The Contentious Fourth “R” in Education: Reading, Writing, Arithmetic, and RELIGION in a Polarized World

Religion is not just a private matter, and secularism is a religious orientation, says Dr. Leo Van Arragon in his latest book. Follow a dialogue on this book between four experts on the subject of religious literacy, and see the contentiousness of the dominant secular paradigm, its historical promise, and its current malaise. Is there a better way to acknowledge our religious plurality in Canada (and around the world?) … More The Contentious Fourth “R” in Education: Reading, Writing, Arithmetic, and RELIGION in a Polarized World

A Friendly Review of _Blessed are the Undone_: A “Nuanced and Holistic” approach to Faith Deconstruction

This guest blog has Pastor Nicole MacLeod give her impressions of _Blessed are the Undone_ from her perch as a missionary kid and now pastor in the Greater Toronto Area. She invites the reader to enlarge their capacity for understanding those for whom deconstructing faith has been an arduous journey. … More A Friendly Review of _Blessed are the Undone_: A “Nuanced and Holistic” approach to Faith Deconstruction

Three Prayers, Anchored in Hope: Reflections on the Wonder, Heartbreak and Hope of 2024

Here I reflect on events in 2024, using the 3-fold narrative arc of the Bible as my guide: creation, fall, redemption. I re-label these historical moments as very simple prayers: Wow. Oh no. Yay! and give hope the final word. … More Three Prayers, Anchored in Hope: Reflections on the Wonder, Heartbreak and Hope of 2024

Becoming Undone: Deconstructing Faith and Church Hurt in a Polarized North America

Do you feel like something is becoming Undone in your spiritual life and in the church in North America? Here I introduce my new book with Angela Reistsma Bick on the phenomenon of faith deconstruction, based on the stories we heard from interviews with 28 Christians from across Canada. … More Becoming Undone: Deconstructing Faith and Church Hurt in a Polarized North America

Faithful Laughter: C. S. Lewis, G. K. Chesterton, and Peter L. Berger on Faith and Comedy

I wrote this awhile ago for an Inklings conference, but COVID has me thinking about the vital role of humour in our lives and in Christian faith: humour as a window to something greater than the present scene. Note the flood of parody songs on YouTube with the world “coronavirus” in the lyrics. Laughter can … More Faithful Laughter: C. S. Lewis, G. K. Chesterton, and Peter L. Berger on Faith and Comedy

Changing Trajectory in COVID: A Business of Building Dividing Walls

Joel Koops is a friend and fellow parishoner, and I thought this would be a good story to share in these strange times. Its about making a difference with whatever you have in front of you. This story ran in The Christian Courier on April 6th here. In the second week of March, Joel Koops, … More Changing Trajectory in COVID: A Business of Building Dividing Walls

Diverse Diversity in the Public University: A Book Review of Wolterstorff’s “Religion in the University”

Wolterstorff’s goal: to establish the place of religion in the public university in a liberal democracy. Not its legal or moral place, but its place within the role-ethic of a scholar in such a context. … More Diverse Diversity in the Public University: A Book Review of Wolterstorff’s “Religion in the University”