Latest Posts

June 29, 2005

Our slap-happy slide into techno-violence

Recent high-profile examples of the combination of violence and technology, such as “happy-slapping,” bring into sharp focus the need for moral judgment in the marketplace. The social nature of violence and sin mean that “no government, economy, family, or society can survive if a critical mass of citizens do not exercise a particular level of self-government and restraint.” Continue Reading...
June 29, 2005

A homiletical emergency

Here’s a valuable article highlighting the author’s experience with Augustine during “a homiletical emergency.” David Neff writes in “Preaching Augustine” that the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) “is heavily used by college and university teachers who want to assign classic spiritual reading without adding to their students’ already hefty textbook bills. Continue Reading...
June 29, 2005

Rap artists as role models

Rapper and actor Will Smith urged rappers to serve as role models for black communities at the annual BET Awards. “The kids that are making these trends, making these songs, don’t understand the level of effect that black Americans have around the world,” Smith said in an interview. Continue Reading...
June 28, 2005

Sue the competition

AMD is suing Intel, claiming “freedom of choice and the benefits of innovation…are being stolen away in the microprocessor market,” says Hector Ruiz, AMD chairman, president and chief executive. This case raises concerns over at Fast Company Now, as Kevin Ohannessian writes, I worry that this could start a new trend. Continue Reading...
June 28, 2005

No ‘Magic Number’ on foreign aid

USAID Administrator Andrew Natsios set the record straight at a U.N. conference when he told the gathering that the United States has “no intention” of committing to a goal for foreign aid pegged to a percentage of gross domestic product. Continue Reading...
June 28, 2005

Sacred/secular strife in the public square

The battle over public displays of the 10 Commandments indicates to me just how much ground Christians have given up in recent years. Radical secularists have attacked any and all public expressions of Christian faith, most often by means of the “T” word (theocracy) and appeals to the “wall of separation.” Continue Reading...
June 28, 2005

Miracles before our eyes

The case is open. Today marks the first day the canonization of John Paul II is officially underway. (Read BBC’s account.) To those for whom the procedures of the Catholic Church in matters such as these seem alien, I point to the lucid explanation of the Reverend Giuseppe D’Alonzo (the man in charge of verifying the claims of John Paul’s miracles):   Asked what he thought about making John Paul II a saint, the Rev D’Alonzo replied that it was not for him to decide, only to “verify the truth”. Continue Reading...
June 27, 2005

The problem with aid

In a number of previous posts, I have expressed concern over new efforts to increase the amount of government-to-government aid to Africa (see here, here, and here for background). Today brings another bit of news that should give pause to anyone advocating for massive increases in government aid to Africa. Continue Reading...