Monthly Archives: May 2008

Christianity in China: Hope of Freedom

An outsider’s view of the West can be enlightening, especially when that person’s view moves him toward spiritual answers. Here is one such voice from China. The source is a Christianity Today article, “Great Leap Forward.” Hsu, a former television journalist for the state-sponsored CCTV, is a telling example of how a member of China’s …

May 31, 2008 – 4:08 pm | By Tom Gilson | Posted in The Faith | Tagged , | Comments Off

Postscript to the Series, “Darwin’s Gift?”

This entry is part 5 of 5 in the series Darwin's Gift?

Having written a four-part series on Francis Ayala’s Darwin’s Gift to Science and Religion, I was already in strong disagreement over what Ayala called a “gift” to religion in Darwinism. Now I’m reading his monograph for the AAAS, “The Difference of Being Human,” and have found even more reason to disagree with him on this. The …

May 30, 2008 – 10:16 pm | By Tom Gilson | Posted in Ethics, Origins and Science | Tagged , , , , | Comments (8)

Though It Is Not Impossible to See God…

There’s a potential false conclusion to steer clear of as you read Edward Tingley’s article, “The Skeptical Inquirer,” on which I blogged yesterday. He refers to Blaise Pascal’s statement that God cannot be known through the senses. One might suppose that he is saying that it is impossible to perceive God in any way. Whatever …

May 30, 2008 – 6:01 pm | By Tom Gilson | Posted in Evidences, Thinking Christianly | Tagged , , | Comments (4)

“The Skeptical Inquirer”

One of the podcasts I enjoy listening to is the Skeptics’ Guide to the Universe, a science-oriented, religiously skeptical discussion conducted out of the New England Skeptical Society. The shows run long, so I can’t listen to all of them, but I’ve heard a couple of them, featuring Michael Shermer and John Rennie. You can …

May 29, 2008 – 5:55 pm | By Tom Gilson | Posted in New Atheism | Tagged , , , , | Comments (60)

“Do Hard Things”

Pre-Review I’ve never before now offered a book review on a book I hadn’t even started to read. Call this a pre-review instead. Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations by Alex and Brett Harris arrived in the mail yesterday. I showed it to my sixteen-year-old son and told him I’d like us …

May 29, 2008 – 10:35 am | By Tom Gilson | Posted in The Faith | Tagged , | Comments (2)

Some Introspection

I can’t recall a time, other than during vacations, when I’ve had so little to write about on this blog as I have in the last week or two. The muse is stalled. I think there are several reasons. One is that I haven’t actually been writing so little–the discussion here has been long and …

May 29, 2008 – 7:07 am | By Tom Gilson | Posted in Unfiled | Comments Off

National Faculty Leadership Conf 2008

National Faculty Leadership Conf 2008 You are warmly invited to join hundreds of professors, graduate students and others serving in academia in celebrating the greatness of Christ and in enriching our ability to serve him, one another, and the world. I was there in 2006, and found it well worth the time and expense. Check …

May 28, 2008 – 3:46 pm | By Tom Gilson | Posted in Thinking Christianly | Tagged , | Comments Off

Hard Question of the Weekend

Is Jabberwocky the best nonsense poem in the English language? If not, then in what language is it the best nonsense?

May 23, 2008 – 10:35 pm | By Tom Gilson | Posted in Just For Fun | Tagged , | Comments (6)

Unconditional Love

We’re on the leading edge of a long weekend here (Monday is Memorial Day in the United States). I’m the last to leave my office today; the boss gave us all the afternoon off, but I decided to stay a while, to read and write in the quiet. It’s not, I’m sad to say, as …

May 23, 2008 – 3:35 pm | By Tom Gilson | Posted in The Faith | Tagged , | Comments (29)

Christian Carnival CCXXV

The 225th Christian Carnival is up at Parableman. Here is more on what the Christian Carnival is all about.  

May 22, 2008 – 3:06 pm | By Tom Gilson | Posted in Miscellanea | Comments Off