Sociologist Bradley Wright teaches at the University of Connecticut. I have mentioned his work on several occasions, including reviews of his two most recent books: Upside: Surprising Good News About the State of Our World (2011 – my review here) and Christians are Hate-Filled Hypocrites . . . and Other Lies You’ve Been Told: A Sociologist Shatters Myths From the Secular and Christian Media (2010 – my review here). Earlier this month he blogged Read More …
Help Stop SOPA/PIPA (#0612)
I talk about many issues on my blog, but politics is not typically a part of that diverse mix. Today, I feel it necessary to share a little about an issue that has become quite political. A few weeks ago SOPA or PIPA were acronyms known by a select few; today a majority of Americans will learn more about them. Two bills -- SOPA in the House (Stop Online Piracy Act) and PIPA in the Senate (Protect IP Act) -- seek to stop the illegal copying and sharing of movies and music on the Read More …
Review of Religion Gone Astray (#0611)
Meet the Authors Pastor Don Mackenzie, Rabbi Ted Falcon, and Imam Jamal Rahman have been working together on interfaith matters since shortly after September 11, 2001. A few years ago the trio together wrote their first book: Getting to the Heart of Interfaith: The Eye-Opening, Hope-Filled Friendship of a Pastor, a Rabbi & a Sheikh (2009). In response to the many common questions they receive at their speaking engagements, they have now written a second Read More …
Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus (#0610)
In less than a week a 4 minute video, Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus, by spoken word artist Jefferson Bethke has received over 10 million hits. It is a video with an important message that is worth watching, sharing, and discussing. So What? Organized religion has many strengths, but must not be blinded by its weaknesses. In listening to the poets words over and over again, I hear a prophetic call to put Jesus first in all contexts (including that of institutional Read More …
Low Commitment Christianity (#0609)
Yesterday, I reviewed Rodney Stark's latest book: The Triumph of Christianity: How the Jesus Movement Became the World’s Largest Religion (2011). Throughout the book he offers considerable sociological insight, including the following paragraph on the shortcomings of low commitment religious groups: The conclusion that competition among faiths will favor "low cost" religious organizations mistakes price for value. As is evident in most consumer markets, people do not Read More …
Review of The Triumph of Christianity (#0608)
Meet the Author Since 2004, Rodney Stark has been a University Professor in Social Sciences and the Co-Director of the Institute of Studies of Religion at Baylor University. Stark is an American sociologist of religion who previously taught for over thirty years at the University of Washington. He has published 30 books and more than 140 scholarly articles, mostly on religion. One of his recent books, What Americans Really Believe (2008), has been reviewed on this blog (click Read More …
What Pastors Believe (#0607)
LifeWay Research released the results of their latest poll of Protestant pastors earlier this week. The 1000 participants "overwhelmingly believe that God did not use evolution to create humans and think Adam and Eve were literal people." More specifically, "I believe God used evolution to create people" - 73% of pastors disagree "I believe Adam and Eve were literal people" - 74% of pastors agree So What? Thankfully the article does note that this pastoral group's beliefs Read More …
Higher Education Myths (#0606)
Jay Schalin, Director of State Policy for the John William Pope Center for Higher Education Policy, shared 10 myths about academia. While most readers are likely to disagree with one or more items on his list, the following group warrants additional attention: Everybody should go to college. All faculty research is necessary and/or important. Higher Education drives the economy. So What? With the cost of higher education rising faster than inflation and even faster than Read More …
No Longer Divided: Virtual & F2F (#0605)
Earlier this week Arnab Sen, head of strategic planning at MRM (a global, top-five digital and direct agency in India), wrote a post for Mashable.com arguing that the virtual world or online world and the offline or face-to-face world are melting into one. More specifically, he writes: Social science studies increasingly suggest that the divide between the virtual and real worlds is narrowing. Our experiences of reality may no longer constitute a duality. So What? The melting Read More …
Good Followers . . . (#0604)
Anthony B. Robinson is an ordained United Church of Christ pastor who currently serves as President of Congregational Leadership Northwest, and who has written several books including Changing the Conversation: A Third Way for Congregations (2008 - read my review here). His article in the January 11, 2012 edition of the Christian Century highlights five ways people can be good followers: Good followers recognize that leadership is necessary, important and Read More …