Religion & Liberty Online Archives

Bible and Theology

November 15, 2007

George Hearst of Deadwood: ‘The-boy-the-earth-talks-to’

In a bit of an addendum to my review of the HBO series Deadwood in the current issue of Religion & Liberty, “A Law Beyond Law: Life Together in Deadwood,” I couldn’t help thinking of this bit from Clement of Alexandria when describing George Hearst, the über-robber baron of the Old West. Continue Reading...
November 14, 2007

Prosperity, Sexual Sin, and Forgiveness

A recent survey by the Pew Global Attitudes Project finds that “religion is less likely to be central to the lives of individuals in richer nations than poorer ones” (HT). Given the Bible’s many warnings about the danger presented by wealth, specifically the temptation to no longer rely on God and his providential care, that probably isn’t surprising. Continue Reading...
November 09, 2007

IDOP: Pray for the Persecuted Church

This Sunday, November 11, is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. A prayer “For the Persecuted” (BCP 1928): O blessed Lord, who thyself didst undergo the pain and suffering of the Cross; Uphold, we beseech thee, with thy promised gift of strength all those of our brethren who are suffering for their faith in thee. Continue Reading...
October 31, 2007

Sunset Boulevard: A haunting look at spiritual emptiness

In the classic 1950 film Sunset Boulevard, the character of film star Norma Desmond, played by Gloria Swanson, declares, “I am big. It’s the pictures that got small.” I watched Sunset Boulevard for the first time last night, thanks to the recommendation from a friend in Virginia. Continue Reading...
October 29, 2007

Karl Barth and the Jewish Question

Just over a year ago an article of mine was published, “The Aryan clause, the Confessing Church, and the ecumenical movement: Barth and Bonhoeffer on natural theology, 1933–1935,” Scottish Journal of Theology 59 (2006): 263-280. Continue Reading...
October 10, 2007

Un-Christian Retributiveness

How’s this for an expression of un-Christian retributiveness? If God wants to make my happiness complete, he will grant me the joy of seeing some six or seven of my enemies hanging from those trees. Continue Reading...
October 05, 2007

‘The Idolatry of the Porn Worldview’

The folks over at the Reformation21 blog, produced of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals, have a great discussion going about the spiritual, cultural, and pastoral implications of pornography (here, here, and here). Continue Reading...