When I wrote a piece on religious persecution for All Saint’s Sunday, I pointed to some specific examples of Christians — and non-Christians — whose religious beliefs and practices put them at significant risk. I think it’s a serious problem, and plan to devote more attention than usual to religious freedom in my Human Rights … More How Many Christians Are Martyred Each Year?
This morning my colleague Phyllis Alsdurf presented the sixth in a series of eight talks in the Bethel University Library previewing chapters from our forthcoming book, Whole and Holy Persons: A Pietist Approach to Christian Higher Education. The director of Bethel’s Journalism program and an expert on the history of Christianity Today, Phyllis is the … More Two Carls, Two Visions of an Evangelical University
Didn’t know that this blog had a foreign correspondent, did you? Yes, today we’re happy to share an update on what’s been happening at the 10th Assembly of the World Council of Churches, courtesy of our “man in Busan,” my colleague Christian Collins Winn. As always, I’ll disclaim that opinions of guest-posters are their own, … More A Report from the 10th Assembly of the WCC (Christian Collins Winn)
One final follow-up to some of the comments on my open letter on churches and Christian higher education. In part two of this mini-series, I took up the argument that churches and denominations might not give as much to Christian colleges because the latter tend to be poor stewards of the former’s funds. Today I … More Are Christian Colleges Poor Spiritual Stewards?
11/4/13 – If you were interested in my open letter on the crisis in Christian higher education, I discuss the topic as the featured guest on the current episode of the podcast Research on Religion, hosted by political scientist Tony Gill (Univ. of Washington) and supported by the Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion. Tony … More My Appearance on the Research on Religion Podcast
This All Saints’ Sunday Christians around the world are being urged to pause and pray for their sisters and brothers in Christ who face persecution. Let me encourage my readers to join in, but to pray still more widely for all those who suffer persecution because of religious faith — and for those who persecute … More Persecution and Prayer
The modern distinction between sacred and secular has allowed the studies of religion and politics to go their separate ways in virtual isolation. (Nathan O. Hatch) By training, I’m a historian of international relations. More recently, I’ve become interested in the history of Christianity. That wouldn’t seem like an unlikely pairing, given the global reach … More Mind the Gap: The Histories of Christianity and of International Relations
Since I’ve already seen it shared this week on Facebook and Twitter by friends and former students, I might as well join the fun and mark this 496th anniversary of Martin Luther posting his “95 Theses” by posting “The Reformation Polka” — a music video that my friend Sam Mulberry and I made several years … More Reformation Day (and Response)
Those interested in getting early glimpses of our forthcoming book for InterVarsity Press, Whole and Holy Persons: A Pietist Approach to Christian Higher Education, can now watch video of the first two in a series of six talks by contributors to that volume. Earlier this month in the Bethel University Library, Marion Larson (English) and … More Talks on Pietism and Higher Ed: Interfaith Dialogue and Off-Campus Study
You generally see the birthdate for the great Christian humanist Desiderius Erasmus given as October 27, 1466, but both the day and year are a bit uncertain. So since I don’t blog on Sundays, I’ll take advantage of the confusion and celebrate the second date suggested, October 28th. To be honest, I’d need a lot … More Erasmus: The Christian Scholar’s Scholar
The Pietist Schoolman 