Fifteen of my favorite Halloween movies (in no particular order):
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Blog
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Halloween Movie Picks
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Free Book: The Swedish Atheist, the Scuba Diver and Other Apologetic Rabbit Trails
I don’t generally recommend books I haven’t read, but in this case I’m happy to make an exception. Randal Rauser’s writing is always thought-provoking, relevant and worthwhile — and given today’s special, it’s now eminently affordable!
Today only (Wednesday, October 30), the e‑version of Rauser’s book The Swedish Atheist, the Scuba Diver and Other Apologetic Rabbit Trails is available for free at Amazon.com, B&N and Christianbook.com.
And, if you miss today’s deal, the e‑book will be 50% off for the month of November.
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Community and Individuality in the Body of Christ
It’s easy to point out divisions within Christianity, to criticize those who we think are wrong, to bemoan the lack of unity within the Church and to focus on the divisive disagreements that define our discussions. But it’s important to remember that, despite our constant bickering, we do have something in common and that, like it or not, we are part of the same family. Each of us, despite our differences — or perhaps because of them — has an important role within Christianity.
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Holy Hotlines
This lovely meme crossed my path today. I was going to print it out and hang it on my refrigerator next to the magnet with the plumber’s name and number, but instead I thought I’d share it here.
Despite my issues with the presentation and substance of this meme, I want to make it clear that I do think we should turn to God when we’re afraid or depressed or worried or sick. I think that’s great. But I don’t think we should reduce God to a trite set of platitudes, for in doing so, we’re at best offering nothing more than a Biblical placebo, and at worst we’re actually contributing to the very problems we’re seeking to address.
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A Brief Response to Anti-Charismatics
John MacArthur’s Strange Fire conference wrapped up yesterday. This three-day conference centered around the work of the Holy Spirit — or more accurately the lack of the work of the Holy Spirit. MacArthur is a hard cessationist when it comes to the charismata, believing that miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit such as speaking in tongues, healing and prophecy are no longer operative in the Christian church today. Not surprisingly, the conference was surrounded by controversy and heated debate — even Mark Driscoll managed to get in on the action.
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The AFA and the KKK
The American Family Association (AFA) is in a tizzy because the U.S. Army listed them as a hate group in a training presentation. The Army identified the AFA as a hate group based on information from the Southern Poverty Law Center. (more…)
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Heroes & Pirates
The above post came across my Facebook news feed this weekend. Captain Phillips is a film based on the true story of the 2009 hijacking of an American ship by Somali pirates. I haven’t seen it so I can’t comment on its overall quality or the performance of Mr. Hanks — but I am familiar with the story it’s based on as well as the controversy regarding the “heroism” of the real Captain Phillips.
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Abraham, Isaac and the Search for Truth
Abrahams Opfer, Adi Holzer, 1997 The story of the binding of Isaac in Genesis 22 offers fertile ground for theological reflection. It is a tale that is simultaneously reassuring and disconcerting, straightforward and complex, pragmatic and melodramatic. These divergent challenges are a crucial part of its enduring relevance to Christians, Jews and Muslims. It’s a story that defies reductive interpretation — attempts to distill simple life-lessons risk losing the nuances that have resonated so deeply with so many for so long.
I certainly don’t have a definitive interpretation of the tale, but I do think the story itself offers some guidance for how to approach it. That is, at least part of its message is that we should be cautious about being overly certain of our understanding of that message — or indeed of any message. (more…)
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Review: What on Earth Do We Know about Heaven? by Randal Rauser
If you pick up Randal Rauser’s book “What on Earth Do We Know about Heaven?” expecting a scintillating first-hand account of Rauser’s near-death experience and his subsequent journey into the afterlife you’ll be greatly disappointed. Instead of serving up an epic tale of post-mortem exploits, Rauser, a prolific blogger and self-described “progressive evangelical,” offers thoughtful theological and philosophical responses to twenty questions about life after death — or more accurately about (to quote N.T. Wright) life after life after death.
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Why do we value art?
Is the painting on the left virtually worthless? Is the painting on the right worth tens of millions of dollars?
Anonymous, forgery in the style of Van Gogh 
Sunset at Montmajour, Van Gogh, 1888 What value do we place on the paintings themselves, and what value do we place on the captions below them — and why?
For background, see A van Gogh’s Trip From the Attic to the Museum.
