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Apparently the debate over Intelligent Design (ID) is not going away. Perhaps that should read, "the debates." Beyond the debate over human origins and who or what lies behind terrestrial life, lies the question, "What is science?" At least when we are thinking of "culture wars," defining the terms is tantamount to winning the debate. If God, higher intelligence, or ultimate guiding purpose can figure legitimately in scientific theorizing, one may expect a seismic shift in our science education, our…

The king was understandably upset. In a single night it had all unraveled. What had started out as an inviting series of developments had taken a turn that would unseat anyone's peace of mind. Divine deaththreats in the night hours were not the best recipe for a restful sleep, and watching fear seep through his court was not the best way to start the day. And all because of that foreigner. Before last night there had been no hint of…

Over the past fifty years, Eugene Heideman has been a leading theological voice in the Reformed Church in America and the broader Reformed community. Raised in Wisconsin, a graduate of Central College and Western Theological Seminary, he received his Ph.D. from the National University of Utrecht studying with A. A. van Ruler. In a uniquely varied career, Heideman served as pastor in Canada, missionary in India, chaplain and professor at Central College, professor at Western Theological Seminary, and denominational staff…

Roger Schutz, the founder of the Taizé Community--and its leading light over the past sixty years of its existence--died unexpectedly and violently in late August. A deranged person killed him with a knife just as the Community was gathering for evening prayers at the Church of Reconciliation on the Taizé grounds. It is with the utmost revulsion and shock that one thinks of this gentle giant of world Christianity, and a leader in the fields of church unity, social justice,…

Indictment of a Passive Voice Discussions on our prayer nights confuse As much as clarify how we're to live. One friend asserts our peace demands we sieve Disturbing stories by not watching news. Our world's a bomb tied to a burning fuse, The sight of which is doubtlessly to give Nightmares that prove to be provocative. Our calm is too invaluable to lose. To that I offered this opposing thought: Where falls a ruin crumbled past repair, An active hand's…

James C. Kennedy and Caroline J. Simon, of the history and philosophy departments at Hope College, have written a remarkably candid and insightful book about the religious identity of their college, Can Hope Endure? A Historical Case Study in Christian Higher Education. They use this "local" history as a case study to illuminate much broader issues that affect faculty, students, and administrators at church-related colleges all over the map. In particular, they pose the question whether such colleges can simultaneously…

I am a romantic. I like movies with happy endings. I justify this by saying there is enough in real life to make me sober and discontent, so watching You've Got Mail for the seventeenth time is a nice little escape to soothe my battered soul. Not so fast, suggests Robert Johnston. Those angst-ridden films have a spiritual purpose as well. In his book, Useless Beauty, Johnston holds the canonical tome Ecclesiastes in one hand and his remote control in…

Every Sunday morning of my youth, the words fell from the pulpit like the solemn tolling of a bell: "The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him." They set the tone for the morning's worship, an orderly, serious activity. After all, the Creator God was here, here in this narrow, red brick, white-steepled building we called Bethel Christian Reformed Church. For the fourteen years that I attended Bethel, the morning service began with…