From Alan Jacobs’ Sent Folder: Christian Education in the Legal Future
From Alan Jacobs: A great many other Christian colleges may well, in the coming decade or two, have to close their doors because they lack the financial resources and reputational stature to respond effectively to legal challenges, denial of federal student-loan funding, and de-accreditation. At the very least, religious schools will be threatened with constant demands that they bow to Caesar; even if they can get legal verdicts in their favor that will only be after great expense; and I find...
Robert Gagnon vs. J. Daniel Kirk on Homosexuality
Note: You can download a 279MB audio version here. Valley Presbyterian Church of Phoenix, Arizona, a congregation of the Presybterian Church (USA) is having a formal, church-wide discussion regarding whether or not active homosexual persons will be permitted to serve as leaders in the church. The booklet they put together to describe the process reads, We, the sitting Elders on the Session of Valley Presbyterian Church, are seeking to discern God’s will and direction for our congregation on...
The Myth of Neutrality. Yet Again.
This from Alan Jacobs is real good. The myth of neutrality is one of the most useful insights I've ever been given, and the ability to spot belief in that myth is essential if you're going to be a reader. People's worldviews will out. If you don't believe me, read my book.
Richard John Neuhaus on the Secular University
This comment from a brief article by the late Richard John Neuhaus is brilliant, and important: A secular university is not a university pure and simple; it is a secular university. Secular is not a synonym for neutral. Not to say that Jesus is Lord is not to say nothing. Not to say that Jesus is Lord is to say that saying Jesus is Lord is unnecessary to, or a hindrance to, being the kind of university you want to be. A Christian university does not have a dual identity but a clear identity—a...
An Important Article for Pro-Life People to Read
This article by Ross Douthat is important for all pro-life people to read. He does two major things. 1) He shows why pro-life rhetoric should not be blamed for vigilantes (especially mad ones) like Robert Dear: Pretty much all passionate, justice-seeking movements risk attracting a violent fringe, and while activists in those movements are obliged to condemn and marginalize that fringe, their larger case and public rhetoric can’t be held hostage to the fear that someone, somewhere, might...