Author Archive

Top 3 Year-in-Review Lists for 2013

December 30, 2013

That’s right, this is a list of lists. But, don’t worry — it’s relatively short. I didn’t actually read a lot of year-end lists, but these three were among the best I came across. They sort of go together, and I (obviously) felt they were worth sharing. Unfortunately, they (mostly) constitute a sad commentary on […]

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9 Things You Might Not Know about Christmas

December 24, 2013

OK, something rather less weighty or theologically-oriented this year. This Christmas post has little to do with the biblical Nativity and more to do with Christmas traditions in general. (Maybe I should do another one someday with just Christian-oriented things?) But, I think you may find it fun and informative, anyway. It’s a sort of […]

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Informal Logic 101: How to Think and Argue Better, Part 9

December 15, 2013

Part 9: Apples, Oranges, and Character Assassination “When the debate is lost, slander becomes the tool of the loser.”  — Socrates Only two fallacies on the docket today, but they are biggies! Category mistake/error I’m sure you have heard the term, “It’s apples and oranges.” Maybe you have used it, yourself. When Person A says this […]

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Posted in Politics, Politics / Science / Religion, Religion, Science | 2 Comments »

No “Real” Christians?

December 1, 2013

A young Facebook friend (and fellow Christian) posted a status the other day, expressing his frustration with some legalistic Christian brothers who were giving him grief, telling him he was going to Hell because they deemed some of his speech and musical taste as unredeemably “unChristian”. One of those who (eventually) came to his defense […]

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Posted in Religion | 2 Comments »

Kennedy’s Thanksgiving Proclamation

November 27, 2013

In previous years, I’ve reproduced and commented on Thanksgiving proclamations made by George Washington (1789) and Abraham Lincoln (1863). They are perhaps the two best-known such proclamations and very notable in what they have to say, particularly considering the difficult times that Americans were going through. I encourage you to check them out. If there […]

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Problems with Problems with Islam

November 23, 2013

I know what you’re thinking. No, I didn’t stutter when I wrote the title of this post. You’ll see what I mean…. As an orthodox Christian, I obviously have many “problems” with Islam, and not just the violent, extremist version(s). Today, though, I specifically want to look at those addressed in Alex McFarland’s book 10 Answers […]

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Posted in Religion | 4 Comments »

Informal Logic 101: How to Think and Argue Better, Part 8

November 17, 2013

Part 8: Validity and Clarity “Most of the arguments to which I am party fall somewhat short of being impressive, owing to the fact that neither I nor my opponent knows what we are talking about.”  — Robert Benchley, American columnist & actor Hey, folks! Ready for another lesson in logic? Of course, you are!! […]

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Posted in Politics, Politics / Science / Religion, Religion, Science | No Comments »

What to Make of the New Muslim Superhero on the Block

November 10, 2013

“Solid female characters, not just superheroes, are essential for the Arab world at this time of unprecedented violence against women.”  — Joumana Merhej, creator of female Muslim superhero “Malaak” (quoted by Salon editor/writer Prachi Gupta) A Facebook friend of mine posted an article announcing Marvel Comics’ new “Muslim Girl Superhero”, which will debut in January […]

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Costumes, Candy, and Courting Evil

October 29, 2013

“But examine everything carefully, hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil.”  — I Thessalonians 5:21 (NASB) I’m not really into Halloween. Haven’t been for years. Sure, in my early years, I did the whole trick-or-treating thing. I remember, when I was around 5 or 6, I went out dressed […]

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Posted in Religion, Uncategorized | 4 Comments »