Am I a Darwinian?
I spent Saturday, February 9, traveling to/from or in Tallahassee. I was there to attend the annual meeting of Florida Citizens for Science, and also to take in some Darwin Day speakers at the FSU Medical School. I was able to work in Dr. Harry Kroto and Dr. Eugenie Scott (National Center for Science Education),…
Not Through the Law: Romans 4:13
One of the major elements of the new perspectives on Paul is the changing view of justification. In a broad sense, one could say that justification involves not a moment of personal salvation, but rather a moment of incorporation into a broad community, known as the people of God, kingdom of God, or the body…
Colgate Cares Giving Child Fun Center
Colgate Cares will give one fun center to a hospital and they are inviting votes as to where it will go. Many of my readers know that in 2004 we lost our 17 year old son James to cancer after a five year battle. Each year our son John Webb, supported by the rest of…
Genealogy Problems
A few weeks ago someone asked me to post my college paper on the genealogies of Genesis 5 & 11. This was the paper that started me on the road away from young earth creationism. It is actually not very earthshattering, but it did start my thinking.
Frank Schaeffer for Obama
Read more on Levellers – Frank Schaeffer: “Why I Am a Pro-Life Obama Supporter”.
Some CJB Terminology in Romans
I did my lectionary reading today from the Complete Jewish Bible. Each day I read two sets of lectionary texts, one from the current week, and one from the week following. I try to choose a different version each day, and also read them at least once from the original languages. This week’s epistles passage…
CJB Detail Entry Updated
I have updated the entry for the Complete Jewish Bible (CJB) in my Bible Version Selection Tool. This adds notes on the version, which were vanishingly brief before, and now it’s merely brief!
Review of Evidence for the Bible
I sent a free review copy of Elgin Hushbeck’s book Evidence for the Bible to Christopher Smith of Mild-Mannered Musings, and he has begun his review. It is fairly negative but is also very substantive, and it’s my policy to post a link to any substantive review, negative or positive. In fact, I will be…
Not Doing Evolution Sunday
Well, actually I am. Just not officially. First let me note that I was reminded that I needed to say something about this by a comment from Laura, who also provided this link to further information about the weekend. First, let me tell you what I am doing for evolution Sunday or Darwin Day. I’m…
Dobson is Lying
. . . or so says Ed Brayton on Dispatches from the Culture Wars. I’m not sure if he’s right, though I’m inclined to agree that many conservative leaders will back McCain, especially if Hillary Clinton is the democratic nominee. Ed’s post also brings up my largest concern with McCain–Supreme Court nominations. The conservatives are…
Turn off Rush Limbaugh and read Russell Kirk
So says Joe Carter. I once heard Russell Kirk speak, and I would say it’s good advice. (I date myself a bit there!) More importantly, not being conservative myself, let me suggest that liberals and moderates quit seeing all conservatives through the lens of the likes of Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh. This would require…
Romney Suspending Campaign
The Washington Post is reporting that Mitt Romney will suspend his campaign, and announce it this afternoon in his speech to the Conservative Political Action Committee. I do love the detail of these “leaks.” According to the story, Romney will say: “This is not an easy decision for me. I hate to lose. My family,…
The Myth of the Absent Husband
The story of the temptation and fall (Genesis 3:1-7) is one of the stories that sustains some complentarians and advocates of male leadership and authority. I use “myth” here in the partial technical sense of a story that explains and reinforces a cultural norm. In particular, people point out that Eve was taken in by…
Reasons -> Intentions -> Actions
When I was near the end of my first four year enlistment in the United States Air Force, I had already made a firm decision to separate at four years, which I proclaimed quite vigorously. But during the last few weeks I read some things about decision making–I can’t recall where–and I decided to rationally…
Genesis 2:15-17: Nature and Duration of Evil
This is a short note on some implications of evil based on a reading of Genesis 2:15-17, which is the first mention of anything even potentially out of order with God’s wonderful new world. I’ve heard hundreds of arguments in church, including the question of why God would put just one tree in the garden…
Energion.com Domain Problems
I don’t know how many folks here go to Energion.com, but I know a number come here from there. It is my original domain from before I published books. It has a number of essays from my pre-blog days and now serves more as an aggregator and central hub. Unfortunately, we had some problem with…
Inerrancy: Nuance or Discard?
Through a Glass Darkly has a good note titled Nuancing Inerrancy as a follow-up to this post on Ancient Hebrew Poetry. I’m not sure what order to read them in; just read them. (There are more links to follow!) I would add only that I have a hard time using the term “inerrancy” in this…
Florida Science Standards Petition Comments
Wesley Elsberry has posted his comment on the petition for the Florida science standards at The Panda’s Thumb. If you haven’t signed, consider signing and commenting.
Myth of Galileo
Joe Carter is debunking the Galileo myth. And a pretty reasonable debunking it is. I’ve read quite a few debunkings of the myth before, and such things are rather important, considering some versions of the story. I’m pretty sure someone in elementary school told me that Galileo was condemned for saying that the earth was…
Is This Pastor Going to Hell?
According to an e-mail received by the Rev. John Shuck, he is. And what is the great sin for which he may already be damned? He has signed the Open Letter Concerning Religion and Science. Thus, according to the letter, he is teaching a “damning doctrine,” and may actually be reprobate. On the off-chance he’s…
Repentance and Rejoicing
I’ve written a pamphlet, which I provide free on my Participatory Study Series site, titled Repentance and Rejoicing. With the current lectionary including Psalm 32, I thought I’d reprint it. It is outlined around Psalm 51, but much the same material can be taught using Psalm 32. But if we confess our sins to God,…
Mississippi Legislator Wants to Play Nanny
His bill would require restaurants not to serve certain things to people who are obese. You know, those teenagers behind the counter at McDonalds would determine whether you are obese or not. More here at Junk Food Science with hat tips to The Agitator and Dispatches.
The Need for Church Politics
No, I’m not talking about the church getting involved in politics in general, nor about politicians speaking in church. I’m talking about the politics that goes into actually running the church. There’s a great deal of politics involved in the way churches are governed. But I’m not going to call for less–I’m going to call…
Book Meme
I’ve been tagged by C.Orthodoxy with the book meme. Here’s the meme: Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages). Open the book to page 123. Find the fifth sentence. Post the next three sentences. Tag five people. I don’t usually do these, and this is going to be funny, because I happened…