by Bret Capranica | May 23, 2005 | Culture, Presidential History
For a good read on President Bush’s experience at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, see Al Mohler’s blog today entitled: “President Bush at Calvin College.”
by Bret Capranica | May 23, 2005 | Culture
To tan or not to tan, that now is the question. The report has now emerged: being out in the sun is good for you and will help you avoid cancer. Wow! Just the opposite of what we have all been told. So says a new report advocated by Dr. Edward Giovannucci, a Harvard University professor. Dr. Giovannucci is convinced that the sun is really good for our skin and if we have enough vitamin D, we will not only cut the risk of cancer but protect ourselves from it also. A dermatologist, Dr. Michael Holick slams the conventional thinking that has fueled the sunscreen industry for years saying, “The problem has been that the American Academy of Dermatology has been unchallenged for 20 years,” he says. “They have brainwashed the public at every level.” Dr. Holick, former chief of endocrinology, was stripped of his professorship when the head of his department noted that he had been paid over $150,000 from the Indoor Tanning Association. Ah, objectivity driving science. I love it. This story ranks up there with the back and forth commendations and condemnations of coffee. I write this with a large cup of Starbucks in front of me. My interest in this story comes from the once again sham of those who claim that science is purely objective and therefore completely authoritative. Does it bother anyone that scientists can’t make up their minds? Is anyone intrigued by the fact that many so-called scientific facts are tainted by agendas, grants, academic stardom and public status? Science is not amoral because it is observing a sin-stained world through sin-tainted...
by Bret Capranica | May 22, 2005 | Culture, General Theology
No, I am not one of those who attempts to find Christian or moral themes in movies like Star Wars in order to commend them to you and your family’s viewing. The article referenced, however, uses the recent release of George Lucas’ final movie in the Star Wars’ saga to discuss the age old theological (it is more theological than philosophical) issue about a person’s essential nature. Are we born good or evil? Popular culture postulates ideologies, not just entertainment, even through entertaining movies like Star Wars. The article notes, How about it, George? Was Anakin born bad? “No,” Lucas told The Associated Press. “That”™s why most people got upset about “˜Episode I.”™ They said, “˜Well, he should be a monster.”™ But he”™s not a monster. He has sort of heightened skills and awareness, and he”™s smarter than most people, but at the same time, he makes rather bad decisions.” Lucas’ response about his movie character reflects the idea that many have about our human nature. Many believe that we are essentially good, but our environment and personal “bad decisions,” lead us astray. One psychologist quoted in the article says, No one is born with a Napoleon complex. Yet our genetic raw material does establish tendencies for how each person will respond to environmental factors, said Alan Hilfer, a child psychologist at Maimonides Medical Center in New York. “We come into the world with a personality, a character. Some kids are more irritable, some more sensitive, some kids are easygoing,” Hilfer said. “We all come in with a particular set of biological pieces to make up who we are....
by Bret Capranica | May 18, 2005 | Culture, General Theology
The Weekly Standard article referenced was written by David Gelernter, a senior fellow in Jewish Thought at the Shalem Center in Jerusalem. He laments the lack of the public schools’ acknowledgement of how much of early American history is saturated with biblical references. The article is a good read. However, if the Bible is properly undertood, I’m not sure even the Weekly Standard would want to elevate it in public dialogue and give it a prominent place in our public education system. If the Bible is the record of God bringing ultimate glory to Himself by saving sin-saturated people through the life, atonement and resurrection of Jesus Christ alone (Ephesians 2:1-10), would this satisfy the moralism many conservative American commentators seek to press the Bible into? The Bible is not primarily about theocentric ethics. The Bible is primarily about God’s elevation of Himself through Jesus Christ and changing people from Christ-denying sinners into a population who proclaim His excellencies through salvation in Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:9-12). Even our Christian ethics have as their central aim the glory and supremacy of God through the person of Jesus Christ. Is this really the message Mr. Gelernter wants the American youth to know, embrace and spread? I’m up for...
