Category Archives: Life and Choices

“The Invention of Sexual Identity”

What was the nineteenth century’s worst invention? Choosing just one isn’t an easy task, but one that should be near the top of the list is . . . sexual identity. Few modern creations have wreaked as much havoc on individuals and culture as this medical concept. [From The Invention of Sexual Identity » First …

October 9, 2011 – 6:00 pm | By Tom Gilson | Posted in Life and Choices | Tagged , , | Comments Off

The Dangerous Prayer: Praying While Sinning

Temptation begins with, “I want to …” The second step is, “I shouldn’t …” The third step is “But I really do want to …” The fourth step is what determines the direction of my life, and it’s the great difference between Christianity and every other way of living. Every religion and every secular system …

September 30, 2011 – 9:13 am | By Tom Gilson | Posted in Bible, Life and Choices, The Faith | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments (11)

Freedom of Religion Watch

On my RSS news reader this morning: Professor Says Vanderbilt Suppressing Christian Student Groups Amid Shutdown Threats Priest barred from saying mass In England, Displaying Bible Verses May Be Against the Law Conscience, Coercion, and Healthcare Preventing Another Attack: International Religious Freedom On a related note: Paying for a Church You Don’t Believe In and …

September 27, 2011 – 10:14 am | By Tom Gilson | Posted in Bible, Life and Choices, Religions, The Faith | Tagged , , , , | Comments (9)

Pro-Choice Determinists

I was just wondering how many determinists—people who believe that human free will is an illusion, because everything is determined by physical law—would describe themselves as “pro-choice.”

September 26, 2011 – 10:13 am | By Tom Gilson | Posted in Life and Choices | Tagged , , | Comments (123)

“City With Religious Roots Fines Home Bible Study | Pacific Justice Institute”

Two outrages. First: A city in Southern California is demanding that a small home Bible study group stop meeting unless they obtain a cost-prohibitive permit. The homeowners, Chuck and Stephanie Fromm, were fined $300 for holding the Bible study…. Fromm was told by a hearing officer that regular gatherings of more than three people require …

September 19, 2011 – 4:11 pm | By Tom Gilson | Posted in Life and Choices, The Faith | Comments (13)

Non-Persons Yesterday and Today

The other day I asked, Can you identify the context of this passage? To have a persona [to be a person] was to have a face before the law—which is to say, to be recognized as one possessing rights and privileges before a court, or as being able to give testimony upon the strength of …

September 14, 2011 – 11:10 am | By Tom Gilson | Posted in Life and Choices | Tagged , , | Comments (28)

Book Review: A Queer Thing Happened To America

Book Review A Queer Thing Happened to America: And What a Long, Strange Trip It’s Been by Michael L. Brown. Let’s get straight to the point. Michael Brown has written a lengthy book on seamy practices in the “gay rights” movement. That means he must be (a) a raving homophobic fundamentalist, (b) an important contributor …

September 1, 2011 – 6:00 am | By Tom Gilson | Posted in Life and Choices | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments (26)

A Secular Sort of Dominionism

A Liberal Idea of Civility A First Things: Evangel commenter who goes by “Remember Rollen” had this to say in the discussion on Hunter Baker’s article on dominionism: If a “gay rights” law touching basic matters of justice cannot be justified in terms we can reasonably expect others to accept, then we violate a liberal …

August 24, 2011 – 9:37 pm | By Tom Gilson | Posted in Life and Choices | Tagged , , , | Comments (65)

Teachers, Run For Your Lives!

Mount Dora, Florida schools have just suspended a teacher because he made some students wonder whether he would treat them unfairly. Look out, teachers. Unless you’re perfect—and your students are too—someone is going to wonder if you’re treating them unfairly. Whoosh, down comes the axe on your job. Meanwhile, it’s been a long, long time …

August 19, 2011 – 1:45 pm | By Tom Gilson | Posted in Life and Choices | Tagged , , | Comments (4)

What Do “Hate,” “Diversity” and “Intolerance” Mean?

This is old news, but instructive nonetheless, for its issues are astonishingly and disturbingly persistent. I ran across it just now on an inactive blog called “dotmoms.”   A friend of mine told me this true story. She teaches at an elite private school, and her kids attend it as students. One day she and …

August 18, 2011 – 2:25 pm | By Tom Gilson | Posted in Life and Choices | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments (10)