Evolution and the Bible: At Least They're Hearing Each Other Out

I came across this piece recently in the Huffington Post by Travis Loller called Evangelical Scientists Debate Evolution and Bible. I'm still not sure if "Evangelical Scientist" is an oxymoron, but it caught my attention that a professor (Darrel Falk) from my alma mater, Point Loma Nazarene University, was a part of the conversation.

The article is praising a healthy debate taking place between Southern Baptists seminary professors and Evangelical scientists. The debate is happening over at BioLogos. Here's their tagline: "BioLogos is a community of evangelical Christians committed to exploring and celebrating the compatibility of evolutionary creation and biblical faith, guided by the truth that 'all things hold together in Christ'" (Colossians 1:17).

The debate is about halfway over and so far Falk is hopeful, saying, "I don't think our differences are anywhere near as great as people might have thought." Of course, there's always Al Mohler: "Southern Baptist Seminary President Albert Mohler, a young-earth creationist, has called the attempt to reconcile evangelicals to evolution a 'direct attack upon biblical authority.'"

I'm glad they're talking.
 
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10 Signs You Should Not Be Getting Married In A Church

Not sure I agree with everything, but I thought this was interesting:

10 Signs You Should Not Be Getting Married in a Church

By Lillian Daniel (Huffington Post)

Posted: 07/10/2012 12:37 pm

10 Signs You Should Not be Getting Married in a Church

1. You find yourself asking the clergy to take all the references to Jesus out of the service.
2. You find yourself dreading your next meeting with the minister.
3. You find yourself dreading the service, worried that the minister will say something too religious.
4. You disagree with the core values of the church.
5. You find the core values of the church so uninteresting that you can just tune them out, no problem.
6. You are not a member of any faith community and neither one of you intends to be.
7. This location feels like a choice you both are making for somebody else, rather than for yourselves.
8. You and your partner have never talked about religion, and you have serious doubts that you will ever be able to.
9. This experience feels like just another wedding transaction, one more service provider to check off the list.
10. You can't wait for the reception.

10 Signs You Might be in the Right Place After All

1. You have drifted from the church, but as you prepare for your wedding you find yourself seeking a community of faith.
2. You enjoy meeting the minister and appreciate the chance to focus on matters of the spirit in the midst of wedding planning stress.
3. You have worshipped here and found yourself moved.
4. You want your marriage to be associated with this place and its core values.
5. You can imagine the members of this church holding you in prayer.
6. You sense that your marriage is about more than the two of you.
7. You find yourself praying.
8. This experience is causing you and your partner to talk about your faith and your aspirations for a faith community as a couple.
9. You don't have it all figured out yet, but this church feels like a blessing to start you on your way.
10. You can't wait for the wedding.

Around the Horn - Homosexuality

As I watched the internet catch fire with the news that North Carolina voted to pass an amendment banning same-sex marriage, I thought it might be helpful to try and gather a number of perspectives for this weeks Around the Horn.

- Al Mohler is mad at Andy Stanley for not outright condemning homosexuality in his last sermon. Andrew Marvin and Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra have the take.

- Listen to Andy Stanley's sermon here. Listen from minutes 24-41. It's kind of long, but still an interesting way for a conservative to navigate the issue.

- Justin Lee, the Executive Director of the Gay Christian Network, responds to the North Carolina vote.

- So does Rachel Held Evens.

- Barak Obama supports same-sex marriage.

- Mohler responds to Obama, opposed.

- Daniel Kirk on marriage, sex, and procreation.

- Kevin DeYoung offers Five Reasons why Christians should continue to oppose gay marriage.

- Out to Dinner w/ Zach Wahls. A short video. (via Doug Harrison)

- Ed Stetzer on homosexuality and future of the Evangelical response (he's opposed).

- Debra Dean Murphy talks about reading Scripture poorly. (via Matt Cromwell)

- Rick Warren opposes gay marriage.

- Doug Harrison on North Carolina's Ammendment.