Posted on October 19, 2008
Jesus is not the exclusive property of Christians. Polls reveal that Americans of all faiths view Jesus “overwhelmingly in a favorable light” and that he has “a strong hold on those with no religious training.” Amazingly, nearly half of the country’s non-Christians believe that Jesus was born from a virgin and raised from the dead. Here atheists and Buddhists are active producers and consumers of images of Jesus, who in many respects functions as common cultural coin. Talk to a Hindu and she might tell you that Jesus is an avatar of the god Vishnu. Ask a Jew and you might be told that he was a great rabbi. In a bestselling novel from 1925, Bruce Barton described Jesus as The man Nobody Knows. Today he is the man nobody hates.
– Stephen Prothero, American Jesus: How the Son of God Became a National Icon, 11
Posted on October 18, 2008
We’re getting at the theological roots of creation, redemption, and mission over at Theological by starting a series on mediation.
Posted on October 17, 2008
See info on new hires at Gordon Conwell here.
Posted on October 17, 2008
Bob Thune tipped me off to two new bands. Check out this this really cool instrumental band called Interstates here and Vedder-esque band called Woven Hand. “Horses Head” and “Silver Saddle” on thier Bordeaux album are good.
