Thievery

Someone I know always has awesome articles she posts on facebook.

Here is a good one that should provoke some thought. I must admit that I have Catholic sympathies, but only feel comfortable ‘going Anglican.’

Are You Married?

Today, I had a meeting with my guided study professor.

I’ve been reading a book on epistemology, and it talks about the roll of the Christian Scholar. I’ll develop the thoughts more in an upcoming blog–but one of the key points is that Christian scholarship should contribute to shalom, or ‘justice as shalom.’ [Shalom isn't possible without justice, but justice is not a sufficient condition for producing shalom.] I wasn’t exactly sure what to think of this suggestion. It challenged my current paradigm for academia, and is probably the most lasting thing I’ll take away from the book. I asked my advisor if this was what he though, and what his experience as an academic had been like. His reply began like this:

Him: “Are you married?”

Me: “No.”

Him: “Women tend to prevent men from getting too divorced from practical life in academics. It isn’t that these issues don’t matter, just that women tend to bring a much needed balance. You don’t see very many women mathematicians, or philosophers–it’s likely for this reason.”

[At this point he paused.]

Him: “Not everyone has to get married, though.”

Tapping and Turning the Other Cheek

Someone I know posted this on facebook.

Good Lord.

I don’t even know where to begin.

Actually, that’s not true. This is what happens when the church lets people who don’t know how to read the Bible, read the Bible and gain a pulpit.

This makes me ashamed of being an Evangelical Christian, and it makes me want to become a Catholic–but mostly, it just breaks my heart.

It’s About Time…

I always wonder what goes through these peoples’ hearts and minds

Ah, the liberal. One of the devil’s craftiest inventions. No doubt they are right at the top of Jesus’ arch enemy list. If I’m not mistaken they come right after cobra commander, and fun.

Shame on these people–they do a disservice to the text, to us, and Christ.

Something I’ve never understood…

…is why the Crusades are such a “big deal.”

I mean, yes, I get that the Pope, someone who is supposed to be Christ’s representative on earth, shouldn’t be calling for wars against infidels. And, I am aware that the quotes from some of the popes are, well, pretty horrific. And, I know that the crusading armies did some pretty atrocious things–things that today would be considered crimes against humanity.

But, here is what I don’t get: with the decline of the Roman Empire Muslims invaded Christian states. Palestine, North Africa, Turkey, Egypt–these are all places that in the 4th or 5th century where “Christian.” I might be mistaken, but I’d find it hard to believe that Muslim invaders treated conquered peoples with the utmost of respect and dignity. War seems to be war no matter who the victor is.

So I’m puzzled how today, Muslims (and some atheists) have bad memories of the Crusades. Now, let’s be clear that the Crusades where horrific, and distinctly un-Christian. For these things, Christians should be held to account. But, historically speaking it was the Christian states that where invaded with the fall/collapse of the Empires and the Crusades where attempts to re-conquer what was taken in the first place. So I don’t understand how they provide a scar across the collective consciousness of Muslims everywhere, or why atheists feel like they can trot the Crusades out as an example of how Christianity brings on violence or evil.

Can anyone help me here?

D.R.T.