“At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Ps. 16: 11) Growing Dominion, Part 116 “Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right” (Prov. 20:11). A work ethic is instilled, or not, when an individual is a child. And in order for parents to …
Third Installment of the Hitchens/Wilson Debate
It has been very interesting to follow some of the blog buzz over the debate I am having with Christopher Hitchens. Speaking of that debate, the third installment is now posted here. Christian bloggers have been generally very happy about the whole thing. But the Christians who have been dubious about the whole enterprise can …
The Top Hat and the Sea Otters
We are in the backstretch now. In his next chapter, Christopher Hitchens gives us a brief historical survey of freethinkers throughout history who found themselves in trouble with the authorities. Men like Socrates, Spinoza and Thomas Paine are an inspiration to Hitchens, and he spends this chapter telling us why. But he also tells us …
Floating Indignation
In Chapter Seventeen, Hitchens tries to answer the question created by secularist atrocities. “Is it not true that secular and atheist regimes have committed crimes and massacres that are, in the scale of things, at least as bad if not worse?” (p. 229) There are two responses here. The first is a brief reply to …
Hitchens Gives Orwell the Raspberry
My review of Chapter Sixteen of Hitchens’ book will not be long at all. The title of this chapter is “Is Religion Child Abuse?” He acknowledges at the conclusion of the previous chapter that it is “one provocative question” (p. 215). It certainly is. One of the guiding assumptions of Hitchens’ zeal is that religion …
The Temple Fires are Extinguished
In his next chapter, Christopher Hitchens takes on religion as original sin. In this chapter, he demonstrates that he understands the Christian gospel better than many televangelists do, but at the same time, that understanding is suffused with the kind of hatred that brings a different kind of confusion. Hitchens says here that the behavior …
All Passages Work Together for Good
Before Green Baggins goes on to my next chapter, he had some follow-up questions to my last response. First, law and gospel. As I said, I affirm the three uses of the law. My position is this: when the law reveals to me my need for a savior, and prepares me for the gospel proper, …
Third in a String of Shameless Appeals
I am (kind of) getting the hang of posting pictures. And when you first find a hammer, everything looks like a nail. Let me remind of our upcoming Trinity Fest. This is our third annual run at this, and we are looking forward to it a great deal. You can look at more detailed info …
Second in a String of Shameless Appeals
As some of you may know, I have written some stories for kids set in the colonial era. The first was Blackthorn Winter, the second was Susan Creek, and the third, Two Williams, is now out. Here is a little descriptive copy from the back cover: Caught up in the American War for Independence, young …
First in a String of Shameless Appeals
As the title mentions, this is the first in a string of shameless appeals. For many years now, Logos School has offered a short course of teacher training in the summer. Here is the info for this summer. If you are new to classical Christian education, this week is jammed full of edification and encouragement.