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Writing

Explore our collection of theological essays, biblical studies, and reflections on faith and culture.

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Romans

Notes on Scary Stuff in Romans 9

What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on…

by Mark HorneFebruary 5, 2015
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American Politics

Covenants of Exclusion

A hundred years ago, William Warley signed a contract to buy a house in Louisville, Kentucky from Charles Buchanan, a white man. Before closing the sale, Warley, who was black, learned that the lot was subject to a city ordinance barring blacks from occupying the premises if most of the…

by Brendan O'DonnellFebruary 3, 2015
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Literature

The Bard and the Book

I concluded the first essay on this topic by saying that I would introduce three books about Shakespeare and the Bible, but I decided to introduce four instead. The three books become four are: Naseeb Shaheen, Biblical References in Shakespeare’s Plays (London: Associated University Presses, 1999) ; Hannibal Hamlin, The…

by Ralph Allan SmithJanuary 29, 2015
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Augustine

Augustine on Pagan Virtue

My children attend a classical Christian school, situated in the independent “free church” evangelical tradition. Over the past few years they have been growing in their acquaintance with the world of Homer, Plato, Virgil, and Livy. They enjoy it, and I envy it. The school is a great school. My…

by Gerald HiestandJanuary 27, 2015
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Atonement

The Prodigal and the Cross

The Prodigal Son parable (Luke 15) has been a favorite of liberal theologians for a couple of centuries. It seems to be a parable designed for liberal sensibilities: An indulgent, accepting Father; forgiveness extended without a cross; a surly older brother who might represent the "conservative" face of religion who…

by Peter LeithartJanuary 22, 2015
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Ascension

Underground Man, Ascended Man

“I want now to tell you, gentlemen, whether you care to hear it or not, why I could not even become an insect. I tell you solemnly, that I have many times tried to become an insect. But I was not equal even to that. I swear, gentlemen, that to…

by Richard BledsoeJanuary 20, 2015

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Science

Memory transfer

For a decade and a half in the middle of the twentieth century, two scientists, James McConnell and Georges Ungar attempted to determine whether memories can be transferred chemically from one organism to another. No one believes anymore that this can be done, but that’s not, according to Harry Collins…

April 15, 2013
Philosophy

Attraction of Authority

Luigi Giussani ( The Risk of Education: Discovering Our Ultimate Destiny ) say that “we experience authority when we meet someone who possesses a full awareness of reality, who imposes on us a recognition and arouses surprise, novelty, and respect.” Authority in this sense attracts: “There is an inevitable attraction…

April 15, 2013

Deleuzian theology

Atheist and immanentist, Gilles Deleuze seems to be fairly useless for theology. But Christopher Ben Simpson is able to mine some ore in his Deleuze and Theology , even for theology proper: “The Trinity is ‘the Christian multiple’ as ‘an absolute that is itself difference,’ names ‘divine difference, gives ‘the…

April 15, 2013

Power of Four

There are four fourfold keys to understanding the gospels, argues Eduardo Olaguer, Jr., in The Power of Four: Keys to the Hidden Treasures of the Gospels : the faces of the cherubim, four groups of Old Testament books, four maps, four treasures of seven symbols. Following tradition, he lines up…

April 15, 2013

For the Life of This World

An essay in appreciation of Alexander Schmemann at the Trinity House site this morning.

April 15, 2013

Eucharistic meditation

John 14:12; 16:7: Truly, truly I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father . . . . It is good that I go away. Despite the…

April 14, 2013

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