CASE book review: Andrew Parker, "The Genesis Enigma"

Trevor Cairney of CASE has just reviewed Andrew Parker's book The Genesis Enigma. Parker is a researcher at Oxford University. He's not a Christian, but he's willing to think that the author of Genesis might be divinely inspired. Sounds like a fascinating read.

Kirkplace is online!

Kirkplace - Steve Chong's church in Kogarah - has brought their new website online. Their new building opens this Sunday.

Steve & I were in the same year at Moore College. And there the similarity ends. He's got a new church building; leading a regional evangelism and church planting movement; and being coached by Mark Driscoll. The amazing thing about the guy is - he's so humble & cheerful about it all. Hope he goes far. Well, I hope the gospel takes him far. Ah, you know what I mean. Go kick some gospel butt, brother.

How do they see us?

Novels can give an interesting insight into what people think of the church and Christianity. Take this little episode from Ian Rankin’s novel Mortal Causes. It’s set in Scotland; the action switches between Edinburgh and Glasgow – Calvinist Presbyterian heartland. At this point, Inspector John Rebus is chatting with Father Leary, a Catholic priest.

* * * * *

“A bit morbid for a Sunday, John?” said the Father.

“Isn’t that what Sundays are for?” Rebus retorted.

“Maybe for you sons of Calvin. You tell yourselves you’re doomed, then spend all week trying to make a joke of it. Others of us give thanks for this day and its meaning.”

Rebus shifted in his chair. Lately, he didn’t enjoy Father Leary’s conversations so much. There was something proselytizing about them.

* * * * *

Ian Rankin, Mortal Causes, page 17.

Popular impact of the New Perspective

Christianity Today has an interesting article on the popular impact of the New Perspective. Basically, it's providing a route back to Roman Catholicism - which is what everyone's been saying ever since it became an issue in academic theology, some fifty years ago or so.

Collin Hansen, 'Not All Evangelicals and Catholics Together', Christianity Today 10 Oct 09.

Thanks to Roger Gallagher for drawing this to my attention.

Fun with Ian Rankin: Graffiti artists

From Ian Rankin’s novel Mortal Causes. An Inspector Rebus novel.

* * * * *

Rebus drove out along Queensferry Road and parked outside the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Hell, noting with guilty pleasure that no one had yet corrected the mischievous graffiti on the noticeboard which turned ‘Help’ into ‘Hell’.

* * * * *

Ian Rankin, Mortal Causes, pages 16-17.

Happy Reformation Day!

On this day (31 Oct) in 1517, a German monk names Martin Luther nailed a set of 95 Theses on the door of a church in Wittenberg. The theses were a scholarly objection to several medieval church practices, including, but not limited to, the sale of indulgences. The Protestant Reformation had a variety of sources and can't be limited to one starting point. But, this was a key date in the movement gathering public momentum - so let's celebrate it!

Fun with Colin Dexter: Theologians

From Colin Dexter’s book The Daughters of Cain – an Inspector Morse novel.

Chief Superintendent Strange is trying to comfort Inspector Phillotson, who’s just lost his wife. Strange is surprised when Phillotson tells him he’s just received a comforting letter from Inspector Morse.

* * * * *

“I can’t imagine him being much comfort to anybody”, said Strange. “He’s a pagan, you know that. Got no time for the Church and… hope and faith and all that stuff. Doesn’t even believe in God, let alone in any sort of life after death”.

“Bit like some of our Bishops”, said Phillotson sadly.

“Like some of our Theology dons in Oxford, too.”