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Category Archives: History
Evangelism, Evangelization and Missional-Ecumenism (4)
Over the last three days I have written about evangelism and evangelization, from both a Protestant and Catholic perspective. I have attempted to show the meaning and importance of these respective terms and the theology that lies behind both of … Continue reading
FDR’s Holocaust Legacy – A Lesson in the Failure of Moral Courage
President Franklin D. Roosevelt was, and still is, one of most admired and esteemed presidents in American history. I grew up hearing a lot of good things about FDR. I also heard some bad things from those who felt the … Continue reading
Posted in America and Americanism, Culture, Ethics, History, Immigration, Israel, Politics
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Understanding our Exilic Missional Context: Evangelicalism and Liberalism in Twentieth Century America
Most historians and religion scholars now agree that by the twentieth century liberal Protestantism had led to a mainstream Protestantism that was vague, theistic and excessively nationalistic. In a profound sense, concludes British Christian Studies scholar Linda Woodhead, “liberal Protestantism’s … Continue reading
Lincoln on the Big Screen (5)
Since the new film “Lincoln” deals directly with the passage of the 13th Amendment, and the abolition of slavery in the United States, scholars and pundits of all sorts are asking new questions about both Lincoln and slavery. I welcome … Continue reading
Posted in America and Americanism, Film, History, Race and Racism
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Lincoln on the Big Screen (4)
When producer Steven Spielberg began to talk with script writer Tony Kushner about his project to do the first serious film on Abraham Lincoln in seventy years their ideas began to coalesce when Spielberg asked, “Why don’t we make a … Continue reading
Posted in America and Americanism, Film, History, Politics
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Lincoln on the Big Screen (3)
The screenplay for the new “Lincoln” film was written by Tony Kushner (photo at left). Kushner began writing for the screen in 2000. He previously co-wrote the screenplay for “Munich” in 2005, a film also directed by Steven Spielberg. Kushner, … Continue reading
Posted in America and Americanism, Film, History, Politics
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Lincoln on the Big Screen (1)
In Steven Spielberg’s new movie “Lincoln” we get a powerful glimpse of one small period in the life of President Abraham Lincoln, a period of only a month just before his death and right after his re-election to a second … Continue reading
Posted in America and Americanism, Film, History, Leadership, Race and Racism
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How Shall We Remember our History This Thanksgiving Day?
Thanksgiving Day remains my favorite U.S. holiday. It is so simple, so unencumbered by troublesome trappings. Though the infamous “Black Friday” specials begin almost before Thanksgiving Day is over this day essentially remains non-material in its orientation. It is also … Continue reading
Posted in America and Americanism, History
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American Christianity at Mid-Century
In writing about the religious conditions in the nation at the middle of the last century Ross Douthat says, “the most striking features of [this revival] are the ways in which mass-market faith and highbrow religiosity seemed to complement each … Continue reading
Reformation Day: How Far Does the Fall Go?
Today is All Saints Eve. It is also Reformation Day. This made me wonder about sin and the ages old debate about the consequences and depths of human sin. Luther said that sin bound us to spiritual death thus we were … Continue reading
Posted in History, Humor
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