“To father our wicked divisions upon religion is no other than to bring down the Holy Ghost in the likeness of a dove to be like a vulture or a raven” (Burroughs, Irenicum, p. 313).
Compassionate Conservativism Isn’t Either One
Darryl’s next chapter, “The Dilemma of Compassionate Conservatism,” provides a good overview of the recent interactions of the state and evangelicals, and the attempt to have the government provide help to various “faith-based” social agencies. Darryl does good work pointing out the corners that we have painted ourselves into, but his narrow conception of what …
Dancing Solipsistically
“On the dance floor itself, a great seething mass of people move like maggots in a tin. With so large a number of people crammed into so small a space, it is astonishing that they is no social contact among them. Most of the pairs do not even look into each other’s eyes; because of …
First Time for Everything
I understand that a bunch of you are going to be at the Evangelical Theological Society Conference in San Diego this week (Nov. 14-16). Well, as it turns out, Canon Press is going to be there as a vendor for the first time, and they are going to have books for sale. Now I understand …
First Edition Lewis
Interested in Lewis first editions? Why not? Well, okay, maybe the price is why not, and maybe you wouldn’t want to read through it with a highlighter when you get it. But, that said, think about the investment potential. What will these puppies be worth in another hundred years? Think about that.
Flaunting the Body She Thought She Had
“I enter the [pub]. Everyone is shouting, but still no one can make himself heard (which perhaps is just as well). Twenty televisions blare: eight each playing two different songs (one rock and one reggae), and four relaying a wrestling match. Ten seconds of this and one feels one has a food mixer inside one’s …
Don’t Give the Agenda to Quarrelers
“Our case would be miserable if we were at the mercy of every quarreler, bound to answer whatsoever he please to put forth. But let us tend to our work” (Burroughs, Irenicum, p. 309).
He Will Stand Before Kings
Chapter seven, “The Tie That Divides,” was informative and quite good. In it Darryl traces the rise of the Protestant ecumenical movement in the mainline denominations, along with the evangelical attempts to counter it, whether by competition or by withdrawal. There is not very much to differ with here, so I won’t try to gin …
Rene Girard and N.T. Wright
Those with a conservative background who start reading Girard are struck by how much he “gives away” with regard to the integrity of the scriptural text. That is fine—we ought to notice it. At the same time, it would be a very great mistake to identify him as some kind of liberal. Once you get …
Unsuccessful Bracketing
Throughout the course of this book Darryl says many good things, and makes many fine observations. Unfortunately, they are set in the context of this dualistic background of his, which make the result resemble a collection of diamonds, rubies, and sapphires set in a fitting of tarnished and battered sheet metal. Chapter six on “impersonal …