Many Christian apologists–most notably C.S. Lewis (and more recently Francis Collins) have argued that our unique human innate sense of morality is itself evidence of the existence of God. Some recent experiments with chimps and twins suggests that at least one feature of this moral law–our notions of fairness–may have a biological explanation.
Does religious belief have origins in neuroscience? Can we pinpoint the location of a mystical experience? Using the tools of modern neuroscience, several scientists are attempting to explore the biological origins of faith.
With books like The Cross and the Switchbade, the story of young pastors ministering to gang members became a cliche many years ago. As the Christian Century reports in its cover story this month, however, there is some very good and important ministry occurring that is focused on gang members–and not just in urban areas.
The evolving and growing complexity of the human brain allowed our ancestors the ability to question, wonder, and consider new possibilities—to be creative. Life altering advances were the result. Is unconditional adherence to dogma (whether religious or secular) at odds with this evolved capability and our full potential as creative beings?
Every year “scientific” expeditions embark to look for Noah’s Ark, raising untold amounts of money from gullible believers who eagerly listen to tales spun by sincere amateurs or rapacious con men; it is not always easy to tell the two apart.
The biggest news from the Council of Anglican Provinces in Africa is the election of a theological moderate, the Most Rev. Ian Ernest, Archbishop of the Province of the Indian Ocean, to succeed the decidedly un-moderate Archbishop Peter Akinola of Nigeria. The Primates also released two statements, one on Africa, which includes the names of provinces represented at the meeting, and one on the crisis in the Anglican Communion, which, curiously, has appeared thus far only on the Web sites of conservative North Americans.
While we were focused on the House of Bishops meeting in New Orleans and its aftermath, sane people everywhere were spending their time in other pursuits, such as listening to the new Bruce Springsteen album, watching last night’s season premier episode of Friday Night Lights, and finding other soul-nourishing fare in the sometimes toxic stew of our popular culture.
The BBC is reporting the Archbishop of Canterbury’s critique of humanitarian and security situation in Iraq. His words are in response to his trip to Syria where he had the opportunity to meet with a number of Iraqi refugees and to hear their stories and first-hand reports of life in that country.
Canterbury Press, an English publisher, has bought the memoir of Bishop Gene Robinson from US Episcopal publisher Morehouse. The book, In the Eye of the Storm, will be published in April 2008 and recounts Bishop Robinson’s faith journey and shares his reflections on the current church situation.
Jonathan Petre writes of his predictions about what the Anglican Communion might be facing in the next couple of years. He is hearing of plans