Book Review: The Canon: A Whirligig Tour of the Beautiful Basics of Science
The Canon: A Whirligig Tour of the Beautiful Basics of Science
by Natalie Angier
A Mariner Book, 2007
293 pages (paperback)
Available
Amazon.com
I’m not a huge fan of books in the Idiot’s or Dummies Guide genre. It is not that they don’t have a place; I’m just not big on books written with a Comic San Serif font and pages plastered with cartoons—you know, like I’m 10 years old and need help from Binky the Clown.
The Canon by Natalie Angier, however, is an introductory book that promises to be a “Whirligig Tour,” but without the need for clown-like delivery and balloon comments to keep the reader interested. This book is intelligent and friendly, good for science-phobes, as well as those who (more…)
Huffington Post: The Problem with Hell
Sharon L. Baker, Associate Professor of Theology and Religion at Messiah College, has an interesting post (”The Problem with Hell“) at HuffPost that essentially summarizes her book Razing Hell: Rethinking Everything You’ve Been Taught About God’s Wrath and Judgment (Amazon). Her story is one that went from embracing God for fear of hell to embracing God because of his divine compassion. Her bullet points are obviously not her full argument against hell, but it makes me want to read what she has to say. I would include her in the long list of people who were raised in fundamentalism and are rethinking everything. When I use the phrase “discarded image“—a worldview that no longer fits an individual’s experience of the world, universe, or God—I intend the kind of story this book appears to be about.
When I was 26, I found out I was going to hell. Young, impressionable, and without a strong faith, I listened intently as the pastor of a church I was visiting described in graphic detail the tortuous, unquenchable flames that would burn human bodies forever and ever. He spoke of worms eating away at decaying flesh, total darkness without the presence of God, and worst of all, no release from those horrors for all eternity. I certainly didn’t want to be one of those unfortunate many to feel the flames licking at my feet soon after leaving life in this world. So I took out the proper fire insurance and asked Jesus to save me from my sins and, therefore, from eternal torment in hell. Whew! That was 25 years ago, and hell is still a hot topic. (Continue reading at HuffPost)
Faith and questions: A lesson from Kate DiCamillo’s work
One of my recent projects is that of “deep-reading” (i.e., reading all of) Kate DiCamillo’s work. It has been a helpful and enjoyable practice, particularly as I think through my own writing projects. I like the way her mind works and the themes that make it into her writing. Authors are not always immediately aware of the themes that appear in their work, though readers are often quick to point them out. It appears that even for DiCamillo, this is an ongoing discovery (watch a video of DiCamillo discussing themes in her work).
She is not afraid of engaging real-life issues—tragedies of loss, death, abuse, denial, or even childlessness. For example, The Tiger Rising engages (more…)
Book Review: Speaking of Faith
[NOTE: This review was originally posted on another blog of mine. As I find it this book to be continually informing my worldview, I decided to include it here as well, but with a little editing.]
Speaking of Faith
by Krista Tippett
Viking (2007)
238 pages (paperback/hardcover)
Available
Amazon
“All truth is God’s truth,” or so goes the saying attributed to Augustine. Former diplomat, Yale Divinity School graduate, and public radio host Krista Tippett built this principle into Speaking of Faith, the original name of her her broadcast (now called “Krista Tippett on Being”) and her book. My interest in Tippett’s broadcast began a few months ago and has become a regular podcast download. I’ve enjoyed the string of important topics and impressive personalities that have passed before her microphone. From discussions on science, Islam, and gay marriage, to guests or “conversation partners” like Jaroslav Pelikan, Freeman Dyson, Karen Armstrong, and Paul Davies, her search for truth shows no fear. (more…)
NPR: From Primitive Parts, A Highly Evolved Human Brain
There is a brief, but interesting article at NPR on the evolution of the human brain—especially its pros and cons.
Our brain has been put together with parts from jellyfish and lizards and mice, Linden says. These parts may have been OK for their original owners, he says, but they aren’t ideal for us…. Read the rest from the Morning Edition.
Book Review: Why Evolution is True
Why Evolution is True
by Jerry A. Coyne
Penguin, 2009
282 pages (paperback)
Available
Amazon.com
Science and religion have had a love-hate relationship. Like your average sitcom, the “will they?/won’t they? get together for good” question remains unresolved, and so we keep tuning in hoping that this week it will finally happen. (more…)
Book Review: World Religions in America (4th Edition)
World Religions in America (4th Edition)
by Jacob Neusner
Westminster John Knox, 2009
449 pages (paperback)
Available
Amazon
Not long ago, as I was designing a course on American cultures and religious traditions, I included the newest edition of World Religions in America as a primary text. This text, edited by the well-known Jacob Neusner, is perfect for the classroom. Unlike many world religions texts—in which one or two people write the entire book—each chapter comes from an author who holds some sort of commitment, academically and/or personally, to the tradition they represent. Instead of getting a polemical perspective (more…)
