A Thinking Reed

  • Countryman: Principles for a Christian sexual ethic

    We saw earlier that Countryman argues that we can’t, because of the vast gulf that separates our social world from those of the Bible, simply apply “the Biblical ethic” to contemporary concerns. But does that mean that the Bible has nothing to say to us regarding sexual ethics? By no means! First, as already mentioned,…

  • Countryman on modern individualism

    One of the main reasons we can’t simply apply the “Biblical” sexual ethic (or ethics!) to our contemporary world, argues Countryman in Dirt, Greed & Sex (see the previous post), is that we have gone from a family-centered society to an individual-centered one. The property ethic that governed sexual relations in the ancient world existed…

  • Dirt, Greed & Sex

    Having been stuck at home for the better part of a week, I’ve had ample time to catch up on my reading. One book I finally got around to was L. William Countryman’s Dirt, Greed & Sex, a study of the sexual ethics of the New Testament. Countryman–a professor of New Testament and an Episcopalian–focuses…

  • Wish you were here

    From the (suddenly indispensable) Capital Weather Gang blog: We are living through some of the most extreme winter weather we’ll ever experience in the metro region this morning. Heavy snow, winds exceeding 40 mph, and true whiteout conditions have paralyzed the entire region and steady snow will continue for a couple more hours or so…

  • Friday Tuesday Metal: Snow Day Edition

  • Mavericky!

    Interesting spin offered by the WaPo on Sarah Palin’s reported $100,000 speaking fee for her Tea Party speech: By delivering a paid keynote address at a convention other politicians had avoided because of allegations of profiteering, Palin displayed one of the traits that has electrified her anti-establishment followers: a talent for persistently and defiantly flouting…

  • Friday Metal: Mastodon, “Blood and Thunder”

  • Causal impotence and reasons for vegetarianism

    Scu at Critical Animal says: I think a lot of people spend time explaining why we shouldn’t (or should!) kill animals and/or treat them as property. But where are explanations on the justification for vegetarianism/veganism as a necessary component of opposition, besides arguments about economic boycott? If you define an economic boycott as something intended…

  • Whither amateur theo-blogging?

    Readers may have noticed something of a drop-off in theology blogging in these parts recently. Partly, this is just because my interest in things waxes and wanes, and I’ve found that my attention has alighted on other subjects lately. I’ve also been considering the question of what niche the “amateur” theology blog is trying to…

  • Where else can you do a half a million things all at a quarter to three?

    Well, not quite half a million things, but my sweetie and I took a whirlwind trip to NYC this weekend to vist friends and managed to pack a fair amount of stuff in. The Tim Burton exhibit at the MoMA is really cool. It’s fascinating to see his evolution from alienated kid to Disney hack…