Tomorrow is Thanksgiving in the United States, a time for gratitude and community. Intangible qualities like these challenge science, since they don't lend themselves as readily to quantifying or to controlled investigation. Much easier for a scientist to tackle topics like tryptophan in turkey--no, that's not what makes you drowsy after dinner--because we have better tools for studying molecules. That doesn't mean gratitude or community aren't real or significant to our lives, just that we need different tools to study … [Read more...] about Science Corner: Prayers and Placebos
Prayer
Tips from Tim Gilmour (Growing Spiritually in Academic Life Series)
Life in the university promises a chance to think about the big questions in life, to reflect on who we are and what we're learning. But all too often, life as an academic seems so busy as to overwhelm any chance at contemplation; it can be a struggle to figure out even how to have daily time with God. For our fall tips series, we're asking writers to share a brief tip or idea on building your spiritual life in your role as an academic. Last week we kicked off the series with a post by Mary Poplin. This time we share a … [Read more...] about Tips from Tim Gilmour (Growing Spiritually in Academic Life Series)
A Christian Response to the Immigration Dilemma: Part 12 of the Welcoming the Stranger Series
We have argued that Scripture makes repeated and clear calls for us to take special concern for the stranger, to love them as ourselves, and to welcome them as if serving Jesus himself. God commands us to obey, which is primary if we are to truly follow Christ. ‘There is no other road to faith or discipleship,' Dietrich Bonhoeffer writes, except ‘obedience to the call of Jesus.' We dare not dismiss God's instructions to us, but rather should move from reflection to prayerful action. Serving and loving immigrants can … [Read more...] about A Christian Response to the Immigration Dilemma: Part 12 of the Welcoming the Stranger Series
A Prayer for the Busy Scholars
This summer, we're sharing prayers for and by Christian scholars in our network. We hope this is a chance for readers to connect with each other and with God, to be encouraged, and to pray together. May this series remind us of how the church is connected across time and space in the love of Jesus Christ our Lord. Today's prayer is by Brandon Spun, a member of the Emerging Scholars Network and a senior fellow at New College Franklin. A Prayer for the Busy Scholars Our Father, whose sabbath rest is eternal and … [Read more...] about A Prayer for the Busy Scholars
A Prayer for Peace from a Christian Scholar
Today as part of our summer series of prayers, Princeton University plasma physics researcher Bob Kaita adapts a classic prayer attributed to St. Francis. We hope this series offers a chance for readers to connect with each other and with God, to be encouraged, and to pray together. May we be reminded that the church is connected across time and space in the love of Jesus Christ our Lord. To God be the glory! … [Read more...] about A Prayer for Peace from a Christian Scholar