Category: secularism

Joseph and The Whale: The Decline in Biblical–and Religious–Literacy and What to Do about it

April 9, 2025

We are losing our religious literacy in North America, and it is much to our detriment. There can be no peace without knowledge of each other’s faith, and no understanding of the Western world without knowledge of the Bible. Religion is the fourth “R” in any basic education, and our world would be better for including more rather than less religion in its education systems.
… More Joseph and The Whale: The Decline in Biblical–and Religious–Literacy and What to Do about it

Lausanne 2024 in Seoul: Partnership in Evangelism and Justice for a Troubled Planet

October 10, 2024

Read my post-congress reflections upon return from Korea, focusing on some of the stories, strategies, and stumbling blocks that made up my experience on the other side of the planet, with 5000 other delegates. … More Lausanne 2024 in Seoul: Partnership in Evangelism and Justice for a Troubled Planet

State Control of Religious Education in Public Schools: The Need for Critical Religious Literacy Beyond State Interests

August 22, 2023

Leo Van Arragon argues that our children are being done a deep disservice if they only receive anemic religious classes that are sanctioned only to benefit the state. He posits a new critical form of religious literacy that helps students develop a deeper sense of meaning in their life–while understanding others’ religion more accurately. … More State Control of Religious Education in Public Schools: The Need for Critical Religious Literacy Beyond State Interests

Engaging the Global Polylogue: Why Listen to Christians in the Majority World When it Comes to Sexual Ethics?

December 1, 2021

Is the majority world on the wrong side of history when it comes to sexual ethics? Where harsh laws exist criminalizing homosexual acts, it seems to be true. But Western arrogance in declaring the direction of history could be seen as the vestiges of colonialism. What about the church? Who is having their ethics sullied by their social context? Here I don’t give all the answers, but I do raise some issues and say we can at least start by listening to each other. … More Engaging the Global Polylogue: Why Listen to Christians in the Majority World When it Comes to Sexual Ethics?

Go to University and Get Rich: The Temptation to Seek Education as Upward Mobility

December 12, 2020

This guest blog was written by Global Scholar Dr. Stephen Ney, now serving in Sierra Leone. He maintains that “the neoliberal university encourages students to think about their entitlement and implicitly sanctions their consumeristic goals.” One of Ney’s students in Ghana adds: “One of the key driving forces of the University is money.” … More Go to University and Get Rich: The Temptation to Seek Education as Upward Mobility

Opening Up the World of Higher Education: The Asterisk Legacy of Dr. Justin Cooper

November 9, 2020

Dr. Justin Cooper’s life has been lived as a champion for Christian higher education, and this article offers a biography of that work, focusing on the last 40 years and his journey from an eager student to college President and then to a man whose heart has opened to God’s work around the world. … More Opening Up the World of Higher Education: The Asterisk Legacy of Dr. Justin Cooper

Mixing Faith and Politics in Canada: Not a New Idea

October 23, 2020

It was refreshing to see an article this week in the Hamilton Spectator entitled “Mixing Faith and Politics Could Be a Good Thing for Canada” written by a former MPP John Milloy advocating for a larger public presence for Canada’s religious communities. It describes a conversation on the topic of faith and politics between three MPs representing three rival political parties. Here is evidence that “faith” can bring people together and help cooperation happen. … More Mixing Faith and Politics in Canada: Not a New Idea

Wisdom For a Polarized America: A Pre-Election Long-term Perspective on Two Similar Liberal Ideologies

October 8, 2020

Global Scholar Dr. David Koyzis gives some background to the ideologies that are currently being contested in the upcoming American election. He offers a big picture context to the on-going American drama—and with sharp and deep Christian perspective—that is especially urgent right now. We need to rise above the sound bites, provocative gestures and political manoeuvring and discern carefully the cultural moment. … More Wisdom For a Polarized America: A Pre-Election Long-term Perspective on Two Similar Liberal Ideologies

Guest Blog: The Temptation of Chronological Snobbery

September 18, 2020

My guest blogger and American colleague Stan Wallace elaborates on C. S. Lewis’ concept of “Chronological Snobbery.” Lewis was a great 20 century British apologist of the Christian faith who had academic positions at both Oxford and Cambridge. He is also the famous fiction writer of the Narnia Chronicles. … More Guest Blog: The Temptation of Chronological Snobbery