Flotsam and jetsam (1/31)

HT Kevin DeYoung

• Joshua Tucker argues that admitting more Ph.D. students than we can possibly hope to employ in academia may actually be a good thing.

Like major league baseball, a successful academic career is a very good gig. Do we really owe every 22-year-old who is admitted to a Ph.D. program the right to that career solely on the basis of getting into a Ph.D. program? Or is it enough to give them a chance to succeed, knowing full well that not all of them will? Personally, I’d rather give more people a chance, in large part because I don’t think we know which 22-year-olds are going to make the best academics.

• A WSJ article with the provocative title “Why Rich Parents Don’t Matter” discusses a recent study looking into the impact of socio-economic status on a child’s mental development.

These results capture the stunning developmental inequalities that set in almost immediately, so that even the mental ability of 2-year-olds can be profoundly affected by the socio-economic status of their parents. As a result, their genetic potential is held back.

• iMonk reflects on the significance of Thomas Merton to celebrate his birthday today.

Merton (1915-1968) is one of the most significant religious writers of the twentieth century and a lasting influence on untold numbers of Christians (and non-Christians) from every tradition and culture. For those of us in the Bluegrass state, he also holds the distinction of being perhaps the most significant religious figure to reside in Kentucky, being a monk at Our Lady of Gesthemeni monastery near Bardstown for twenty-seven years. He is buried there today.

• Bryan Lilly offers a very nice post on the beauty of the Gospel.

When it comes to a crucifixion no one would argue for beauty in an aesthetic sense. The form of a broken, bled-out human being certainly isn’t pleasing to the eye. And this lack of beauty is most true particularly in a crucifixion where the death sentence is piggy-backed onto a miscarriage of justice. But here, in the gospel account, is kingdom subversion. In one of the most brutal acts of physical horror and treachery on a cosmic scale, God weaves together the elements of beauty.

• Fred Sanders discusses the revival of evangelical interest in a theology of adoption.

The movement got started with basic, biblical teaching about the gospel and holistic mission. It picked up speed with a network of projects and organizations committed to orphan care. And to this theological observer, it looks like it may have the momentum to reinvigorate evangelical systematic theology.

• Jason Hood’s article in CT on antinomianism has caused a bit of a stir. Mike Bird offers some thoughts on the discussion as well as a nice roundup of links. And, Dane Ortlund explains where he and Jason Hood still disagree on the relationship between a Gospel of grace and the call to holiness.

• Jonathan Robinson discusses preaching as an educational ministry.

• Ben Myers points out some new theology journals that might be worth paying attention to.

• And, here’s a list of eight 2010 box-office flops destined to become cult classics.

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HT Neatorama

The latest issue of ATI looks outstanding – check it out

If you’re not following the American Theology Inquiry journal (ATI), you really should. It’s a free online journal that just seems to be getting better with each issue. The latest issue of the journal just came out and it looks great. I’ll definitely be digging into some of these as soon as I get the chance.

Here are the articles in this issue:

• “Reassessing the Relation of Reformation and Orthodoxy: A Methodological Rejoinder”, Richard A. Mueller
• Discovering the Sacred in Secular Art: An Aesthetic Modality that ‘Speaks of God'”,  Christopher Evan Longhurst
• A Match Made in Munich: The Origin of Grenz’s Trinitarian Theology,” Jason S. Sexton
• “The Best Man Is Only a Man: Reflections on Some Enchantments and Disenchantments of the Grail,” Charles M. Natoli
• “There Is No Sex in the Church,” Fr. Sergei Sveshnikov
• “The Parable of the Budding Fig Tree,” J. Lyle Story

Morning links (9/23)

• Here’s a promising new journal called The City published by Houston Baptist University. They already have several issues with a number of interesting articles. This one might be worth following. HT
• Brian has been discussing the logic of Descarte’s cogito ergo sum.
• Byron Smith reflects on the most urgent theological task for this generation.
• Charlotte Pastor Steven Furtick just finished preaching for 24 hours straight to an online audience.
• Mark Stevens offers some initial reflections on Bible Works 8.
• Brian Fulthorp has some good thoughts on knowing God’s will.
• Jim points out the new Colbertlist, Stephen Colbert’s replacement for Craigslist.
• And, here’s a list of 10 words that can’t be translated into English.

http://zwingliusredivivus.wordpress.com/2010/09/22/colbertlist-replaces-craigslist/

Free online journals and the newest issue of ATI

What free online Bible/theology journals do you read, if any? I run across new ones every now and then, but I rarely take the time to find out if they’re any good. Do you know of any that are worth following?

One that I’ve come to appreciate is American Theological Inquiry – a free online journal focusing on articles related to theology, culture, and history. The newest issue is now available. It still hasn’t been around all that long, but it usually has at least a few articles that are worth reading. Some of the more interesting (to me) articles in this issue are:

• Paul Helm, “Senses, Intellect and Spirit”
• Gerald O’Collins,”Philip Pullman on the Miracles of Jesus”
• Ryan McIlhenny, “’God Is In Your Head’: Neurotheology and Religious Belief”
• Erik J. Wielenberg, “Objective Morality and the Nature of Reality” (this one’s a response from Wielenberg, an atheist, to an earlier article contending that “a personal transcendent anchor” is necessary to ground morality)

Best journals in New Testament studies

Evangelical Textual Criticism has posted a ranking of the top journals in New Testament studies by compiling the results of three separate rankings. If you’re interested in New Testament, this could be a helpful list as you decide which journals you should be keeping your eyes on.

HT: Exploring Our Matrix