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The views expressed here are provided as a resource for furthering culturally-engaged leadership through theologically-informed reflection about every aspect of contemporary life. Neither Union University nor The Carl F.H. Henry Institute for Intellectual Discipleship necessarily endorse the content expressed in this blog. The content of each entry solely reflects the view of its author.

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JUSTIN D. BARNARD
Director of the Carl F.H. Henry Institute for Intellectual Discipleship

Can Mean Atheists Mean Atheism?

October 7, 2009 - At times, those who embrace a thoroughly naturalistic view of the universe exhibit refreshing intellectual honesty. Consider, for example, a recent post in which an atheist writes, “You can look for meaning if you’d like, but the Universe is a semi-random collection of energy and matter, and based on all the evidence I have seen was not created with intent . . . What I am saying is that there is no direction to the Universe, no intent, no internal morals or purpose or meaning.”

Such candor is refreshing precisely because it displays a recognition of the internal logic of one’s position. In this case, if there’s no God and matter-and-energy is all there is, then the matter-and-energy that there is possesses no inherent meaning. It is, in itself, meaningless. That’s because meaning (or purpose) is inextricably linked with intentionality. Hence, a universe that is not the product... read more

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JUSTIN D. BARNARD
Director of the Carl F.H. Henry Institute for Intellectual Discipleship

Nietzschean Education

September 7, 2009 - Tomorrow President Barack Obama will address many of the nation’s public school children in an address that generated a firestorm of media attention well before its release. The brouhaha was predictably partisan: Republicans fearful of executive abuse of power – raising concerns of socialist indoctrination, and indignant Democrats filled with moral outrage – wondering how anyone can quibble with a pep talk.

Sadly, the bickering in the blogosphere impedes the prospect of deeper reflection about the text of the President’s speech. It turns out that both the Democrats and the Republicans were right – at least by half. By and large, the President’s remarks are a pep talk for K-12 students. And in a moment in our nation’s history when an exceedingly high dropout rate still plagues historically disadvantaged minorities, one should not devalue the potentially inspirational effect this spee... read more

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JUSTIN D. BARNARD
Director of the Carl F.H. Henry Institute for Intellectual Discipleship

The Worship of Tashlan

August 28, 2009 - Charity is the virtue that, among other things, ought to prevent believers from offering ungenerous caricatures of those whose views they oppose. Every so often however, an opponent of the Gospel says or does something so inexplicable that those who merely report it must defend against objections rooted in charity: “I’m not making this up.”

Consider, for example, Brian McLaren, who is apparently now observing the Muslim month of fasting known as Ramadan. Professing as he does to be a follower of Christ, fellow Christians might wonder what would possess another professing believer to engage not merely in interfaith dialogue, but interfaith practice and ritual. (Dare one say . . . worship?) Prolific author that he is, McLaren offers the rationale.

Writes McLaren: “We are not doing so in order to become Muslims: we are deeply committed Christians. But as Christia... read more

Related Web Resource: http://www.dougwils.com/index.asp?Action=Anchor&CategoryID=1&BlogID=6869

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JUSTIN D. BARNARD
Director of the Carl F.H. Henry Institute for Intellectual Discipleship

A Prescription for the End of Pharmacy

July 10, 2009 - A U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in Washington ruled this week that pharmacists must distribute the abortifacent drug known as Plan B. (HT: Mere Comments) The American Humanist Association lauded this decision as one that will “protect women's right to reproductive health care from attempts by the religious right to push their morality onto others.” Apparently though, the American Humanist Association has no qualms about pushing its morality on to everyone else. For in their press release in praise of the circuit court’s decision, they unashamedly state: “Humanism is a progressive philosophy of life that, without theism, affirms our responsibility to lead ethical lives of value to self... read more

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JUSTIN D. BARNARD
Director of the Carl F.H. Henry Institute for Intellectual Discipleship

Attitude Adjustment

July 2, 2009 - During a gathering at the White House earlier this week in recognition of gay pride, President Obama suggested that those who fail to view homosexual relationships as anything other than normal are simply holding “fast to worn arguments and old attitudes.” (One imagines that the President likely has in mind the same group of folks whom he previously described as clinging “to guns or religion or antipathy toward people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.”)

The President’s rhetoric on this point is pernicious sophistry. By claiming that those who fail to recognize homosexual relationships as normal are merely clinging to “old attitudes,” the President aims to end public discourse. Moreover, the very idea that opposition to the normalization... read more

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