The third in our Lenten devotional series. Temptation. It sneaks up on you. It whispers, is this really such a bad idea? I'll just tell them I was late because I got an important phone call’I'll just tell them I read the whole thing’I'll just tell them I've had some experience with that’ And if, when we consider telling a half-truth, little white lies, something other than the whole truth, we hear a voice saying to us something like: is a small lie really such a big deal? If we heed that voice rather than … [Read more...] about Temptation: The Little Lie
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Loving the University: Engaging the Big Questions on Your Campus
This talk was the opening keynote for the Veritas Weekend 2023 sponsored by the Veritas Forum. The Emerging Scholars Network thanks James K. A. Smith for sharing the text of that talk for our blog readers. Our theme for this weekend is Loving the University. This framing of our time together is specific and intentional. We are considering how to love the university. Not just love for university students (though of course that's included!) but loving the university as an institution. Loving the university is … [Read more...] about Loving the University: Engaging the Big Questions on Your Campus
Science Corner: Finding the Truth Together
I don't know how to talk about the events of last Wednesday; I don't know how to not talk about them. I'm fairly certain this is not a moment for a scientist specifically. If you are short on time, I keep coming back to these words from Esau McCaulley, a New Testament scholar and IVP author who wrote powerfully about truth. If you have a few more minutes, consider giving them to Russell Moore's reflections. For those still here, while this may not be a moment for scientists, I'm fairly certain this is a moment for … [Read more...] about Science Corner: Finding the Truth Together
Science Corner: The Speed of Knowledge
Physics tells us that information cannot travel faster than the speed of light. And because someone always brings it up, yes, that includes quantum entanglement, which makes it possible for a measurement on one particle to instantaneously have an effect on an entangled particle no matter how far apart they are, but which cannot actually transmit a message without additional elements bound by light speed. These days we can push information transfer right up to that limit, but knowledge seems to take quite a bit longer. … [Read more...] about Science Corner: The Speed of Knowledge
Loving our Atheist Neighbors with Truth and Love: Rick Mattson at Urbana
How should Christians approach conversations about faith with atheists? At the Urbana Student Missions Conference, Rick Mattson examined common atheist arguments and argued for a holistic Christian response that includes intellect, care-giving, and friendship. From Dec 27 - Jan 1, volunteers with our network of early career Christian academics are liveblogging seminars at the Urbana conference, a mission-focused student gathering of 16,000 Christians from across North America and the world. This post was co-written … [Read more...] about Loving our Atheist Neighbors with Truth and Love: Rick Mattson at Urbana