The science fiction writer Harlen Ellison once described a stunt in which he sat in the window of a bookshop all day writing a story. He was curious about what … Read more→
Archive for the ‘Cultural Commentary’ Category
An Education the Same in All Places
Several months ago, I came across this quote from Abraham Lincoln, perhaps one of the most famous autodidacts in American history. Lincoln spent virtually all of his spare time reading, … Read more→
American Assurance
During a recent recording of Christ the Center, Carl Trueman shared an interesting anecdote regarding one of the Reformation’s key doctrines. Before coming to the U.S., Dr. Trueman emphasized the doctrine … Read more→
What’s at Stake in Church Membership
Presidential hopeful Michelle Bachmann has requested to be taken off the rolls of Salem Lutheran Church in Stillwater, MN, the church she and her husband have belonged to for ten … Read more→
Can Politicized Religious Organizations Change?
John Blake comments on the Christianity Today profile of Jim Daly, the president of Focus on the Family who is attempting to tone down the politics of the organization. Politics … Read more→
The Catholic Future
Thirty-eight years ago David Wells published Revolution in Rome, a book designed to help Protestants get a handle on recent developments in Roman Catholic doctrine. Â The Second Vatican Council concluded … Read more→
The Shallows of 21st Century Intellectualism
Nicholas Carr has written a new book The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to our Brains. Â The book is an expansion of his Atlantic Monthly article “Is Google Making … Read more→
Our Christian Hope
The Christian world is abuzz with the recent news regarding Jennifer Knapp. Â Christianity Today recently posted an interview in which the Grammy-nominated Christian musician disclosed her homosexuality. Â As I read … Read more→
Net Neutrality
This week, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled against the FCC who had imposed so-called “net neutrality” restrictions on Comcast.  The Philadelphia-based cable giant was … Read more→
Foucault and Authorship
Michel Foucault was a towering figure in 20th c. philosophy and sociology. As part of my external coursework, I am currently taking a course on Foucault at Temple University. Foucault … Read more→