A couple of years ago, I wrote a piece entitled Hanukkah: Opening Shot in the Culture Wars, which attempted to show that the whole war between Judaeo-Christian morality and the alternative isn't just a creation of the 1960's, but has been going on for a long time. Some visitors to this site like to think …
Making Marriage Private?
Stephanie Coontz' New York Times piece on "Taking Marriage Private" presents an idea that's been brewing on this site for some time. Let's start with my piece "Gay Marriage? What Marriage?" back in 2004: ...in their quest for a change in the legal status of their relationships, homosexuals have at least three options to pursue: …
Maybe Fox Wants Its Viewers to Stay Awake for the Commercials
Fred Thompson charges Fox News is biased against his campaign. But anyone who watches Fox News knows that a) it is fair with the Republicans, but b) it likes a fast pace, which is something it definitely doesn't get with the Thompson campaign. Thompson's campaign is a sore disappointment.
Being Right May Not Be Enough
It's tempting for me to dismiss Russell Kelly's last outburst in our back and forth on tithing. But I can't quite bring myself to do so. The whole encounter has been rather bizzare, given that we both agree on the most important premise: that tithing is an Old Testament concept, not a New Testament one. …
The Worst Imperialist?
Although I find much about our government's MO to be objectionable, I also find Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams' characterisation of the US as the ‘worst’ imperialist amusing and not a little disingenuous. His idea that the US "wields its power in a way that is worse than Britain during its imperial heyday" shows a …
Once More, With Feeling, on Tithing
Russell Kelly responded via email to my last post on tithing. He had problems with the "math question" (which I will discuss below.) But I will reproduce his email and my response. You have a lot of verbiage but little concrete content. I am not sure what your postilion is on tithing, but it seems …
Pickett’s Charge and Tithing
Russell Earl Kelly was quick to respond to my piece The Backlash Against Tithing. But, like our Confederate ancestors at places like Gettysburg, he may have charged without properly assessing what was in front of him. Let me start by reiterating one important point that Dr. Kelly has obviously missed: I do not say that …
The Backlash Against Tithing
As my church's Finance Committee chairman, the article about The Backlash Against Tithing (also here) certainly hits home. It's something I deal with all the time, especially at budget season. At one time in evangelical churches, people tithed first and then gave offerings on top of that. Today people are more likely to mentally allocate …
The Society for a Moratorium on the Music of Marty Haugen and David Haas Has Finally Won
One of the more hilarious sites on the Web relating to Roman Catholicism is the Society for a Moratorium on the Music of Marty Haugen and David Haas, or SMMMHDH for short. When it started, the Society made the following claim: The Society is awaiting pontifical approval from the Holy See as a pious sodality. …
A Special Thanksgiving Verse
Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. (Proverbs 3:9, 10) The special opening sentence for Thanksgiving from the 1928 Book of Common Prayer.
Positive Infinity 