A Thinking Reed

  • Dogma and prayer

    I think I mentioned a week or so ago that I’d been reading Anglican theologian Austin Farrer’s Saving Belief. Well, I just finished another work of his called Lord I Belive: Suggestions for Turning the Creed Into Prayer, and it’s another great read. Farrer argues that “prayer and dogma are inseparable” (p. 9). To be…

  • Thought for the day

    The issue before us is to discover or determine what we are, and what we are for. Traditional believers–among whom I count myself–suppose that there are answers to those questions, and that they can be found by prayerful examination of the Word of God in Scripture–and the world. Less traditional believers, reacting against the follies…

  • Friday metal – more Swedish goodness

    Okay, I know I posted a video from these guys a couple of weeks ago, but I’ve been digging into the Soilwork back catalog, so you’re going to get some more: “As We Speak” “Stabbing the Drama” “Nerve”

  • Affirming liberalism (and conservatism)

    There’s a newish Church of England group calling itself “Affirming Liberalism” that, I gather, is kind of like Affirming Catholicism, but not tied to a particular form of churchmanship. In any event, the webiste has some interesting articles, including this one from Keith Ward called (perhaps optimistically) “Why the Future Belongs to Liberal Faith.” Ward’s…

  • The (carbon) taxman cameth

    Spurred in part by this post from John, I was thinking a bit about carbon taxes vs. cap-and-trade as methods to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Googling around a bit I found this article from the New York Times on the different experiences of countries that have actually implemented a carbon tax: But a carbon tax…

  • The worst kind of cocktail party – one with no booze

    Marvin, Jonathan, and Jennifer have been going around a bit about some of the same issues I talked about here regarding Christians, patriotism, politics, and Stanley Hauerwas. Now, unlike these three, I’ve never formally studied theology, much less under the man himself, so I always feel a little underqualified jumping into these discussions. But, fools…

  • More on the churches and patriotism

    After reading this comment thread over at Chris’ blog, it ocurred to me that there might be a communication breakdown of sorts between mainline Protestant and evangelical responses to the quote from Stanley Hauerwas under discussion. When Hauerwas first started churning out his jeremiads, they were aimed primarily at the liberal mainline establishment that, in…

  • The limits of Pollanism

    UPDATE: Now with links! The current issue of the American Conservative, in addition to featuring John‘s very cool cover story on “conservative cuisine” (which I may blog about later), carries Rod “Crunchy Con” Dreher’s interview with Michael Pollan. This passage, where Dreher tries to draw a connection between Pollan’s “organic” conception of the environment and…

  • Saturday metal – Independence Day edition (one day late)

    Iced Earth, “Declaration Day” (Yes, the line “freedom is not free” actually occurs in the song. And I have no idea what that freaky animation’s all about.)

  • How should Christians celebrate the 4th?

    Speaking of Christians and patriotism, I liked this piece from the Christian Century. I mean, I personally spent the 4th helping my wife study for the bar exam, but in principle I like what this article has to say.