[Marcus Vincius De Matos, a lecturer in Public Law at Brunel University London and Board Member of ABUB (IFES-Brazil), graciously shared this article with ESN, concurrently published with Red Letter Christians] In this piece I reflect on the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and conflicting notions of Christian Theology that have recently threatened it Human Rights are perhaps the most powerful discourse that emerged in the 20th century. No other narrative has so disturbed the world … [Read more...] about Christianity and Human Rights: Back to Basics
Join us on 2/24: Online Chat about Christian Scholars Foundation Legacy Grant
Are you an early career faculty person? Interested in applying to the 2024 Christian Scholars Foundation Legacy Grant? Know someone who might be? Join us on Sat 2/24 at 11am EST/10 CST/9 MST/8 PST! Hear from the 2023 Awardee Dr. George Montañez, and chat with members of the 2024 Grant Committee. We have made some changes to the application for clarity and timeline purposes. They are very much in the spirit of the grant's tradition of flexible support for the research of early career Christian scholars, and we … [Read more...] about Join us on 2/24: Online Chat about Christian Scholars Foundation Legacy Grant
Science Corner: When the Bloom is off the Rose
Imagine if you will a holiday on which it is customary to bring flowers, chocolates, and the like to another person for whom one has romantic feelings. I know, I know, a preposterous proposition, but sometimes an outlandish thought experiment can be helpful. And so on this holiday, you bring a gift of flowers and observe how happy they make your crush. The next year, you are late to the florist and cannot get flowers so you bring chocolate instead and notice an equally happy reaction. The following year you are extra … [Read more...] about Science Corner: When the Bloom is off the Rose
Ash Wednesday and the Gift of Lent
We are delighted that Bobby Gross, author of Living the Christian Year and who has contributed previous series during Lent and Advent, has agreed to write a new series of Lenten reflections with future pieces appearing on Mondays beginning February 26. Why would anyone think of the penitential season of Lent as a gift? Forty or so days leading up to Good Friday and Easter Sunday during which we deprive ourselves of good things—like coffee or chocolate or wine or social media—and fast on certain days and generally … [Read more...] about Ash Wednesday and the Gift of Lent
The Balanced Life — A High Wire Act or a Spacious Path?
One of the greatest high wire artists in history was Charles Blondin, also known as "The Great Blondin." Beginning in 1859, he walked across the Niagara Falls gorge on numerous occasions. On one of these, he stopped midway to cook and eat an omelet! On others, he did it blindfolded, on stilts, pushing a wheelbarrow, or carrying his manager on his back. I suspect for some of us, the quest for a "balanced" life feels much like this. Sometimes we try to do all of Blondin's feats at once. We try to balance our spiritual … [Read more...] about The Balanced Life — A High Wire Act or a Spacious Path?