"He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him." (Isaiah 53:2) If you are committed to the life of the mind or serious inquiry you will probably find that some of the questions that challenge your faith the most come while spending time alone doing research. And in academe, there are ample opportunities for solitude. In my case, one such moment took place in the rare books room of the main library for the university from which I received my master's degree. … [Read more...] about Scholar’s Compass: Surely the Lord Was in the Rare Books Room, Part 1
Scripture
Summary and Reflection on the Christianity and Science Series
Introduction Are Christianity and science at war? This was a major concern for me when I came to faith in Christ 22 years ago in the middle of my career as a biology professor at Iowa State University. Although it did not prevent me from coming to faith in Christ, it continued to trouble me and caused doubts about my faith in the early years after my conversion to Christianity. I wondered whether modern science is really compatible with belief in God and whether it is possible to reconcile the Bible's account of … [Read more...] about Summary and Reflection on the Christianity and Science Series
Asking Jeeves
There is a pressing need for healthy dialogue regarding the psychology, and biology, of faith. Do humans have free will? What are the respective roles of the mind, the soul, and the brain? Are reports of supernatural experiences evidence for or against the existence of Heaven? Are we pre-conditioned to seek out a divine being? These are not questions from which Christians should not shy away. In fact, I'm convinced that by leaning into the discussion, our faith will be deepened and enriched. Dr. Malcolm Jeeves's … [Read more...] about Asking Jeeves
C.S. Lewis on Scripture. God’s Word in Human Words. Part 2 of 2
In my last post I highlighted C.S. Lewis's take on what it means to approach the Bible humbly: namely, we should first ask honestly and with an open mind, What sort of book has God actually given us and how has He given it? When we do that, we find that God has given us a Book not at all like what we might have expected if we had formulated a doctrine of Scripture a priori. Instead He has given us something else entirely, something far more extraordinary: The same divine humility which decreed that God should … [Read more...] about C.S. Lewis on Scripture. God’s Word in Human Words. Part 2 of 2
C.S. Lewis on Scripture. God’s Word in Human Words. Part 1 of 2
I am always thankful that the first theology book I ever read was C.S. Lewis's Mere Christianity. I stumbled upon it in the B. Dalton Bookseller at the local mall early in the summer before my senior year in high school, was intrigued, took it home and devoured it in less than a day. From then on I read anything I could get my hands on by Lewis: Miracles, The Great Divorce, God in the Dock: Essays on Theology and Ethics, The Abolition of Man, you name it. Lewis's clarity, cleverness, creativity, intelligence, and … [Read more...] about C.S. Lewis on Scripture. God’s Word in Human Words. Part 1 of 2