Daily Archives: June 25, 2008

The Office as a Burial Ground: Undated Image of a Writer

In an oral culture you are with others in groups, and you hear living voices, and you are frequently out of doors and engaged with the world. In a literate culture you value withdrawal from groups and withdrawal from voices, and are indoors a … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Stuff Happens: Donald Rumsfeld, the Free Will Defense, and the Problem of Suffering

After the invasion of Iraq in April 2003, George Bush’s Defense Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, provided a free-will defense for the rampant street looting in Iraq. Why was it occurring, and why wasn’t the United States actively engaged in stopping it? Here’s Rumsfeld’s answer: Freedom’s … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Earthquake in Reagan Country: The Orange County Register Endorses Gay Marriage

Calling the California high court’s decision justified, the Orange County Register, probably the state’s largest conservative newspaper, in its lead editorial on Sunday (June 22,2008), succinctly and articulately endorsed gay marriage. Money quote: Our preference would be for the government not to be … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Text of Barack Obama’s Speech on Religion (the one James Dobson doesn’t like)

Two summers ago, in 2006, Barack Obama gave a thoughtful and nuanced speech about religion, and on Tuesday, June 24th, 2008, James Dobson made some headlines feigning offense to its content. In response, I wanted to read what Obama actually said, … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

A New Pew Poll: Live and Let Live Evangelicals?

A new Pew Poll contains what some might regard as a startling finding: 57% of evangelicals say many religions can lead to eternal life. Given that one of the most important teachings of evangelical Christianity is that salvation comes ONLY … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Calling Gloria Steinem and Dr. Freud: Hans Baldung’s Witches

The German artist, Han Baldung, active throughout the early 1500s, was a supporter of Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation, and seems to have had a bit of an obsession with portraying witches in different media, from woodcuts to drawings. In this image, Baldung imagines four … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment