Category Archives: civil society

Love over Knowledge

1 Cor 8:1-13

A sermon preached to the congregation of Ginter Park Baptist Curch, Richmond VA, 1/31/21

Immigration Policy: Legality and Morality (Conclusion)

Previous segments of this discussion of US Immigration policy have focused on its history, current demographics, and economic considerations.  In sum, they have argued that the impression that the US faces the threat of an overwhelming, some would argue even destabilizing, influx of immigrants – by which most involved in the debate mean Latin-x Continue reading Immigration Policy: Legality and Morality (Conclusion)

Immigration Policy: Legality and Morality (Part III)

Historically, then, US immigration policy has reflected the nation’s social and economic concerns, justified or not, in response to specific demographic circumstances. Meanwhile, I have argued that many of the issues that proponents of increasing restrictions on immigration raise today do not correspond, in fact, to current realities. Furthermore, a set Continue reading Immigration Policy: Legality and Morality (Part III)

Immigration Policy: Legality and Morality (Part II)

If one accepts the argument made in the most recent entry in this blog, an immigration policy that fulfills the needs of society should reflect real conditions. Unfortunately, a series of misrepresentations and false assumptions drive much of today’s discussion about immigration. The list of these inaccuracies includes, but is not limited to the following: Continue reading Immigration Policy: Legality and Morality (Part II)

Immigration Policy: Legality and Morality

“A Migrant Syrian was my Father” (Deut 26:5)

Broadly speaking, advocates engaged in the contemporary debate surrounding US immigration and border control issues represent two camps divided over whether the determinative factors shaping policy involve protecting the interests of US citizens or meeting the needs of refugees fleeing poverty and violence. Proponents of the former Continue reading Immigration Policy: Legality and Morality

Civility: Reconciliation ‘Lite’

“God…gave us the ministry of reconciliation…committing to us the word of reconciliation” (2 Cor 5:18-19)

In a moment characterized by unusually bitter and deeply-rooted strife, enmity, distrust, and mistrust, we hear frequent calls for a return to “civility” (cf. https://www.christianpost.com/voice/return-to-civility-american-life.html) when, in fact, only something much more profound – reconciliation – can produce the harmony needed. Continue reading Civility: Reconciliation ‘Lite’

American Pragmatism Threatens Education (Continued)

“Get wisdom, gain insight…” (Prov 4:5, RSV)

 This entry continues last week’s examination of the several objectives of education other than, but arguably as essential as preparation for a career. In addition to equipping individuals with the basic skills necessary to negotiate modern life and with the appreciation for the arts and humanities that will facilitate a rich and deep life, education in the United States must intentionally prepare students to be good citizens, especially competent voters.

The 1947 report of the so-called Truman Commission, entitled “Higher Education for American Democracy,” calls for education to instill the “ethical principles consistent with democratic ideals” and to produce the capacity to function “as an informed and responsible citizen” (pp. 50-51) in a representative democracy. Of course, civics and ethics play an important role in this formation of good citizens, but so do a range of other disciplines.

In order to cast ballots wisely, voters should have a solid and honest grasp of history, for example. Awareness of the nation’s departures from its founding principles – departures such as the long history of slavery, the mistreatment of indigenous peoples, and the internment of Japanese Americans in WWII – will forestall the forms of uncritical hyper-patriotism that arise from fear and ignorance. Indeed, contrary to educational practice until quite recently, this body of knowledge can only enhance the impact of studying the moments in American history when the nation has risen to its ideals. Similarly, although the aggregation of social science and historical disciples that include civics, history, and political science obviously pertain in this respect, so do basic understandings of the sciences, especially the scientific method itself, and statistics. Whenever people point to a cold day as evidence contradicting global climate change, they reveal that they do not understand the simple arithmetic of averages. The fixation on public opinion polls and their popular confusion with evidence likewise indicates the importance of mathematics education for the health of the democracy. The truth of a matter has nothing to do with the percentage of the populace that recognizes said truth. If, as was once the case prior to modern science, a majority were to believe that the earth is flat, their belief would have no correlation to, and certainly no effect on, the facts. How can a voter who does not understand the basics of, say, nuclear fission cast a wise vote pertaining to the role of nuclear energy?

I propose that, in order to prepare students for rich and meaningful lives as responsible citizens, public education should fulfill these tasks in addition to preparing them for successful careers.  To these tasks, I would add one other for Christian believers: education in their particular faith tradition. In over three decades as a college and seminary professor, I have been perplexed at the ignorance of even, perhaps especially, students who have been regular church attendees throughout their lives. It is as though the Christian church regards arithmetic as more important than Christianity. To be sure, ignorance does not preclude faith, but it can limit the impact of that faith on both the lives of believers and the lives of those whom believers encounter.  As Paul said, twice, “I would not have you ignorant, brothers and sister” (2 Cor 1:8; 1 Thess 4:13).

American Pragmatism Threatens Education

In Two Parts

 “Get wisdom, gain insight…” (Prov 4:5, RSV)

The scandal concerning “purchasing” admission to prestigious colleges currently making news (see https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/13/us/what-we-know-college-admissions-cheating-scandal/index.html) constitutes a symptom of the threat that American pragmatism (if it works, it is good), morphed into “careerism,” poses to American Continue reading American Pragmatism Threatens Education

On Wasting an Opportunity to Learn

“The one persecuting us then, now preaches the faith he destroyed” (Gal 1:23)

Listening to the current public debate about the proper course of action to be taken by or regarding the governor and the attorney general of Virginia, both of whom admit to having worn black-face in the 1980’s, I am struck by a failure to examine the situation in terms of the complex history of white culture in the South in the era immediately following the huge Continue reading On Wasting an Opportunity to Learn

The “Nones” and I Have Something in Common

I, Too, Don’t Trust “Organized Religion”

By all accounts, we are well into a cultural period defined in part by the decreasing importance of religion in peoples’ lives. We hear and read almost daily about the millennial generation’s a-religiosity, the so-called “nones,” and those who profess spirituality without religion. People discount and decry “organized religion” with a tone of contempt.  After all, Continue reading The “Nones” and I Have Something in Common