Book Release: The Subversive Evangelical

May 27, 2019

My first academic book is being released next month (June 2019) by McGill-Queen’s University Press and its available on Amazon, too. Its a book about Canadian religion, evangelicalism, and charismatic leadership. Evangelicals have of late been scandalized by their association with Donald Trump, and their megachurches are summarily dismissed as “religious Walmarts.” In The Subversive … More Book Release: The Subversive Evangelical

Exasperated by BS in Higher Education

February 3, 2020

I stumbled on a diatribe from Christian Smith in The Chronicle Review from January 9, 2018 entitled “Higher Education is Drowning in BS”. It is a prophetic lament for a scholar who sees the “disastrous political condition” of his country directly linked to the failure of its institutions of higher learning. He maintains that universities … More Exasperated by BS in Higher Education

Beyond the High Wall and Open Door Dichotomy in Muslim Immigration: The Christian Pluralist’s Hospitable Table

February 3, 2020

Matthew Kaemingk. Christian Hospitality and Muslim Immigration in an Age of Fear. (Eerdmans 2018) Book Review Those familiar with the central slogan of early 20th century Dutch Prime Minister and theologian Abraham Kuyper will hear an echo here: “There is not one ‘square inch’ in the entire public square where Christ’s model of hospitality does … More Beyond the High Wall and Open Door Dichotomy in Muslim Immigration: The Christian Pluralist’s Hospitable Table

Desert Brush: Deep Roots, Wild Branches

January 20, 2020

The Flourishing Congregations Institute reported a few years back that the United Church in Canada was closing a church every week. That can’t continue very long. Religious “nones” are the fastest growing religious group in the country–up to 25 percent of Canadians, and even a higher percentage of the younger generation. If churches contribute to … More Desert Brush: Deep Roots, Wild Branches

If we are all wired for God–why is atheism the modern option?

December 18, 2019

In my last post I explained John Calvin’s contentious claim that everyone is somehow wired for God–a phenomenon he called the sensus divinitatis. But it leaves our modern mind with a number of questions. For one, a logical pushback would be: if everyone is hardwired for God, why are there so many atheists through history … More If we are all wired for God–why is atheism the modern option?

Wired for God: Sensus Divinitatis

December 18, 2019

The Reformed tradition within the Christian family is somewhat odd when it comes to apologetics—defending (and more recently, apologizing for) the faith. I was talking with one of our global scholars and I asked what angle he approached apologetics—a practise attached to what 1 Peter 3:15 implores believers: “Always be prepared to give an answer … More Wired for God: Sensus Divinitatis

A Christian Textbook for Africans, Muslims, Women and Martyrs

December 17, 2019

Wendy Elgersma Helleman and Musa A. B. Gaiya. Early Christianity: A Textbook for African Students. Langham Press, 2019. Wendy Helleman’s co-authored textbook on early Christianity has been called “significant,” “timely,” “substantive,” “indispensable,” “in-depth,” and “comprehensive.” I would also like to add the words “a redemptive influence” to the mix as this is the centre of our … More A Christian Textbook for Africans, Muslims, Women and Martyrs