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Scene depicting Gluttony in Hieronymus Bosch’s The Seven Deadly Sins and the Four Last Things
It’s only a few weeks until election day and both presidential candidates are focusing on that small percentage of people who — for whatever reason — have not yet made up their minds. Romney photo courtesy of Gage Skidmore; Obama photo per http://change.gov/about/copyright_policy.
The challenge facing gay activists . . . Dissenting opinion on societal acceptance of alternative sexualities coalesces around three crucial points:
Continue reading about Position Statement on Alternative Sexualities
The 2012 Presidential election is almost here and many pastors are challenging the IRS stance on churches engaging in politics. Most people think restrictions on the involvement of churches in politics are tied to lofty principles. Well…. Maybe not.
Continue reading about Churches, Politics, Tax Exemptions, and the “Naked Public Square”
Technology can be the source of a “devil’s bargain” in dealing with the frailties of human existence. In Decline of the West, Oswald Spengler describes Western civilization as “Faustian” in its pursuit of the infinite.
Is there a “war on women”? Democratic Congressman Jim McDermott accuses Republicans of waging a war on women, 8 April 2011
“Docetism” (from the Greek word “dokeo” meaning “I seem”) usually refers to an unorthodox view of Jesus that alleges He was a pure spirit and only “seemed” to have a physical body. Orthodoxy of course has long insisted Jesus had two natures, one human and the other divine.
What do these people have in common? French President Nicolas Sarkozy and U.S. President Barack Obama on 8 Nov 2011. U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer on 29 Mar 2011. Civil rights activist Jesse Jackson on July 6 2008.
Do a Google search on the phrase “is not a Christian” and two criteria will compete for first place in denying people a Christian identity.
Good ideas are well-served by good illustrations and tonight Conan O’Brien will gift us with a great one. Conan O’Brien (left) and gay fiancés David Gorshein and Scott Cronick. O’Brien will reportedly perform Gorshein and Cronick’s wedding during tonight’s show. (Use of copyrighted material for critical commentary is fair use.)
The “occupywallstreet” protesters are furious over Wall Street’s self-enrichment via its undue influence on the political process. Photo from http://rangel.house.gov/index.shtml Capitalism has a corrupting influence on politics and must be severely restrained.
Continue reading about Occupywallstreet: better living through political protest . . .
The Keynesian model of macroeconomics has two components worthy of reflection in the face of the current Administration’s approach to fixing the economy . . . John Maynard (“in the long run, we’re all dead”) Keynes
“High church” and “low church” mean different things to different people Here are some typical distinctions . . .
Think there’s a moral equivalence between Islam and Christianity? Read the following clipping from the “Questions of Faith” column in the Saudi Gazette and ask yourself, “what would we do without Mohammed?” “What to Do in the Bathroom” Then consider, “what would we do without Jesus?”
Continue reading about Personal experiences with Islam . . .
“Akedah” is the generic Hebrew word for “binding.” In Jewish Tradition, it came to be used as a proper noun to refer to Abraham’s “sacrifice” of Isaac (Genesis chapter 22). [God] said, “Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as [...]
A friend recently related the story of how he once pointed a T-37 Trainer straight up to see how high he could go.
Continue reading about The Limits of Reason: an Illustration
While I agree with Miss America on the problem of eating disorders, I think more depth would be useful in thinking about it.
Continue reading about Miss America and the problem of eating disorders
Mr. Obama wants us to be more polite . . . Here’s why he’s going to be disappointed—
The notion that God created the cosmos out of a sense of loneliness is mistaken.
Continue reading about A Short Theology of God, Creation, Suffering, Free Will . . .
If there are political points to be made in the Jared Loughner incident they ought to include the obvious observation that the political left is using the story to project its own malice, motives, and mentality onto its opponents. Mug shot of alleged Arizona shooter Jared Loughner(AP Photo from Pima County Sheriff’s Dept. by way [...]
Continue reading about A Political Point on the Arizona Shootings
According to a Military.com article, the Army is studying use of women in combat units . . . Article photo, which may or may not be copyrighted. Use here in critical commentary is considered fair use. Some would say it’s due to the shortage of men who can bear arms. Not to worry though . [...]
Continue reading about Army Mulls Women in Combat Arms Units
TSA may have finally passed the tipping point with its new, more intrusive searching of airline passengers. Next stop for this elderly lady will be either (1) a visual inspection involving virtual nakedness or (2) hand inspection of genital and chest areas
Continue reading about Pat down or profile: time for Uncle Sam to stop groping and “get a grip”
Baptism is the premier rite of Christianity, yet it is often controversial among Christians.
An appreciation for differing views of time within Scripture can clarify the controversy over human free will versus divine predestination.
Continue reading about Predestination vs. Free Will — Kairos vs. Chronos
Few things are as controversial as the Christian doctrine of justification by faith. Most of the controversy flows from abuses within the Roman Catholic Church. Protestantism continues to overreact to those abuses to the point of going to an opposite extreme. Some reference points in sorting out the controversy are as follows:
Sure sounds like it . . . Consider the following: Excerpts from ceremony for Bob Chanin, retiring general counsel for NEA
Continue reading about Is the National Education Association just another labor union?
Obamanomics undermines prosperity by “hacking” the virtual “information system” at the center of capitalism’s wealth-creating genius. President Barack Obama, center, with members of his economicteam, speaks on the economy from the Rose Garden of the White House, Sept. 15, 2010. http://whitehouse.gov
Hopes for a post-racial America following the election of Barak Obama are fading fast. Barak Obama and czar appointee Van Jones who was forced to resign over his racist comments
Bill Maher accuses Christians of “kill thy neighbor” intolerance. Copyrighted image. User here in critical commentary is fair use. Click here for the YouTube video But who’s more intolerant?
When it comes to the internet and email, are you guilty of passing on the “Poor Man’s Virus”?
The “Vibrant Dance of Faith and Science Symposium 2010″ October 26-28, 2010 Grace Covenant Church 9431 Jollyville Rd.; Austin, TX Registration and other details (click here)
Continue reading about Announcing: The Vibrant Dance of Faith and Science Symposium 2010
I was sitting in a senior manager’s office the other day and the conversation turned toward a particular company’s reputation for vulgarity.
“Is it not legal for me to do what I want with what is mine? Or are you envious because I am generous?”– beneficent landowner to disgruntled beneficiaries Gerard Jollain
Continue reading about Breaking news from the first century . . .
Selected reasons why it’s great to be a guy. Harvested from the internet– but with a serious purpose.
What do newscasters, sociologists, political commentators, and even theologians have in common? Answer: All claim to have “the Big Picture” …
“Big kids make bad citizens.”
Continue reading about The Death of the Grown-Up by Diana West
Anger is an emotional strategy for gaining the upper hand in confrontations with others. Sometimes it works and sometimes it fails. Professor Robert Solomon of UT at Austin offers some insights on anger and other emotional strategies.
The “n-word”– “probably the most offensive word in English”– according to Webster’s. As Dr. Laura discovered on her 10 August radio show. Copyrighted image. User here in critical commentary is considered fair use. So the cultural left got some rope and went looking for a tree.
Procreation is an obvious advantage of heterosexual marriage over same-sex unions. One objection though is that society approves of many heterosexual marriages in which procreation is not envisioned or even possible– so why not extend the same favor to gay and lesbian couples?
Continue reading about Procreation as defense of heterosexual marriage
Confused about sexuality, unfaithful to friends, fawning towards enemies, unwilling to control the borders, unable to pay the bills, unwilling to set a budget . . . Those are just a few of the things that cloud the future of the country. Could there be a unifying thread?
Continue reading about A unified theory of what ails us . . .
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