Here…
• Why study history and other disciplines in the humanities? Because it entails intellectual and spiritual risk.
• News from a Mennonite Brethren seminary dredged up memories of an important debate at my own institution.
• You can watch video of my recent four-part adult class on “The Pietist Option for Baptists.”
• Why the war on journalism should matter to all Americans — including Christians.
…There and Everywhere
• In addition to that burst of blogging here, I wrote two posts at The Anxious Bench: one on the poetry of pilots; the other on a Twitter debate about the resurrection.
• But the must-read AB post of the week was Kristin Du Mez’s: on the material culture of evangelicalism, as inspired by a visit to Hobby Lobby.
• Does the Hybels scandal at Willow Creek reveal inherent problems with applying business models to churches?
• Melani McAlister, author of an essential new book on the global history of evangelicalism, examined the shifting relationship of American evangelicals to the Russian government.
• And I thought the Baptist relationship with the Baptist “brand” was complicated: Jared Burkholder on varieties of the Brethren.
• This fall I’m teaching Bethel’s Christianity and Western Culture class for the 30th time (not counting online summer sessions). But just what is “the West“?
• I’m making a list of books I want to read before our World War I travel course returns to Europe this January. At the top of that list is Jay Winter’s newest book on commemoration.
• Last week I mentioned a new memorial project at my undergraduate alma mater, William and Mary. My 2nd choice for college was Washington and Lee, on the other side of Virginia; it’s also wrestling with its history.
• How not to make a historical documentary: (1) lure preeminent scholars to interviews under false pretenses, so that (2) you can use their prestige to make your ridiculous claims seem like they deserve a hearing.
• Count me among those who wish the anonymous author of the New York Times op-ed would have followed in the footsteps of conscientious predecessors and resigned.
The Pietist Schoolman 