Category Archives: Public Issues

Character Matters

Posted on January 12, 2021 by rjs5

I had every intention of posting on Daniel Lamoureux’s book last Thursday. Diving once again into the questions of science and Christian faith. And then I couldn’t. I have seen Micah 6:8 quoted several times in the last few days. … Continue reading →

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Seven Last Words of the Unarmed

Posted on June 9, 2020 by rjs5

Several years ago, while reading David N. Livingstone’s book Adam’s Ancestors I wrote a piece entitled Father, Forgive Us. While Christian history includes many honorable incidents, many Christians viewed the abolition of slavery as a mandate of their faith, our … Continue reading →

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Climate Change?

Posted on June 27, 2019 by rjs5

When I started this series on creation care I received an e-mail questioning the wisdom of diving into the topic. For many creation care is synonymous with climate change or global warming. This is a political hot potato. Unlike evolution, … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Environmentalism, Public Issues | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Doesn’t Religion Hinder Morality?

Posted on June 25, 2019 by rjs5

This is the next question addressed in Rebecca McLaughlin’s new book Confronting Christianity: 12 Hard Questions for the World’s Largest Religion. The question is reminiscent of the subtitle of Christopher Hitchen’s 2009 book God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons … Continue reading →

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Playing God?

Posted on December 11, 2018 by rjs5

Elaine Ecklund and Christopher Scheitle (Religion vs. Science: What Religious People Really Think) asked religious Americans about their impressions of scientific technology. On many issues (for example, social media technology), most Americans religious or not have similar opinions. The concerns … Continue reading →

Posted in Public Issues, Resources for Discussion, Science and Faith | Tagged , | 2 Comments

What Would You Choose?

Posted on May 25, 2017 by rjs5

Since 1982 the Gallup Poll has been asking Americans about their views on evolution and human origins. This week they released the results of their most recent survey conducted in early May of this year (here). The question posed (with … Continue reading →

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Human Rights, Another Form of Western Imperialism?

Posted on January 17, 2017 by rjs5

In our last post (Are We Morally Obligated) on Tim Keller’s recent book Making Sense of God: An Invitation to the Skeptical we dug into the issue of the foundation for morals … with a rather vigorous discussion in the … Continue reading →

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You Brood of Vipers!

Posted on September 15, 2016 by rjs5

As I’ve been preparing to lead a discussion on issues intersecting Science and Christian faith I have been reflecting on the most effective approach to the issues involves. A couple of recent posts have explored this issue: Rules of Engagement … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Conversation, Public Issues | 1 Comment

A Community of Contrast!

Posted on February 10, 2015 by rjs5

We are called to be a community of contrast, not a prophetic witness or moral judge. Paul to the church at Corinth (ancient Roman fountain image source): I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral … Continue reading →

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God Nudges, Shouldn’t We Also?

Posted on February 5, 2015 by rjs5

Iain Provan, in his book Seriously Dangerous Religion: What the Old Testament Really Says and Why It Matters (Ch. 10) makes the claim that God is a gradualist. This has significant implications for biblical society, the lessons we should draw … Continue reading →

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