One month ago yesterday I walked the stage to pick up a diploma in Religious Studies at a secular institution. And I'm a stronger Christian than ever. In the Religious Studies department at the University of Montana I learned how to study history with careful eyes, how to debate subtle philosophy with gentleness and confidence, how to respect professors and peers with opposing views on foundational beliefs, and, perhaps most importantly, I learned how to critically examine my place in and beliefs about the story that … [Read more...] about Becoming a Thoughtful Christian in the Secular Academy
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White Martyrdom and the Unpersecuted People of God
To be a confessing Christian is to be one who longs to act, think and be more like Jesus, and one who, along that journey of transformation, admits deep need for God's power, grace and body. Lent is a time to re-admit this need. In the early years of The Way of Jesus, persecution was the norm. One of the readings from this Sunday's lectionary comes from an epistle Paul wrote from prison (Philippians 3:4b-14). He was in prison for being a Christian. There have been, and still are, countless “red martyrs”--men and … [Read more...] about White Martyrdom and the Unpersecuted People of God
Is Bible Belt Christianity Relevant to Christians in Academia?
Last week, as I began my review of Omri Elisha's Moral Ambition, I quoted a line that resonated strongly with me: Here in the Bible Belt, going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than going to McDonald's makes you a hamburger. In the comments to my post, however, not everyone agreed about the strength of this sound bite. As I've reflected on the conversation, I've wondered if the difference in understanding is related to a difference in context —specifically, the difference between hearing the line in the … [Read more...] about Is Bible Belt Christianity Relevant to Christians in Academia?
Too Good to Be True?
"Confession" isn't the right word for what I'm about to write, because I'm not sure sin is involved and I doubt that real confession involves broadcasting to anonymous hordes, so I'll call this an "admission" instead: I fear my own death. I've struggled with this fear off and on for about five years — basically, since I've come on InterVarsity staff, which is interesting timing if you're of certain theological persuasions. Strangely, this fear appeared even as my belief in resurrection has deepened. Books like … [Read more...] about Too Good to Be True?
What’s the Point of Christianity?
[Ed. note: Tom has a very busy week, so Mike is filling in with a second post.] Last Friday, the Chronicle Review published an article by Stephen T. Asma called "The New Atheists' Narrow Worldview" (subscription probably required). The title intrigued me greatly, though the article itself was not quite what I expected. Asma argues that the New Atheists (Dawkins, Hitchens, Harris, et al.) focus too much on arguments against Christianity and fail to engage non-Western religions, especially animism. That's probably true. … [Read more...] about What’s the Point of Christianity?