of the . . . Continue reading →
Alan Jacobs on Conscience: A Sabbath for an Outfielder?
Alan Jacobs is always interesting and thoughtful and this piece is no exception. Stanley Fish thinks that physicians with a conscience should get out of the biz—so much for the Hippocratic Oath!— and Jacobs replies with an appeal to Sandy Koufax, Hank . . . Continue reading →
Christian Legal Society Loses in 9th Circuit
Unless they win on appeal, this ruling could bode ill for free association on college campuses.
Helm Interacts with Os Guiness on "Civility"
Thought-provoking stuff as always. Os Guiness is the guest on the up-coming White Horse Inn.
The Donatists and Blagojevich
Who says Church History isn’t hip and helpful? Stanley Fish invokes Augustine’s rejection of Donatism in consideration of whether Roland Burris should be seated in the US Senate (HT: Ryan Glomsrud).
What Richard John Neuhaus Means to Me
A number of evangelical and socially conservative blogs and publications are marking the death (not “passing” but that’s another post) yesterday of Richard John Neuhaus at age 72. It is not remarkable that social conservatives are weeping today. After a career as . . . Continue reading →
A Reminder from Mark 12 and Romans 13
I’ve seen a bit of post-election apocalyptic talk. It’s not as if we don’t have NT instruction about the magistrate. It is the Word of God.
It's An Ideological Thing
I’ve been reading Mark Bowden’s (2006) Guests of the Ayatollah. He argues that Iran has been at war with the West since 1979 and this story confirms that nothing has changed.