Flotsam and jetsam (8/28)

Some good links for your Saturday reading pleasure:

• Sharon Baker explains why she thinks we need to seriously rethink our understanding of hell.
• Carl Trueman wraps up his reflections on Luther’s writings against the Jews by reflecting on what we can learn from all of this today.
• Peter Leithart discusses the shame/guilt dichotomy and summarizes Douglas Cairns’ argument that the classical external/internal framework usually used to understand shame and guilt simply does not hold up to scrutiny – unless you understand it as a political move to make the private spirituality of the Enlightenment look superior.
• Jonathan links to some free book giveaways. You can pick up books on biblical theology, leadership, and apologetics.
• Boyd Morrison has some good thoughts on the decision of whether to self-publish.
• Steve Holmes discusses the New Perspective, arguing that the criticism that the Protestant tradition has prioritized justification over union with Christ is wrong. Instead, he suggests that union with Christ has been central (at least to Reformed theology) from the very beginning.
• Fred Sanders has an outstanding reflection on the passing of Donald Bloesch. This is a must read if you want to understand who Bloesch was and why he’s important.
• And,  if you’re a Star Trek TNG fan, you should check out this casting memo discussing actors originally considered for key roles. Wesley Snipes as Geordi? What, is there a terrorist on the Enterprise somewhere?

Flotsam and jetsam (8/27)

• Scot McKnight has begun discussing Tim Gombis’ new book Paul for the Perplexed.
• Carl Trueman explains why he thinks we shouldn’t accuse Luther of antisemitism. Joseph Tyson tackles a similar question as he addresses whether antisemitism is rooted in the NT, specifically the Gospel of Luke.
• Roger Olson argues that evangelicals need to be more clear about the different flavors of postmodernism. He thinks that would clear up a lot of the confusion that surrounds whether postmodernism is a friend or foe for evangelicals. (He also critiques the neo-fundamentalists again. Methinks someone has a bit of an ax to grind here.)
• Diglot reviews The Intertextuality of the Epistles: Explorations of Theory and Practices edited by Thomas Brodie, Dennis MacDonald, and Stanley Porter.
• And, here’s a list of the 9 best science fiction novels for young adults.