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Perhaps one of the most difficult questions posed to Christianity is how a good and all-powerful God can allow great natural disasters to occur. This, I would say, is a mystery that most Christians (including myself) have a really hard time dealing with. However, on the flip side, the way people have responded to recent crises has, for me, given a hefty argument for the existence of God. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Christianity, Ethics, Immanuel Kant, Japan, Theology
Last week, I attended a two-day conference at Birmingham University in honour of the philosopher John Hick. If you are not familiar with the man, he considers himself a liberal Christian and claims that “the different religions, with all their manifest differences and undeniable incompatibilities of belief, can be on an equal level as different complexes of belief and practice within which their adherents can find salvation.”[1] In other words, Jesus is not the only way — people can reach salvation through other means. On the first day of the conference, scholars from around the world discussed the philosophy of this man, most in great admiration. To begin the second and last day, Hick himself began a session by asking the delegates to discuss the question of social concern. In the 1970s, when he first came to Birmingham, he was an activist who brought together people of all faiths to resolve the prevalent racial tensions of his day. It is perhaps in this context that the man’s personal theology moved from an “evangelical” conviction to where he is now.
Now, throughout that session, several delegates discussed this question and repeatedly there was the critique against “conservative Christians” or “evangelicals” who have not cared about society. On the one hand, as an evangelical myself, I was a bit offended by the attacks levied by those in attendance. On the other hand, I must confess that conservative Christianity has not been on the forefront of the social problems this world faces. Historically speaking, conservatives have shunned away from social reconstruction and emphasised an individualised, spiritual reconstruction. This world is fleeting and not of our concern — we must simply save souls. What I find additionally interesting is that, while I cannot agree with Hick’s thinking, I have to say that his theology has given him the philosophical impetus to engage the society and work towards remedying the groans of the cosmos (Romans 8:22). Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Christianity, Ethics, God's creation, Theology
Where do you think the picture below was taken?
It may look like China (and, indeed, Betty and I took pictures like this in Suzhou earlier this year), but this was in fact taken in San Marino, California at the new Chinese garden exhibit at the Huntington Library.
I recently came across two very interesting news articles that highlight the question of national pride for ethnic Chinese in countries outside of China:
The question that I want to pose is: is it unpatriotic to the US (which I am a citizen) if I were to be proud of China (which is where my ethnic origins are) and its latest accomplishments? This is something that seems to come up quite a bit (esp. if you read the seemingly racist comments by some readers of the CBC article).
Tags: Burma, Canada, China, Christianity, USA
A French parliamentary committee has recommended banning Muslim headcoverings. The committee’s report claims that it “is the symbol of the repression of women, and… of extremist fundamentalism.” [1]
BBC reports that many in the UK also want this ban, claiming that it is “not British.” There is obviously a racist underpinning to such a statement, but I’m not even going to go there for now. What really unnerved me was what the journalist was implying about freedom of religion: “In a country [France] where the separation of state and religion is enshrined in law, a parliamentary committee report ruled the veil as “contrary to the values of the republic’…” [2]
And now begins my rant. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: China, Christianity, Ethics, United Kingdom, USA
Yup. I didn’t believe it. But when Bert told me you could get the ESV Bible for free on the iPod Touch or iPhone with Kindle, I went online today to check it out. And yes, it is true. It is not the prettiest interface for the Bible, but hey, it is free and it is the full version of a solid, present-day translation.
So here’s what you do:
That’s it! Enjoy. :)
Tags: Apple, Christianity, Geek Post, Technology
November 4, 2008 was a historic date.
For me, as an American living in the UK, I am pleased with the democratic process that has chosen Barack Hussein Obama to be the next president of the United States, the first black president. I heard on CNN a report that many Iraqis believed Barack would never be voted in since all elections were rigged — I guess they were proven wrong. But more than a race, the voice of America has chosen a replacement of a former administration, demanding a change to the previous regime. Whether or not the change will be substantial enough, only time will tell. But, the people demanded and the people were satisfied.
For me, as a Californian living in the UK, I am pleased with the democratic process that has voted for Proposition 8. Preliminary counts say the result is “Yes”, though millions of absentee ballots still need to be counted — mine included. However, Los Angeles County has already suspended the issue of same-sex marriage licenses. This is due to a California State Constitutional provision that says a proposed amendment “shall be submitted to the electors and if approved by a majority of votes thereon takes effect the day after the election.”* Again, seemingly, the democratic voice has spoken.
But is this the democracy we want?
Tags: Canada, Christianity, Ethics, United Kingdom, USA
8-8-08 at 8:08:08pm. This most lucky number of Chinese culture was the precise moment when China again has become the Middle Kingdom. I have yet to see the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, but plan to later this afternoon with some friends. I just saw some of the most magnificent photos from the celebrations at Gizomodo. The Chinese really know how to put on a show. I mean, my Americanized palate says it is sometimes a little corny, but really, they know how to celebrate. And celebrate they should — all eyes are on them.
China, of course, has a major self-esteem complex — she has lived through centuries of suppression by foreign powers. Known in the Chinese language as the “Middle Kingdom,” for millennia, China has claimed its status as the center of the world. But the Age of Imperialism changed this.
Tags: China, Christianity, Olympics
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