Creation is a work of God, by which he has brought forth all creatures of nothing (Gen 1.2) A creature is whatsoever has been made by God of nothing. Now all the creatures of God were created very good. Therefore all nature, . . . Continue reading →
Common Life
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 →
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 →
Natural Law and Light in the Reformed Confessions (Updated)
Originally posted Oct 29, 2008. Revised April 4, 2011. In the modern period, particularly in the 20th century, many Reformed folk became uneasy with the traditional Reformed language concerning “natural law.” As one who began to enter the Reformed world circa 1980 . . . Continue reading →
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 →
Student Hoaxes "Reputable" Media Outlets Via Wikipedia
He made up a quotation, attributed it to a recently deceased composer, and it made several reputable papers. (HT: WSC student Solomon Li).
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 →
Helm Interacts with Os Guiness on "Civility"
Thought-provoking stuff as always. Os Guiness is the guest on the up-coming White Horse Inn.
Natural Law and Light in the Reformed Confessions
One of the more interesting ways in which theonomy is contra confessional is its Barthian-like rejection of the classic Reformed doctrine of natural law and implicitly it’s skepticism regarding natural revelation.
Your Weekly Machen Fix
Thanks to Dan.
Sweat the Little Things
People sometimes say, “Don’t sweat the little things” or “Don’t sweat the details.” Well, tell that to the USA track relay teams. Yikes!
The Illusion of Multi-Tasking
We think we can overcome time and space. Rubbish. Despite all the technological power at our fingertips we remain finite. John Montague explains. The old Reformed had a slogan for this: “finitum non capax infiniti” (the finite is not capable of the . . . Continue reading →
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.
Hitch Gets Waterboarded and Lives to Tell About It
Christopher Hitchens had himself waterboarded.
The Rejection of Errors (2): The Antithesis and Eschatology
In the first post in this series I connected the Rejection of Errors adopted at the Synod of Dort (1619) with the Reformed doctrine of “antithesis” between belief and unbelief. To put that doctrine in some context I offered a brief overview . . . Continue reading →
The Furor Over "Expelled"
Zrim commented on the earlier “Expelled” post pointing us to the Time review. Not yet having seen the film (it was sold out last Friday night and we couldn’t get in) I’m at a disadvantage in talking about the film itself. The . . . Continue reading →