How should Christians respond to injustice and evil? Is it acceptable to use violence? How do you define violence, anyway? The debate over how to answer these and other questions has gone on for a very long time, with Just War theory holding the upper hand over pacifism since about the fourth century. Ron Sider's contribution to this … Continue reading A Case for Christian Nonviolence: A Review
Category: Ethics
Power Was Made for Flourishing: A Review
The word power has the ability to make even the least squeamish among us flinch. It can call to mind images of violence, abuse, and selfishness. When we hear the word power, we think of Lord Acton's saying, "Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." It is bad guys who have power, we think—even though … Continue reading Power Was Made for Flourishing: A Review
The Slavery of “Freedom”
We Americans love to talk about freedom. We call ourselves "the land of the free"; our Declaration of Independence talks about liberty as an "inalienable right"; there are still few things that can get an American riled up like the threat of a loss of freedom. But our freedom is in jeopardy, says Os Guinness … Continue reading The Slavery of “Freedom”
Book Review: Fixing the Moral Deficit
In his newest book, Fixing the Moral Deficit: A Balanced Way to Balance the Budget, Ron Sider writes that there are three crises facing America today: a deficit crisis, a poverty crisis, and a justice crisis. Seen together, these three add up to a moral deficit. This short (171 pages, including notes and an index) … Continue reading Book Review: Fixing the Moral Deficit
Book Review: Beyond Bumper Sticker Ethics
This is the second edition of Steve Wilkens's introductory survey of ethical theories. Wilkens, who teaches at Azusa Pacific University in southern California, devotes chapters to cultural relativism, ethical egoism, utilitarianism, behaviorism, evolutionary ethics, situation ethics, Kantian ethics, virtue ethics, narrative ethics, natural law ethics and divine command theory. The chapters on evolutionary ethics and … Continue reading Book Review: Beyond Bumper Sticker Ethics
February 2011: Books Read
1. Dune by Frank Herbert. This is a classic work of science fiction that, before I read it, I knew next to nothing about. I knew they had made a movie from it (which I had never seen), and that the movie had Sting in it. That's all. It was a fun read, though I … Continue reading February 2011: Books Read
August 2009: Books Read
1. Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger: Moving From Affluence to Generosity by Ronald J. Sider. This book came out in 1977, and is regarded by many as a "classic." The version I read was the fifth edition, updated in (I think) 2004. The book comes in four parts: the first part depicts the … Continue reading August 2009: Books Read
Truth Project 12: Community & Involvement (God Cares, Do I?)
Now we have reached the final "tour" of the Truth Project, on Community. Del begins by quoting Matthew 22:33-40, wherein a Pharisee asks Jesus what the greatest commandment in the Law is. Jesus responds (referring to Deut. 6:4-9), "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all … Continue reading Truth Project 12: Community & Involvement (God Cares, Do I?)
The Year of Living Like Jesus
For the past two years, when I have gone to visit family in Grand Rapids, MI, I have gone to Rob Bell's Mars Hill Church. I am an unabashed church tourist, and I enjoy going to well-known churches just to see what they are like. I've been to Saddleback, the Crystal Cathedral, McLean Bible Church, … Continue reading The Year of Living Like Jesus
Reinhold Niebuhr. Again.
When I started this blog back in September, I didn't think that I would write two posts on Reinhold Niebuhr in the first five months. I have never even read an entire book by him (though I have read articles). And yet, here is number two (Here is number one): Over the break, one of … Continue reading Reinhold Niebuhr. Again.
Elliot Ritzema 