What duties, if any, do we have toward animals? A new statement on responsible animal care addresses this question in a balanced and biblically informed way. It is being called an “evangelical statement” and appears to be the first such … Continued
Recently, a Colorado appeals court ruled that baker Jack Phillips—owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop in Denver—does not have a right to refuse service for a gay wedding. The legal reasoning in this case, which affirmed previous rulings, is now the topic … Continued
In the United States the last generation has seen a decisive move away from the Judeo-Christian sexual norms that have reigned in the West for centuries. This shift has involved a move toward sexual pluralism, the view that any sexual … Continued
We live in a peculiar age. Moral relativism is probably the dominant ethical perspective in American culture, yet at the same time there is a strong tendency among Americans (1) to dogmatically oppose certain forms of behavior and speech and … Continued
An exciting new book has recently been released. It is entitled Being Good: Christian Virtues for Everyday Life (Eerdmans), edited by Michael Austin and Douglas Geivett. The book features chapters on eleven different virtues—faith, open-mindedness, wisdom, zeal, hope, contentment, courage, … Continued
Last week I attended the national meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society in San Francisco. I attended many interesting sessions and my own session for the Evangelical Philosophical Society (entitled “Belief, Behavior, and the Necessary Conditions for Salvation”) went well, … Continued
Anyone familiar with the writings of the new atheists is aware of their penchant for taking potshots at Old Testament ethics. Their moral objections target such things as: (1) God’s desire to be worshipped, (2) God’s preferential treatment of the … Continued
As a professor at a Christian college, I spend a lot of time training young people to think Christianly—building students’ knowledge of Christian doctrine and sharpening their critical thinking skills. Many of my students received solid worldview training prior to … Continued
The recent discussion of gay marriage (see my October 2 post and related comments) has reminded me once again how difficult it is to be both culturally liberal and morally conservative. It seems that today most folks fall into one of … Continued
The presidential race is approaching the home-stretch now, and the media frenzy to cover every detail of the candidates’ each and every move is becoming circus-like. But, with as much as there is on the line, I suppose this is … Continued