The conversation also reminded me of one of the supreme ironies of the contemporary politics of homosexuality. A movement originally built upon the idea of transgression, the breaking of taboos and the crossing of boundaries has become one of the most intolerant . . . Continue reading →
Culture Stuff
ITEOTWAWKI (It’s The End Of The World As We Know It)
And I Don't Feel Fine
An eighth grader Union Grove elementary (Milwaukee, WI) brought home a politically-charged homework assignment recently. It was a crossword puzzle with obviously prejudiced characterization of a particular political position. When the assignment was publicized via social media the teacher, school, and school . . . Continue reading →
Heidelcast 15: Belgic Confession 36 on the Civil Magistrate and the Advance of the Gospel
An HB Classic
What is the role of the civil magistrate in advancing the ministry of the church? The HC had mail from Jason about Belgic Confession Art 36 on the civil magistrate. At first reading it seems to teach that the magistrate needs to . . . Continue reading →
Hide Your Pets
Yale University was founded by conservative congregational ministers in the early 18th century. For those who haven’t been looking much has changed at Yale since its founding. You can catch up a bit via William F. Buckely’s Jr’s 1951 classic, God and . . . Continue reading →
Berger: The New American Secularism Is In Defense Of The Sexual Revolution
Let me venture a sociological hypothesis here: The new American secularism is in defense of the sexual revolution. Since the 1960s there has indeed been a sexual revolution in America. It has been very successful in changing the mores and the law. . . . Continue reading →
A “Not At This Time” Culture
7 minutes and 16 seconds. That’s how long nurses at Glenwood Gardens nursing home, in Bakersfield, CA, had to render aid to Lorraine Bayless. She was 87 years old and now she is dead. Perhaps you’ve heard the audio of the 911 call. . . . Continue reading →
Understanding the Authentic Experience Economy
What the Church Can Learn From Interpreting Culture Carefully
James H. Gilmore has been on campus this week teaching the course, “Understanding Commerce, Culture, and Congregations.” Monday was commerce, Tuesday: culture, and this afternoon, congregations. Jim is co-founder of Strategic Horizons LLP, a business consulting firm. It’s not what you might . . . Continue reading →
Sometimes “Nazis” Really Are Nazis
In the modern culture wars (Kulturkampf) the accusation is frequently made that one side or the other is guilty of “Nazi tractics” or “Nazi ideology.” This charge is made with such frequency that it is bound to lose its force. One reaction . . . Continue reading →
Talking To Students Who No Longer Believe In Truth
The Harvard students put out a whole list of questions on a brochure underneath the main title. One of those questions was “Why should anyone believe anything at all?” I looked at that and said, that is exactly the way I am . . . Continue reading →
Sire On The Death Of Books On Campus
When I was invited to do a lecture on campus, they used to ask me what kind of books I wanted on the book table. But in recent years, I’ve had to practically twist arms to get people to believe that those . . . Continue reading →
All Nature, As it Is Nature, Is Good Because God Created It
Christians Are Not Gnostics
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 →
Human Beings Conceive and Give Birth to Human Beings
Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image (Gen 9:6; ESV). I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it . . . Continue reading →
So We Still Believe in Reality
Like everyone else in America it’s been hard to turn away from the story of Manti Teo. Was he the victim of or the victimizer in an elaborate hoax? Time may tell. One aspect of this episode that interests me is the . . . Continue reading →
Armstrong, Absolution, and Oprah
UPDATED 14 January 2013 (see below) 9 January 2013 Sometimes the most interesting words show up in pop culture. A faithful HB correspondent (whom I won’t name for his sake) sent me a link to a story claiming that cyclist Lance Armstrong . . . 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 →
There Is Spiritual Evil in the World
Since the shooting in Newtown, Connecticut there have been numerous explanations offered to account for what happened. Television reporters and commentators have spoken about evil. One said that “evil rolled through” Newtown. It does not take particular genius to see that mass . . . Continue reading →
Jacques Barzun Lived 104 Years
That’s remarkable. I didn’t know he was still alive. All my copies of his books are decades old. When I learned this morning that he died yesterday I was ashamed of myself that I had read so little. Barzun is one of . . . Continue reading →
Sympathy for Angus
First published 29 November 2012. Update below. By now you’ve probably heard or read about the comments by Angus T. Jones. If not, you can see them here. Through a couple of videos Jones tells the story of how he got into television . . . Continue reading →
Can This Really Be True? Yet Another Reason Machen Was Right?
Did school officials really suspend a Sanford, NC high school student and then file criminal charges against her because she took her dad’s lunch bag (which contained a small paring knife) to school? School officials say that had she turned herself in . . . Continue reading →
Was There a Better Way to Handle This Situation?
We only have the testimony of this fellow. We don’t have the testimony of the lesbian supervisor to whom he refers in this video but as I watched this I couldn’t help but think that there must have been a better way . . . Continue reading →