An interesting observation from Camille Paglia on her "favourite period" for feminism: My favorite period in feminism has always been the 1920s and 1930s, when American women energized by winning the vote gained worldwide prominence for their professional achievements. My early role models, Amelia Earhart and Katharine Hepburn, were fierce individualists and competitors who liked …
Beating the Baptists to the Mission Field
For all the money they've sent to Richmond, not much to show for it: Whatever the overall totals, what’s striking is the continuing size of the U.S. proportion. The largest 40 or so Baptist groups when combined account for around 55 million people, 40 million of whom adhere to bodies in the United States. That …
Continue reading "Beating the Baptists to the Mission Field"
Without Clouds: A Good Friday Reflection
Recently I was speaking with a Nigerian pastor about current attitudes towards adversity in life. I have seen many concerned about the effect of prosperity teaching on African Christians, and this pastor certainly practices an approach to ministry that is full of faith. But he also accepts the reality that there will be adversity in …
The Five Lessons of Creation
From Philo Judaeus, On the Creation of the World, LXI: And in his before mentioned account of the creation of the world, Moses teaches us also many other things, and especially five most beautiful lessons which are superior to all others. In the first place, for the sake of convicting the atheists, he teaches us …
Painting Ourselves into a Corner at "The Shack"
If our political chaos isn't enough to upset everyone, now we have the film version of William Taylor's The Shack: Where Tragedy Confronts Eternity. It's created a great deal of controversy over its implied universalism, it's decidedly LDS portrayal of God as three embodied beings, etc. Personally the heart of the matter centres around the …
Continue reading "Painting Ourselves into a Corner at "The Shack""
Some Lessons for Pentecostals from the "Recent Anglican War"
Those of you who are regular followers know that I have followed/participated in what I call the "Anglican Revolt," a term which comes from a North American perspective. Brewing for years, in 2003 it was detonated in full force by the ordination of V. Gene Robinson, an openly gay man who subsequently went into and …
Continue reading "Some Lessons for Pentecostals from the "Recent Anglican War""
The Perils of Repealing the Johnson Amendment
One of Donald Trump's promises to the Evangelical community--and one which he's gotten much enthusiasm about in return--is his promise to repeal the so-called "Johnson Amendment," the provision in the tax code which prohibits 503(c)3 tax-exempt organisations--and that includes churches--from explicitly endorsing candidates for public office. I say "explicitly" because churches on both sides of …
Continue reading "The Perils of Repealing the Johnson Amendment"
If I Started the way @BartCampolo Did, I Wouldn't Believe in God Either
One of the more baleful pieces that has recently appeared in the "Old Grey Lady" (and there are many) is their article on Bart Campolo and his decamping from Christianity to atheism. I am sure that some secular progressives have toasted each other (probably multiple times, with the predictable result for them) on this catch. …
Continue reading "If I Started the way @BartCampolo Did, I Wouldn't Believe in God Either"
@AndyStanley and his own "War on Christmas"
Or, more precisely, the Virgin Birth: Andy Stanley, founder of North Point Ministries, a network of six congregations across the Atlanta metropolitan area attended by 30,000 worshipers a week, said in a message Dec. 3 that one of the challenging things about Christmas is the “unbelievable” nature of stories in the Bible describing Jesus’ miraculous …
Continue reading "@AndyStanley and his own "War on Christmas""
Russell Moore Loses His "No Win" Position
He's certainly in trouble: Now Moore himself, as the ERLC leader, is under attack from some of the religious right figures he criticized during the campaign... "There are a number of churches that I have heard of in the SBC, fairly large churches, that are going to withhold their funds from the ERLC," Harrell says, …
Continue reading "Russell Moore Loses His "No Win" Position"
Positive Infinity 