Category: Christianity

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What Are Some Indispensable Christian Academic Twitter Accounts?

March 23, 2016

In honor of Twitter turning 10, Andy Thomason of The Chronicle of Higher Education yesterday named “15 Indispensable Academic Twitter Accounts,” starting with the undisputed champion: I like my academic writing like I like my coffee: intentionally obfuscatory so as to propagate an inflationary in-crowd publishing oligarchy — Shit Academics Say (@AcademicsSay) March 18, 2016 Despite having been … More What Are Some Indispensable Christian Academic Twitter Accounts?

McKnight, A Fellowship of Differents

Christian Unity Is a Task for Christian Formation

March 17, 2016

In the course of trying to convince evangelicals that they might actually be Pietists, yesterday I argued again that the beginning of Christian witness is the unity of the church. With Jesus, we ought to pray that his followers “may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them … More Christian Unity Is a Task for Christian Formation

YouTube screen cap of Donald Trump and Ted Cruz at a January 2016 debate

Done with “Evangelical”? Maybe You Should Try “Pietist”

March 16, 2016

There are few terms more debated than “evangelical,” and never more so than during this election cycle, when Donald Trump’s ability to attract a significant share of self-identified evangelicals has caused enormous consternation among evangelical leaders and intellectuals. I doubt that last night’s primary results will do much to change that dynamic. Florida senator Marco … More Done with “Evangelical”? Maybe You Should Try “Pietist”

Dimnent Chapel, Hope College

An Ecumenical Vision for Christian Higher Education

March 3, 2016

One of my favorite publications is The Cresset, which regularly publishes diverse collections of thoughtful essays on literature, art, education, politics, and more. Hosted by Valparaiso University, it “explores ideas and trends in contemporary culture from a perspective grounded in the Lutheran tradition of scholarship, freedom, and faith while informed by the wisdom of the … More An Ecumenical Vision for Christian Higher Education

Bethlehem, PA in the 1830s

There’s Nothing New about the Moral Dilemmas Raised by Violence… Just ask 18th Century Moravian Missionaries

March 1, 2016

Today I’m happy to welcome Grace College professor Jared Burkholder back to the blog for a timely guest-post. With shootings in Michigan, Kansas, and Washington this past week, we are again confronted with moral dilemmas about responding to violent threats. In the wake of the mass shooting in San Bernardino back in December and the debate over Falwell’s … More There’s Nothing New about the Moral Dilemmas Raised by Violence… Just ask 18th Century Moravian Missionaries

Frayed knot

Is It Time for an Evangelical “Divorce”?

February 17, 2016

This Sunday I’ll be speaking at First Covenant Church in St. Paul on “Reconciled Diversity: Seeking Church Unity in the Midst of Conflict.” I’m still working out the kinks in the talk, but at this point, I think I’ll probably start with a much-discussed op-ed piece published late last week by Baptist ethicist David Gushee: American … More Is It Time for an Evangelical “Divorce”?

Mount St. Mary's University

“Change is Hard”: Lessons (and Non-Lessons) from Mount St. Mary’s

February 15, 2016

Last week faculty at Mount St. Mary’s University voted overwhelmingly to request that president Simon Newman resign. We’re now past the deadline they set, and I haven’t seen any such announcement. Frankly, I don’t expect one. Not only do 75% of students support his leadership (according to a survey conducted by the student government over the … More “Change is Hard”: Lessons (and Non-Lessons) from Mount St. Mary’s

G.W. Carlson

Best of The Pietist Schoolman: A Tribute to G.W. Carlson

February 12, 2016

I grieve to report that G.W. Carlson, who wrote several guest-posts here, passed away early this morning — ten days after suffering a stroke. At some point in the coming days, I’m sure I’ll write something more about GW, but for now, let me just repost the essay that I wrote for his retirement from … More Best of The Pietist Schoolman: A Tribute to G.W. Carlson