Defending Faith in Academia

Earlier, I posted about my alma mater having its accreditation (along with other Christian schools) doubted and ridiculed by an Ivy League literature professor. Another voice joined the defense of Christian colleges' accreditation (and my school in particular), and that voice is David Coleman, the President and CEO of the College Board.

Coleman, as he notes himself in his defense, does not agree with Wheaton's faith and lifestyle policies, but very much agrees with their academic mission. Thus, we can be thankful that there are voices that see the merit of religious diversity in the common pursuit of knowledge.

You can read the article here. 

Healing from Hateful Theology

Mark Phelps, one of the oldest (and departed) children of Westboro Baptist Church, the infamous Kansas congregation known for its hateful and emotionally-distressing pickets of military funerals, political events and popular concerts, has just recently started a blog on his journey of healing. It can be found here.

Reading the blog can both disturb you and give you hope. Praise be to God for His recent healing work in Mark Phelps's life. But you also learn some of the scary details of Westboro's beginnings and life in the Phelps's abusive and prison-like household, submitting in fear to the anger of Fred Phelps and the application of hateful theology of what Mark Phelps only refers to as "his [Fred Phelps's] god." 

What's Happening in Iraq?

Here's an FAQ on what's happening to Christians in Iraq.

Let's pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ.

HT: Joe Carter

Friday Fun: "Morgan Freeman" Reads LeBron James's Essay

Props to Frank Caliendo for an impressive Morgan Freeman impersonation.

HT: Mike and Mike

Five Things About Economic Inequality

An interesting article from the New York Times:

Unfortunately, equal opportunity is now a mirage. Indeed, researchers find that there is less economic mobility in America than in class-conscious Europe.

We know some of the tools, including job incentives and better schools, that can reduce this opportunity gap. But the United States is one of the few advanced countries that spends less educating the average poor child than the average rich one. As an escalator of mobility, the American education system is broken.

HT: Nicholas Kristof

Update: Christian College Will Keep Accreditation

Earlier, I posted an article that talked about how Gordon College, a Christian college in suburban Boston, was facing accreditation scrutiny due to its president's signing of this letter.

I was quickly informed by some colleagues who are studied from and employed by Gordon College that Gordon College is not, in fact, in danger of losing its accreditation.

It looks like President Obama is not going to acquiesce to the aforementioned letter's request, and there may be some negative circumstances stemming from that. However, contrary to earlier news reports, Gordon College's accreditation is not in any danger.

News reports will not likely make strong efforts to announce this update (since it's not as grabby), so I thought you should know.

Friday Fun: Badly Arranged Church Sign

You might want to find a way to separate the pastor's name from this particular sermon title. Or put the words "This week's sermon" before the title in quotes. 

Something.

HT: Ed Stetzer