Below are this week’s collection of recommended blog posts from across the internet. As always, feel free to suggest other things I should be reading in the comments section below. May these links be as thought-provoking for you as they were for me. Cheers, JP
Theology and Religion
We have all seen (or been a part of) vicious internet “discussions” that are more vitriol than informed and meaningful dialogue. Laura Ehlen reflects upon how Writing can be an Act of Charity, especially online, by examining the life and practice of Catherine of Siena.
Amid the (too often) lopsidedness of dialogue concerning the current Israel-Gaza conflict, J. R. Daniel Kirk offers a Liturgy for Peace, which is both honest and reflective, calling Christians to respond to conflict with charity, wisdom, and compassion.
Lest our theology become too abstract, Elizabeth Scalia invites us to put ourselves in the shoes of our Christian brothers and sisters who are being forced from their homes by the ISIS.
Biblical Studies and the History of Christianity
After several teaser posts, Larry Hurtado (finally) offers his review of N.T. Wright’s massive work on the Apostle Paul. Thankfully the review is shorter than Wright’s two volume, 1600+ page behemoth.
Also of importance are Hurtado’s remarks about the relationship of blogging to scholarship, and the need to read whole books (and not just blog posts and comments) in order to be fully informed about the intricacies of scholarship.
Worldviews and Culture
In a world full of sin and conflict, it’s easy to focus on one or two of the most “important” current events. Over at the Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg comments upon the media’s Obsession with Gaza while simultaneously ignoring Syria (and almost everything else going on). Yes, it’s hard to keep track of everything that’s going on. But no, that doesn’t mean it’s alright to put blinders on to certain forms (or locations) of evil.
How should we go about doing “history?” Dale M. Coulter writes about a the late great medievalist Jacques Le Goff and how a truly Good Historian Resembles an Ogre.
From last week but worth your read this week, Stephen Sutherland reflects upon the benefits of smoking (you read that correctly), especially whilst thinking and writing. Worth reflecting upon over a beer at least.
“It is beyond question that if any man was ever born to play the role of Hercules, it would be Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, whose very presence in a movie is an inspiration to do more bench-presses.” Inspired to catch the latest summer blockbuster yet? Check out John Ehrett’s review of Hercules before you go – you’ll be glad you did (and you just might learn something).
Pursuing Veritas 