This morning someone sent me a link to “Christians in Academe: A Reply,” in which Adam Kotsko calls on conservative evangelicals to abandon our siege mentality in the academy. I think that’s a great idea. I’m all for it. Wouldn’t it help, though, if people like John Horgan (not to mention Scientific American) would quit lobbing ignorant ordnance in our direction?
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Tom,
I’d love to hear your thoughts on “A Reply.” From my personal perspective, Kotsko makes some excellent points.
related, from Al Mohler:
http://www.albertmohler.com/2010/07/23/evangelicals-and-science-in-conversation-a-one-way-street/
Brand new to your blog, and I was caught by the title “Under Siege”. My #4 son is headed to major University and is aware of the siege he will be under. I found an excellent book by Brad Wright on the miss-use of stats by Christian and non-Christian sites/authors/etc. It is amazing how many employ improper questions to direct a response to support their points of contention (imagine that). Brad’s book is very enlightening as to the true makeup of Christianity in America. Here is his blog and I highly recommend the book.
http://brewright.blogspot.com/
Great blog and look forward to following your thoughts.
Eagle Driver
Could it be that we are all “Sinners in the hands of an angry God”? I try not to skew my evidence but there is no question that some evidence is more appealing to particular worldviews than others. If #4 son is headed to university you may wish to look at some of the following.
Fish Out of Water: How to Surive As a Christian on a Secular Campus
http://books.google.ca/books?id=WBe-KX7s4xkC&dq=Abby+Nye+Fish+out+of+water&hl=en&ei=gNViTPm9CIKBlAfSg6C2Dw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CC0Q6AEwAA
The Toughest Test in College
http://www.mytruthproject.org/truthproject/trueu/downloads.html
Escape From Nihilism
http://www.leaderu.com/real/ri9801/budziszewski.html
and here
http://www.google.ca/search?rls=com.microsoft:en-US&oe=utf8&q=J.%20Budziszewski&redir_esc=&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbo=u&tbs=bks:1&source=og&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wp
10 books that screwed up the world: and 5 others that didn’t help By Benjamin Wiker
http://books.google.com/books?id=IZsk6t61asgC&pg=PA31&lpg=PA31&dq=wiker+hobbes+rights&source=bl&ots=4oeToiekKW&sig=CKEp79V7H-b-g3PTN1_S1KcIkGM&hl=en&ei=ngPNSYebHIK2sQPAjsipCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=1&ct=result#v=onepage&q&f=false
Dave,
Thank you very much for the suggestions. Fish out of water looks like something my son might enjoy. BTW I am ordering your suggested book “10 Books that Screwed up the World and 5 that didn’t” as I volunteer teach on the side to young adults. This book looks great and I am impressed with the introduction of “Ideas have consequences…” This is directly along what I am teaching. Thank you for a great suggestion.
I disagree with the “angry God”. As I do not wish to “hijack” this thread, maybe the author might address the concept of an angry God in today’s world on a future thread.
Hi EagleDriver
I’m pleased to help. Benjamin Wiker has several good books and most of them can be read, in whole or part, on GoogleBooks.
My reference to the “angry God” of Jonathan Edwards famous sermon was a somewhat tongue in cheek acknowledgement that we are all, including we Christians, tempted to sin. When I read that many Christians “mis-use stats… employ improper questions” I am called to guard against my own temptation. But I am a Lutheran and so do not share Edwards’ theology. We are “sinners in the hands of a merciful God.” “There, but for the grace of God, go I.”