I write after a good cry. Dallas Willard died this morning after announcing stage 4 cancer on Monday. You can read more here. For those who don't know, Dallas was a longtime philosophy professor at USC. He was a great voice for Christianity and his writings will continue to influence new generations of Christians. His book Spirit of the Disciplines was influential in my life, helping me to see that following and becoming like Christ is our life's work. I became a disciple by reading this book. At the end of my … [Read more...] about Thank you. You can rest Dallas Willard.
philosophy
Nicholas Wolterstorff: Advice to Those Who Would Be Christian Scholars
Nicholas Wolterstorff, Noah Porter Professor of Philosophical Theology Emeritus at Yale University, has been one of the leading voices in Christian philosophy for decades. In October 2009, he spoke at the Veritas Forum at the University of Tennessee, presenting a talk entitled "The Role of God in Social Justice" and in conversation with David Reidy on the question "Good Without God? The Problem of Justice and Human Rights". While he was there, Dr. Wolterstorff spoke to Christian graduate students, and he has graciously … [Read more...] about Nicholas Wolterstorff: Advice to Those Who Would Be Christian Scholars
Should Faculty Challenge Students’ Religious Beliefs?
A column at Inside Higher Ed by Portland State philosophy instructor Peter Boghossian raises a good question: Should faculty challenge the religious beliefs of students? Here's how he opens his essay: Until two weeks ago, I had been laboring under the naïve assumption that one of the primary goals of every academic was to change students' beliefs when they were based on inaccurate information. I was awakened from this dogmatic slumber at an interdisciplinary faculty meeting by colleagues who reacted with dismay to … [Read more...] about Should Faculty Challenge Students’ Religious Beliefs?
New Book Reviews: Christian Parenting, Religious Bias
Over at the main ESN website, we've recently published a couple of book reviews that you might be interested in. Foundations of Christian Parenting My co-blogger Tom Grosh has reviewed Wise Stewards: Philosophical Foundations of Christian Parenting by Michael W. Austin, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Eastern Kentucky University. Among the many differences between the undergraduate and grad school/faculty worlds is the change in life stages, including marriage and children. If you're interested in integrating … [Read more...] about New Book Reviews: Christian Parenting, Religious Bias
Is Religion Inferior to Science?
Yesterday, USA Today published an opinion column by University of Chicago professor Jerry Coyne called "Science and religion aren't friends." Coyne, the author of Why Evolution Is True, opposes any attempt to reconcile, integrate, or otherwise bridge the gap between science and religion. To Coyne, religion is less than worthless: ...pretending that faith and science are equally valid ways of finding truth not only weakens our concept of truth, it also gives religion an undeserved authority that does the world no good. … [Read more...] about Is Religion Inferior to Science?