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In Amusing Ourselves to Death, Neil Postman writes: We are now a culture whose information, ideas and epistemology are given form by television, not by the printed word. To be sure, there are still readers and there are many books published, but the uses of print and reading are not the same as they once were; not even in schools, the last institutions where print was thought to be invincible. They delude themselves who believe that television and print coexist, for coexistence implies parity. There is no parity here. Print is now merely a residual epistemology, and it will remain so, aided to some extent by the computer, and newspapers and magazines that are made to look like television screens. Like the fish who survive a toxic river and the boatmen who sail on it, there still dwell among us those whose sense of things is largely influenced by older and clearer waters. the third point is that in the analogy I have drawn above, the river refers largely to what we call public discourse–our political, religious, informational and commercial forms of conversation. I am arguing that a television-based epistemology pollutes public communication and its surrounding landscape, not that it pollutes everything. In the first place, I am constantly reminded of television’s value as a source of comfort and pleasure to the elderly, the infirm and, indeed, all people who find themselves alone in motel rooms. I am also aware of television’s potential for creating a theater for the masses (a subject which in my opinion has not been taken seriously enough). There are also claims that whatever power television might have to undermine rational discourse, its emotional power is so great that it could arouse sentiment against the Vietnam War or against more virulent forms of racism. These and other beneficial possibilities are not to be taken lightly. ...

This is a repost of an article I wrote last year. In light of the present events surrounding the murders in Tuscon, AZ and the resulting commotion regarding “inflammatory political rhetoric”, I figured I would post this again. Reading through Aldous Huxley’s follow-up to his popular (and insightful) work, A Brave New World, titled A Brave New World Revisited I came across a section where Huxley discusses the role and use of propaganda. Specifically how propaganda is the central means by which totalitarian regimes control their populace. ...

Recently a friend and fellow house church enthusiast alerted me to a division within the fellowship he is a member of. The division centered on doctrine, with one member apparently upset that the rest of the group did not appreciate the reformed doctrine he ascribed to. Without addressing the doctrines in question, I wanted to encourage this group to seek to function like a family. Here is my letter to the group in question as well as our regular group. ...

I’d bet that gay people live longer in more accepting societies. This is a common rebuttal offered by supporters of same-sex marriage. Especially confronted with the data which shows that people who participate in a homosexual lifestyle tend to life an average of 20 years less than those who do. But why bet on what might happen if we, as a society, fully embrace homosexuality when we have data from countries that already do? ...

During a discussion on same-sex marriage with one of my more liberal friends, I mentioned not wanting the state to encourage self-destructive behavior like homosexuality. My friend asked why I, a libertarian, would want the government to interfere in people’s lives. Unfortunately this is actually a common libertarian position. So in an attempt to persuade my fellow libertraians, let me outline why I believe all libertarians ought to be opposed to same-sex marriage. ...

My kids and I recently ran across the movie, The Guardians of Ga’Hoole. An epic fantasy adventure which follows the plight of a a few heroic owls as they fight injustice and evil. In one scene, Sorin, the main character, is being taught about bravery and courage. In this scene He observes his mentor, Elizaryb, writing and notices his mark matches the ones he has seen as the author of an battle he and his brother have spend hours reenacting. ...

In 1 Corinthians 9:7 Paul says: Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk? Paul clearly indicates in the verse above that a pastor or teacher should be viewed as a soldier, someone who tends to and protects the flock. What would that look like today? ...

Here is a presentation by Hans Rosling on the world health statistics which shows an interesting trend regarding the plight of nations over the course of the last 200 years. Contrary to popular opinion, mankind is getting healthier, wealthier, and more efficient as time rolls on. Mankind is progressing, not regressing. An interesting trend Hans points out at the end is that developed nations tend to have people who live long lives and who have small families. I’m not so sure that is a good thing, but it is interesting to note nonetheless. ...

It is a thoroughly biblical concept that members in the Body of Christ should expect to receive and dispense discipline in keeping with the repeated admonitions throughout scripture to build one another up in maturity. So if that is the case; Why do most church members end up leaving after one of the staff or fellow members rebukes them harshly? Harsh rebukes are only valid in the context of an organic relationship. Most churches, however, are businesses. Its really hard not to be when you have assets, staff, bank accounts, etc. ...

In a conversation regarding the post, Why I don’t want to go to your church, I came to the revelation that even if pastors and church staff are aware of the issue of declining church attendance that plagues most churches in America today, they still manage to miss the reason for the decline and thus their proposals for fixing the problem are doomed to failure from infancy. First off, we need to look more closely at the problem. When we define “the church” as a 501c3 non-profit organization, its little wonder that people are not enthusiastic about participating in programs that amount to glorified marketing schemes. ...