Monthly Archives: April 2011

No Bullying On Campus, Just Intimidation

David Hacker, in a blog post dated yesterday: As USA Today reports, “civility” policies and programs are cropping up at universities across the nation. Some seem to be bound up with efforts to purge “bullying” from campus …, other efforts seem to have more affinity with the egg-shell student and the quest to eliminate “offensive” …

April 29, 2011 – 7:37 am | By Tom Gilson | Posted in Life and Choices | Comments Off

Death Defeated

It’s Good Friday today. Judging from their choice of graphics, Google seems to think either that Earth Day is more significant or more universally celebrated than Jesus’ death for us on the cross. We won’t argue them out of it, so let’s just pray for them, okay? They’ll never persuade me that anything matters more …

April 22, 2011 – 9:02 am | By Tom Gilson | Posted in The Faith | Comments (8)

“Does the Old Testament Endorse Slavery? An Overview”

A popular-level follow-up to Paul Copan’s book on the ethics of the Old Testament: If Bible-believing Southerners had followed Israel’s law code, antebellum slavery would not have existed or been much of an issue. [From Does the Old Testament Endorse Slavery? An Overview]

April 19, 2011 – 6:00 pm | By Tom Gilson | Posted in Bible, Life and Choices, The Faith, Thinking Christianly | Tagged , , | Comments (82)

Resurrection Hope!

This is the week when Protestant and Catholic Christians celebrate Resurrection hope. Easter is especially significant for our family this year, for my wife’s mother is very ill, and the doctors expect her to live no more than a few more days among us. We are looking at the likelihood of a funeral on or …

April 19, 2011 – 8:30 am | By Tom Gilson | Posted in The Faith | Comments Off

Why Is Richard Dawkins So Popular?

Some atheists/skeptics present thoughtful arguments against Christianity. Some others are like Richard Dawkins. Seriously. Here’s the question: why do people listen to him, why do they think he has something to say on religion and atheism, and what responsibility does the church bear for it? Hat Tip to Chris Shannon

April 18, 2011 – 9:41 am | By Tom Gilson | Posted in The Faith | Comments (34)

God and Gaia in Academia

Exploding not one but two myths: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Quodlibeta/~3/u-yEaoWQKKI/god-and-gaia-in-academia.html Posted from WordPress for Android

April 16, 2011 – 4:37 pm | By Tom Gilson | Posted in Arts and Culture | Comments Off

“Illinois Ruling on Emergency Contraception Is A Modern-Day Monkey Scopes”

Concerning a judicial ruling last week supporting a conscience clause for pharmacists, Erin Matson writes on the NOW “Blog for Equality,” This ruling represents a triumph of superstition over science. Like the “Monkey Scopes” trial less than 100 years ago, in which religious fundamentalism scored a temporary triumph over a large body of scientific evidence …

April 14, 2011 – 4:00 pm | By Tom Gilson | Posted in Life and Choices, Origins and Science | Comments Off

UN document would give ‘Mother Earth’ same rights as humans

Bolivia is bringing a draft treaty to the U.N. for consideration, granting Mother Earth “the same rights as humans.” It’s modeled on Bolivia’s own recently-enacted domestic law, which speaks of the country’s natural resources as “blessings,” and grants the Earth a series of specific rights that include rights to life, water and clean air; the …

April 13, 2011 – 9:11 am | By Tom Gilson | Posted in Life and Choices, Religions, Thinking Christianly | Comments (2)