The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe , C.S. Lewis's classic novel, is the first of seven installments of his The Chronicles of Narnia 
The secularist harpies who hated Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ 
A few weeks ago, I wrote a post against writer Philip Pullman's attack on Lewis. And my post attracted a couple of spirited atheist/agnostics to comment. A brief but invigorating discussion ensued. Go here to check that out.
But I would also like to draw your attention to some of the blurbs Dr. Gene Veith has been posting over on the Cranach blog about the criticism of Lewis.
See here, and here, and here.
He has also written a newly published book on Lewis and Narnia, The Soul of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
If you are at all interested in the present culture wars between the secularists and those with a Christian worldview, you need to look into this.
Monday, November 14, 2005
C.S. Lewis vs. Philip Pullman
Sunday, November 13, 2005
Have You Seen This Girl?
AMBER ALERT
Police are looking for 14 year old Kara Beth Borden who was abducted at gunpoint from her home this morning. Both her parents were found shot to death. Kara is from Warwick Township, Pa, about 60 miles west of Philadelphia.
Police are looking for Kara's 18 year old secret boyfriend, David G. Ludwig, as their suspect. Read about it.
11/15/05 UPDATE HERE
Additions to the Blogroll
Note these newly added Lutheran blogs. They're worth your notice.
Bloghardt's Reflector
Intolerant Elle
Katie's Beer
Madre's Missives
Necessary Roughness
Saturday, November 12, 2005
My Pop Culture Diet This Week
Movie - Hotel Rwanda
Some are calling this the Schindler's List for of Africa. It's a grim and violent story of corruption, attempted genocide, and the incompetence of the UN. Not to mention the harsh indifference most Americans and Europeans have towards Africa. But more than that it's a story of courage. Don Cheadle - always a favorite - was excellent. And seeing the people and the setting made me anxious to return to Africa sometime soon.
Book - Fight Club: A Novel
Author Chuck Palahniuk pulls no punches, so to speak. This is a tale of urban terrorism spawned from male frustration with contemporary culture. A culture of boys raised by women, without strong male role models. A culture that wants to feminize the men and masculinize the women. A culture that tells you that you are your name; you are your family; you are your possessions; you are your job. Tyler Durden wants to hunt for elk through the misty mossy canyons of Manhattan. His vision is apocalyptic. It's Hegelian. Let's light this corrupted world on fire so that something purer can rise from its ashes.
Palahniuk uses lots of bad words and intentionally tries to shock his reader. It is brutal and darkly hilarious. His abrupt and choppy writing style, angry and sentimental, is full of testosterone. As is so often the case, a contemporary artist keenly diagnoses many of the ailments of the human condition but is unable to offering a truly helpful response. And yet beneath all the vulgarity is just enough insight to make this a most interesting read.
Friday, November 11, 2005
Christian SEX Book
Has anyone read Lauren Winner's book, Real Sex: The Naked Truth About Chastity
Thursday, November 10, 2005
Macabre Website Tells Teen How to Commit Suicide
Some days I just think we'd be better off with a benevolent dictator to govern us. Or as Plato advised, a philosopher king. Why do I utter such weirdness? Because it is so aggravating to read stories like this one. A poor, clearly troubled, young girl surfs the net and finds a web forum with all sorts of information about how to "check yourself out" so to speak. Someone will witlessly defend this monstrous website on the basis of free speech. Freedom is a wonderful thing. But it will only work so long as the populace are first self-governed by internalized precepts of virtue. Otherwise, freedoms - such as we enjoy - will lead to debauchery, moral chaos and death. Or in other words, without a more firmly established social contract, our lives will become solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short (cf. Thomas Hobbes in The Leviathan). My opinion is that the American Experiment is failing precisely for this reason. A society formed and informed by clear ethical guidance can do well when given extensive liberties. But a society that largely and increasingly rejects all objective standards of goodness will become quite unsafe. To sum it up, the majority of Americans are not "good" enough to handle the freedoms they are given. Forced to choose, I'd rather live under tyranny than anarchy.
Sphere: Related ContentMy New Thing
I have decided that from this day forward I will only refer to pizza by the last two letters: za. Let it be spoken. Let it be done.
Sphere: Related ContentFish Ice Cream, the New Rage
And I thought fish tacos sounded bad. Now I'm reading about fish ice cream in Taiwan. Some of the popular flavors are: pineapple shrimp, wasabi cuttlefish, strawberry tuna and mango seaweed, all in stark colors from orange to green to black. Now, I enjoy eating ethnic foods and trying new things, but this just is not right.
Sphere: Related ContentWednesday, November 09, 2005
Our New Parking Lot
Well, we're almost finished with what has been a long and involved process. But one more layer of asphalt and painting the lines and then we have a new, more level and much larger parking lot for our church. Thanks to God. And to the dedicated lay people who labored many hours to plan this.
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
Luther on What To Do in Case of Avian Flu
The World Health Organization - not that they know everything - is stating that an avian flu pandemic that could kill millions of people is inevitable. It's a matter of when, not if.
Of course, Martin Luther, writing 450 years ago, did not address the bird flu specifically. But he did write a pamphlet on whether Christians ought to flee the bubonic plague when it came to town. In short, the answer is, "It depends." He clearly states that pastors, local officials, and doctors, for instance, must not flee but tend to the their duties for the sake of those inflicted. One of these individuals might possibly flee to safety if his services are honestly not needed. But the general citizen is also obliged to stay to serve his neighbor. To care for the orphans and nurse the sick. If this is already being adequately provided for and one is not needed, one may go. Luther says that if you see a drowning man and do nothing to help save him when it is within your power to do so, you are guilty of murder. Likewise, abandoning your sick neighbor who has no one else to care for him is a sin.
Along the same lines, a Christian cannot neglect to help his neighbor out of fear that doing so might inconvenience him, disrupt his plans, or even result in him being harmed. That is simply a risk that MUST be taken. Luther writes:
He will always reckon with the possibility that doing so will bring some disadvantage and damage, danger and loss. No neighbor can live alongside another without risk to his safety, property, wife, or child. He must run the risk that fire or some other accident will start in the neighbor’s house and destroy him bodily or deprive him of his goods, wife, children, and all he has.If you would like to read all of Luther's pamphlet, and I suggest that you do, go to Beggar's All where they have kindly provided it.
Anyone who does not do that for his neighbor, but forsakes him and leaves him to his misfortune, becomes a murderer in the sight of God...
The U.S. Department of Defense now has a webpage devoted to bird flu.
Check out the Wall Street Journal's Avian Flu News Tracker here. Sphere: Related Content
U2, the Pope, George W. Bush, Tony Blair & Oprah
I do not intend this, in any way, as a political statement. I just thought it was cute.
HT: The Crazy Rants of Samantha Burns
Monday, November 07, 2005
California Judge Tells Parents to Butt Out of Their Children's Sex Education
In California, a school district decided to administer a 79 question survey to their elementary school children. Ten of the 79 questions related to sex. Some parents objected and took the school district to court. Now the federal court of appeals has ruled against the parents. The Judges believe that . . . well, let me just show you the quote:
"We ... hold that there is no fundamental right of parents to be the exclusive provider of information regarding sexual matters to their children ...."
Parents have no due process or privacy right to override the determinations of public schools as to the information to which their children will be exposed while enrolled as students."
Judge Stephen Reinhardt, Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
You see, this is why I hate all that "It Takes a Village to Raise a Child" baloney. Yeah, if by village you mean the child's parents and an orthodox Christian Church. But in fact, what is usually meant is the government or the state, including the public schools. Here it is plain as day. A federal court stating that parents do not have the right to prevent their children from being exposed to whatever sexual material the school may decide to present.
My son goes to a public school and is receiving a fine education. His teachers have been exemplary. I know many excellent dedicated Christian public school teachers. I am not making blanket criticisms.
But when the public schools decide to present sexual material to my child, particularly to an elementary school child, and tell me to mind my own business, we not happy.
You see, here is my concern. I'm not worried about my child learning the biology involved. His parents have had these conversations with him along the way. I'm worried by the values that may be communicated to him. I will teach my son to treat members of the opposite sex with respect. And to honor his own body as a temple of the Holy Spirit. I will teach him that sex outside of marriage is sinful and displeasing to God. I will teach him that it is wrong to lust after a woman in his heart and that he must learn self-control. I will teach him that homosexuality is a sin. I will teach him about God's Law and I will also teach him about the forgiveness available to all who repent.
What kind of monster do you have to be to tell parents that they do not have the right to determine what their children learn about sex or when?
Go here.
And check out this Touchstone commentary. Sphere: Related Content
New Lutheran Blog Carnival
The Lutheran Carnival X- All Saints Edition is now up and running. Go and check out some fine stuff.
Sphere: Related ContentSunday, November 06, 2005
Praying Off Center
Centering Prayer is a method of contemplative prayer that began in some Roman Catholic monasteries and is now becoming more widespread in ecumenical circles. Even some pastors in my own denomination (The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod) are now advocating it.
Essentially, it is just a form of self-hypnosis. It utilizes breathing techniques, mantras and emptying the mind in order to find God within. Oh, various Christians are trying to bring it more in line with their doctrine, but it doesn't take a rocket surgeon to see how thin these attempts really are.
OK, so I read this book called Journey Back to Eden: My Life and Times Among the Desert Fathers
At one point, he is attending a meeting of Coptic monks from around the world including some from the U.S. Some of the other monks were very curious to ask the Americans about stuff they'd heard about monasticism in the West. Here is the quote:
EXACTLY!! That's what I'm saying. Maybe every Lutheran pastor should be required to live in a Coptic monastery for at least one year before being given a parish. Maybe 12 months sleeping on the ground, eating sheep cheese and praying the entire psalter (all of it) every morning would clear out some debris.
"The wondered about the Oriental practices that have been entering into Western Churches, such as meditation, breathing, and stretching exercises, which are designed to "center" a person. The Coptic Orthodox monks didn't like the idea of being centered by techniques, and even if that were possible, they thought it couldn't be as efficacious or important as being centered by faith in the Paschal Mysteries of Christ."
All I have to say is, "Where is the discernment?" Sphere: Related Content
Saturday, November 05, 2005
Some DVDs I've Been Enjoying
This is not to be confused with the awful James Spader movie of the same name. This movie has some offensive language and situations. But it is the best film I have ever seen that deals with racism from all angles. It's not what you might expect. I highly recommend it.
A WWII drama set in a Japanese prison camp. Inspired by true events. The screenplay was written by Brian Godawa whose book Hollywood Worldviews is an outstanding read. This excellent film starring Kiefer Sutherland is one of the best film presentations of the gospel I have ever seen without being preachy.
I just love this little known film. Ed Harris is great. See if you can discern what the third miracle is.
A bit too scary at parts for the little ones, but an excellent entertainment. Johnny Depp is brilliant. Do I detect him channelling a bit of Keith Richards here? Funny and exciting.
Some Music I Recommend
Here are some CDs I've been listening to recently. I'm particularly obsessing over the Fiona Apple and Mindy Smith CDs right now.
Friday, November 04, 2005
The Vampire Chronicler on Jesus
Anne Rice is best known for her erotic vampire thrillers beginning with Interview with the Vampire
So you can imagine my skepticism when I first heard that she was writing a novel about Jesus Christ. All this world needs is another libidinous occultist opining on the Savior. (Note that I'm also trying to use as many 3-4 syllable words as I can.) But I'm going to reserve final judgment until I've actually read her newest book, Christ the Lord : Out of Egypt
A few years ago, Rice recommitted herself to the Roman Catholic faith of her upbringing. As far as I could say, she is sincere in her dedication to the dogmas and practices of Rome. Insofar as I am delighted to see anyone becoming serious about Christianity, I commend her.
Though Christian orthodoxy was not exactly prevalent in her earlier writings, even her vampire books were filled with Christian-esque spiritual themes: sacrifice, atonement, immortality and damnation. The Bible says that the life of the flesh is in the blood (Leviticus 17:11) and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness (Hebrews (9:22). Somehow I think those ideas never left her. And perhaps after her soul became tired of exotic experimentation with those themes, the Holy Spirit brought her back to the base of the gory cross of the God-man.
Based on what little I've read (here and here) about Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt, it's mostly fictional. History simply tells us next to nothing about the years the Holy Family spent in Egypt. My understanding is that Rice does draw somewhat from apocryphal legends about the childhood of Jesus. This troubles me because the sources of these tales tend to be gnostic pseudapigrapha. Knowing her style, however, I also imagine the book to be filled with thoroughly researched historical accuracy regarding the times depicted. The author states that she wanted to deal with the subject with reverance and authenticity, as a sincere believer. She derides liberal demytholigization characteristic of the charlatans in the Jesus Seminar. And that, in my eyes, earns her a hearing.
Thursday, November 03, 2005
It's a Good Thing They're Pacifists
So I read this article about a bunch of anti-Bush protesters in San Francisco. One of them threw a molotov cocktail and lit up a police officer.
Actually, my title is inaccurate. These protesters are definitely not pacifists. In fact, it's kind of appropriate for them to be throwing molotov cocktails since the organization behind the protest, "World Can't Wait," is a revolutionary agency, founded by avowed communists. And by "revolutionary," I don't mean, "they're really innovative and cutting edge." I mean r-e-v-o-l-u-t-i-o-n. Revolt. Read their own FAQ page. If you don't smell the Leninism, you aren't paying attention. They admit that they want to stir upset in society in order to wake the rest of us up. They state that they intend to further polarize the nation because that will be necessary for making progress. Hmmmm... Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel anyone? Where've we heard this type of talk before?
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
Veggie Tales Jesus
If you aren't aware, Veggie Tales are popular cartoons that re-tell Bible stories with all the characters represented as talking vegetables. The quality of the animation and humor is pretty good and they have a stong moral emphasis.
Rev. Paul McCain, over at Cyberbrethren brought the product pictured above to our attention recently.
I have two points I'd like to make. The first one having to do with the Veggie Tales Nativity scene here. And the second point regards Veggie Tales in general.
First, this nativity scene is very cute, I admit. I'm sure they'll sell a bunch of them. And sometimes I really get tired of being a curmudgeon. But this is just too goofy folks. We are talking about turning the Almighty Son of God, the eternal Creator of all things, into a carrot. Would you think it disrespectful of God if we made a cartoon of the life of Jesus and represented our Lord as a radish? Or maybe the cartoons would use animals instead. Would you think it appropriate to have a nativity scene with a puppy in the manger? Or maybe Jesus as a frog nailed to the cross. What's next? A Mr. Potatoehead Holy Ghost?
Why is it that we equate cute with harmless? This Veggie Tales scene is cute, but not harmless. I have no doubt that the real baby Jesus was adorable. Aren't all babies? Well, almost, right? But the shepherds came to worship him. The scene of Christ's birth should be more than just sweet and cute. It should inspire awe and reverance and holy fear. Thanks Veggie Tales for undermining the birth of the Savior.
And secondly, on Veggie Tales in general. I have a son who is now 10 years old. When he was little, we bought and played Veggie Tales videos for him. And some of my orthodox confreres might want to poison my beer after I say this, but in a way I kinda like them. I have absolutely nothing against moralizing to children. We should moralize to our children. Only negligent irresponsible parents fail to moralize to their children.
HOWEVER, I'm still not thrilled with portraying the great biblical saints as produce. Please do not honor me (not that I'm in the ranking with the biblical saints) by painting me as a turnip. But my chief concern with Veggie Tales is the moralizing. Now, I know what I just wrote above. I'm not contradicting myself. I am in favor of moralizing, I just don't think that is the chief purpose of the Holy Scriptures. When we tell the story of God, the point is not "be moral" or "be good" and certainly not "be nice." The point of the plot of the bible is Jesus Christ, Savior of sinners. If that is not the point of telling the bible story, then you have not spoken the Word of God, no matter where you got your script.
If you want to moralize your children - and you should - use Aesop's fables. There's a lot of good natural law morality there. Or use the Bible, but if you use the Bible and fail to end with the cross, you may as well stick with Aesop.
And by the way, Veggie Tales, a tomato is a fruit.
