Take That, Arrogant American English Speakers
This was utterly, absolutely fascinating. I laughed out loud with joy to hear these residents of Mumbai defend their English and criticize ours (see especially starting around 1:10). Why did I find this so funny/interesting? Because it overturns American expectations in an extremely healthy way, linguistically speaking. The truth is, even though Americans now know we’re not supposed to say it out loud, we tend to regard Indian English (and Kenyan English and Singaporean English, if we ever...
Alastair Roberts on Fundamentalism, the Graham-Pence Rule, and Purity as Avoidance
I'm becoming an Alastair Roberts fanboy. I can't wait for his Crossway book on a theology of gender—except that the guy can write 4,000 intellectually rich and biblically sound words a minute, and I actually want to get through the book so I'm hoping the editors can help him reign in the page count just a bit. The guy is ca-ra-zy prolific, like no one I've ever seen, including Alan Jacobs. And his British accent increases his apparent intelligence by about 10%, much as going on TV adds ten...
Edifying Words on Gender and on Civility
Edifying words from theologian Alastair Roberts: Much of the discourse on gender issues in all quarters has pitted men and women against each other, treating men and women chiefly as competitors or opponents, rather than as loving collaborators. Our differences, I am convinced, should not be seen primarily as differences from each other, but as differences for each other. Both men and women need the space and means to thrive—something that requires recognizing our differing strengths and...
Liberalism is Unstable
Liberalism is architecturally unstable. It is a massive edifice that has been slowly, intentionally, and, by design, built without concern for its foundation. It has been built on the assumption that a stable, prosperous, and free society can allow "incentives to do the work of morals"—and that assumption is wrong. —Brian Dijkema on economist Samuel Bowles (and also channeling Michael Sandel) Serious people are saying this, not just Christian zealots. Patrick Deneen appears to be saying it, in...
Two Recent Radio Appearances to Promote Authorized
I recently talked about Authorized with Janet Mefferd on Janet Mefferd Today. I recently talked about Authorized with Carmen Laberge of Reconnecting Faith. Laberge recently won show of the year at National Religious Broadcasters.