Category: Culture
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J. K. Rowling & Pseudonymity
Read more: J. K. Rowling & PseudonymityDid you hear the news? J. K. Rowling wrote a new book! When I heard this I was absolutely thrilled. But there’s just one thing. J. K. Rowling used a pseudonym. Instead of using her famous pen name “J. K. Rowling” for her new detective novel, The Cuckoo’s Calling, the book was written under the false…
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Confessions of a White Privileged Christian Female American
Read more: Confessions of a White Privileged Christian Female AmericanA few months ago I was walking down the streets of Berkeley. The sun was setting, and as the city darkened I threw my purse around my neck in order to hold on a little tighter. There weren’t many people out and about so as I watched an African American male dressed in dark colors…
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What Is the Basis for Authority? Part 2
Read more: What Is the Basis for Authority? Part 2In my last post I went through the cultural developments that led to the basis of our modern understanding of authority detailing the historical shift in religious and political viewpoints. Eventually we have come to understand in the modern context a delegated authority that tends to come from the will of the majority of individuals…
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Confessions of A Hip-Hop Head
Read more: Confessions of A Hip-Hop HeadIn every one of my friendships there comes that one moment. That one moment when they find out I’m a hip-hop fan. It’s actually more than fandom. It’s probably closer to obsession. Most people don’t expect it. I’m pale and have red hair. I study theology and have an intense love of all things sci-fi….
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What is the Basis of Authority? Part 1
Read more: What is the Basis of Authority? Part 1Since the twentieth century, no topic has shaped the philosophical conversations more than the question of authority. It is not that the topic wasn’t brought up previously, certainly the Reformation and the Revolutions in America and France centered on the topic, but the fervor with which the debate raged in academic circles during the twentieth…
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Megadeth: God’s Metal Band?
Read more: Megadeth: God’s Metal Band?Megadeth has recently released their fourteenth album, Super Collider. An event like this is a big deal for me because Megadeth is my all-time favorite band. I’ve seen them live three times; I even caught both a guitar pick and an arm band from Dave Mustiane at one show. Classic metal is my staple when it…
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Released and Awaiting Release: Tim Lambesis
Read more: Released and Awaiting Release: Tim LambesisI’m still stunned. . . Tim Lambesis, the frontman for one of my favorite metal bands, As I Lay Dying, was arrested on May 7th for soliciting a hitman to kill his wife, though the hitman was actually an undercover detective. Last week Lambesis was released (May 30th) on $2 Million bail. He has another hearing on…
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Cheerios and the Case for a More Constructive Rhetoric
Read more: Cheerios and the Case for a More Constructive RhetoricLet me begin with a bit of full disclosure. I’m black. My wife is white. And we’re going to have our first child this summer. This commercial obviously hits close to home. That being said, the following post about the Cheerios commercial is, surprisingly, not going to be about race or the ensuing “shitstorm” it’s…
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Ecclesia and Ethics: Day One
Read more: Ecclesia and Ethics: Day OneThis past Saturday was Day One of the online conference that I had been co-organizing with some of my officemates from St Andrews. It was both exhausting and exhilarating. Because it was designed to be an international conference, my day began at 6am local time in California and ended at 4pm local time. During this…
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Conscientious Consumption: There’s an App for That
Read more: Conscientious Consumption: There’s an App for ThatBeing socially conscious is hip. In the past few years social media has made advocating a particular cause convenient and, dare I say, prestigious. Need proof? Scroll through your Facebook friends and see how many of their profile pictures include the pink equals sign on a red background for marriage equality, an image with a red “X”…