Summary: A new psychology of religious experience that argues that religions enjoy such a wide embrace because they offer repeated opportunities to satisfy sixteen basic motivations or “strivings” common to all human beings.Read more…
Book Review: God and Race in American Politics, by Mark A. Noll
Summary: This text explores the interwoven story of religion, race, and politics in American history, with a concluding theological reflection.Read more…
Book Review: The Good of Politics
In our current toxic political climate one might ask the question, “can anything good come of politics?” James W. Skillen would answer that affirmatively.Read more…
Interruption Is Calling (Scholar’s Compass)
If we wish to be set free from this false significance, to take a new perspective on our career and the use of our time, Laura S. Meitzner Yoder’s thoughtful chapter “Interruptions are not distractions” provides us with a deeply beautiful corrective. Read more…
Book Review: Big Questions, Worthy Dreams
Big Questions, Worthy Dreams: Mentoring Emerging Adults in Their Search for Meaning, Purpose, and Faith Sharon D. Parks My rating: 3 of 5 stars This is one of the books that higher ed professionals have mentioned to me over andRead more…
Vote: Round 2 ESN March Madness ’14 closes at midnight
What is the most pressing issue for the Christian to engage when journeying in higher ed? The second round of ESN March Madness ’14 will close at midnight tonight (3/14). If you haven’t already done such, please cast your vote andRead more…
Round 2 ESN March Madness ’14 Opens
What is the most pressing issue for the Christian to engage when journeying in higher ed? Any surprises as we dive into the second round of ESN March Madness ’14? Honestly my wife and I both expected a stronger showing from TheologyRead more…
Vote: Round 1 ESN March Madness ’14 closes at midnight
What is the most pressing issue for the Christian to engage when journeying in higher ed? The first round of ESN March Madness ’14 will close at midnight tonight (3/7). If you haven’t already done such, please cast your vote andRead more…
ESN March Madness 14: Selection Show
Thank-you to the many who have contributed not only nominations for ESN March Madness ’14: Which topics must Christians be prepared to engage in today’s higher education? but also encouragement and insight regarding how to continue to develop the tournament asRead more…
Last call for nominations . . . let the madness begin ;)
Which topics must Christians be prepared to engage in today’s higher education? Please help us extend sixteen “tickets to the Dance” by sharing nominations. AND by passing along the invitation to all your friends, colleagues, and acquaintances so they too canRead more…
Teaching Religion and the Curriculum
I thought about naming this teaching religion non-apologetically, but that might be too narrow of an idea. So instead, I will take up the issue of what it means to teach according to a curriculum, and then apply that conceptRead more…
Book Review: Allah: A Christian Response
A number of years ago a student asked me, “Do Muslims and Christians worship the same God?” That is a question that has lingered with me over the years and so I turned with interest to this book in whichRead more…
Book Review: Doing Philosophy as a Christian
In Doing Philosophy as a Christian, Garrett DeWeese, Ph.D.[1], contends (contra Kant) that our approach should be one of Reason within the bounds of Religion (rather than the reverse). For him, this is a basic governing principle for how ChristiansRead more…
Science in Review — February 2013
One of my favorite Scripture passages is the parable of the sower. It’s botany! It’s metaphor! And it’s a rare parable to include an explanation… sort of. Sure, Jesus decodes the allegory for his disciples, but what is the application?Read more…
Religion, Education, and the Meaning of Life
Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve been sharing my reflections on Anthony Kronman’s 2007 book Education’s End: Why Our Colleges and Universities Have Given Up on the Meaning of Life. While I believe that his core argument is insightful,Read more…
Would you major in Secularism?
First of all, welcome to the new blog subscribers from the annual Emerging Scholars Network member survey! Thank you for completing the survey and letting us know how ESN can improve. If you haven’t been reading the blog regularly, youRead more…
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 betweenRead more…
What’s Your Strategy for Controversy?
Almost two weeks ago, Comment published my article Is That Disagreement Religious—or Political?, about the political differences between evangelical academics and their academic colleagues. Here’s my opening paragraph: In the political conflicts between right and left, evangelical Christian faculty areRead more…
Christian Privilege in the Academy?
In InterVarsity and many other Christian organizations, we’re used to thinking of Christians as a minority – even a persecuted minority – within the academy, particularly at the more prestigious universities. For example, responding to a common question asked byRead more…
Week in Review: Nobel Prize Edition
Our Week-in-Review feature has a new format. We know there’s way too much to read out there already, so we’re going to be highlighting the top five articles, books, websites, etc., that we’ve been reading or thinking about the pastRead more…
Seeking tips for international students
On Friday, I led an International Discussion Forum on Randy’s Last Lecture at U. of Pennsylvania, sponsored by InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, the Penn Graduate Christian Fellowship, and Intercultural Friends. Note: Discussion questions posted here in PDF. Afterward, there was an opportunity for participants to offer suggestionsRead more…