{"id":5269,"date":"2018-12-07T18:34:43","date_gmt":"2018-12-08T02:34:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/?p=5269"},"modified":"2018-12-07T18:34:43","modified_gmt":"2018-12-08T02:34:43","slug":"things-glen-found-interesting-volume-181","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/archives\/2018\/12\/07\/things-glen-found-interesting-volume-181","title":{"rendered":"Things Glen Found Interesting, Volume 181"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"http:\/\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/issachar-update-logo-wordswag\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-4396\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/issachar-update-logo-wordswag.png?resize=300%2C300&#038;ssl=1\" alt width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/issachar-update-logo-wordswag.png?resize=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/issachar-update-logo-wordswag.png?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/issachar-update-logo-wordswag.png?resize=768%2C768&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/issachar-update-logo-wordswag.png?resize=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/issachar-update-logo-wordswag.png?resize=1200%2C1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/issachar-update-logo-wordswag.png?w=2048&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/issachar-update-logo-wordswag.png?w=1680&amp;ssl=1 1680w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 85vw, 300px\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>On Fridays I share articles\/resources about broad cultural, societal and theological issues. Be sure to see the explanation and disclaimers at the bottom. I welcome your suggestions. If you read something fascinating please pass it my&nbsp;way.<\/p>\n<h3>Things Glen Found Interesting<\/h3>\n<ol class=\"simple-list\">\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/nymag.com\/intelligencer\/2018\/12\/andrew-sullivan-americas-new-religions.html\">America\u2019s New Religions<\/a> (Andrew Sullivan, New York Magazine): \u201cThe need for meaning hasn\u2019t gone away, but without Christianity, this yearning looks to politics for satisfaction. And religious impulses, once anchored in and tamed by Christianity, find expression in various political cults. These political manifestations of religion are new and crude, as all new cults have to be. They haven\u2019t been experienced and refined and modeled by millennia of practice and thought. They are evolving in real time. And like almost all new cultish impulses, they demand a total and immediate commitment to save the&nbsp;world.\u201d<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/freakonomics.com\/podcast\/religiosity\/\">Is the Protestant Work Ethic Real?<\/a> (Stephen J. Dubner, Freakonomics): \u201cThe randomized controlled trial of a missionary project in the Philippines found that very poor people earned more money as a result of receiving religious instruction. Why? The researchers suspect there were two primary drivers: optimism and&nbsp;grit.\u201d&nbsp;<ul>\n<li>The researchers in question wrote up their research in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nber.org\/papers\/w24278\">Randomizing Religion: The Impact of Protestant Evangelism on Economic Outcomes<\/a> (Gharad T. Bryan, James J. Choi, Dean Karlan, NBER): \u201cTo study the causal impact of religiosity, we partnered with International Care Ministries (ICM), an evangelical Protestant anti-poverty organization that operates in the Philippines, to conduct an evaluation that randomly assigned invitations to attend Christian theology and values training.\u201d The authors are affiliated with the London School of Economics, Yale, and Northwestern. The second author, Choi, is an evangelical Christian.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/news\/2018\/december\/dutch-asylum-worship-service-netherlands-kinderpardon-hague.html\">Dutch Asylum Service Nears 1,000 Hours, With Evangelicals\u2019 Support<\/a> (Christianity Today): \u201cA marathon worship service held by a church in the Netherlands to shield a family of asylum seekers has garnered worldwide attention. The feat has proved impressive for its longevity alone\u2014now going on six weeks\u2014but also represents a unique ecumenical moment among Christians in the tiny European nation.\u201d<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.stanforddaily.com\/2018\/12\/05\/former-stanford-postdoc-criticized-for-creating-the-worlds-first-gene-edited-babies\/\">Former Stanford postdoc criticized for creating the world\u2019s first gene-edited babies<\/a> (Elena Shao, Stanford Daily): \u201cOn Nov. 28, He Jianku \u2014 a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford from 2011\u20132012 \u2014 announced to hundreds of scientists, colleagues and journalists that he had created the world\u2019s first genetically edited babies: twin girls with the pseudonyms Lulu and Nana whose DNA he claims to have altered to make them HIV-resistant.\u201d FYI Bill Hurlburt, one of the Stanford bioethics experts interviewed in this article, is a solid believer.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/vimeo.com\/200206468\">Godspeed: The Pace Of Being Known<\/a> (Vimeo): a frosh brought this 30 minute video to my attention and said it made her think about how she should be living in her dorm. Recommended.<\/li>\n<li>I read two interesting profiles of famous Christians from the past this&nbsp;week:&nbsp;<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thegospelcoalition.org\/blogs\/evangelical-history\/phillis-wheatley-evangelical-first-published-african-american-female-poet\/\">Phillis Wheatley: An Evangelical and the First Published African American Female Poet<\/a> (Thomas Kidd, Gospel Coalition): \u201cPhillis Wheatley, the first published African American female poet and a devout Christian, died on December 5, 1784. We can\u2019t be sure of her birthdate, because she was born in West Africa and sold into slavery by&nbsp;1761.\u201d<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/2018\/12\/04\/evangelical-retailer-john-wanamaker-built-fortune-by-blending-faith-with-business\/\">Evangelical retailer John Wanamaker built fortune by blending faith with business<\/a> (Mark Kellner, Religion News Service): \u201cWanamaker, who also served four years as postmaster general of the United States, was foremost an evangelical Christian who melded faith and works, specifically the working of his retail empire. While building the first department store in Philadelphia, he also funded the growth of the city\u2019s first megachurch, which featured a range of social services undergirded by a strong evangelistic outreach. He offered young male employees of his store guidance through a YMCA-like program aimed at promoting spiritual discipline. All employees could spend a summer vacation at a church-run resort, albeit with strict behavioral codes.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/religionqanda\/2018\/11\/have-u-s-protestants-gone-soft-on-alcohol\/\">Have U.S. Protestants gone soft on alcohol?<\/a> (Richard Ostling, Patheos): \u201c\u2026from 2007 to 2017 U.S. deaths attributed to alcohol increased 35 percent, and 67 percent among women (while teen deaths declined 16 percent). These fatalities well outnumber those from opioid overdoses that have roused such public concern\u2026. Only 2 percent of evangelicals admitted they sometimes over-indulge.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3>Less Serious Things Which Also Interested\/Amused Glen<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"simple-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/babylonbee.com\/news\/premillennialist-driving-convertible-just-to-be-on-the-safe-side\">Premillennialist Driving Convertible Just To Be On The Safe Side<\/a> (Babylon Bee) \u2014 I think that\u2019s compelling logic<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.smbc-comics.com\/comic\/theorem\">Theorem<\/a> (SMBC)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/babylonbee.com\/news\/nations-christians-shocked-that-popular-ccm-artist-doesnt-have-robust-theology\">Nation\u2019s Christians Shocked That Popular CCM Artist Doesn\u2019t Have Robust Theology<\/a> (Babylon Bee)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=48firFVloK0\">Big Narstie\u2019s Ukabong!<\/a> (Would I Lie To You?, YouTube)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Things Glen Found Interesting A While&nbsp;Ago<\/h3>\n<p>Every week I\u2019ll highlight an older link still worth your consideration. This week we have&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/sourcetext.com\/the-gift-of-fire-chapter-three\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Land of We All (Richard Mitchell, The Gift of Fire)<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, an essay &nbsp;built on this insight: \u201cThinking can not be done corporately. Nations and committees can\u2019t think. That is not only because they have no brains, but because they have no selves, no centers, no souls, if you like. Millions and millions of persons may hold the same thought, or conviction or suspicion, but each and every person of those millions must hold it all alone.\u201d (first shared in<\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/archives\/2015\/06\/06\/things-glen-found-interesting-volume-2\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">volume 2<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Why Do You Send This&nbsp;Email?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>In the time of King David, the tribe of Issachar produced shrewd warriors \u201cwho understood the times and knew what Israel should do\u201d (1 Chron 12:32). In a similar way, we need to become wise people whose faith interacts with the world. I pray this email gives you greater insight, so that you may continue the tradition of Issachar.<\/p>\n<h3><b>Disclaimer<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>Chi Alpha is not a partisan organization. To paraphrase another minister: we are not about the donkey\u2019s agenda and we are not about the elephant\u2019s agenda \u2014 we are about the Lamb\u2019s agenda. Having said that, I read widely (in part because I believe we should aspire to pass <a href=\"http:\/\/econlog.econlib.org\/archives\/2011\/06\/the_ideological.html\">the ideological Turing test<\/a> and in part because I do not believe I can fairly say \u201cI agree\u201d or \u201cI disagree\u201d until I can say \u201cI understand\u201d) and may at times share articles that have a strong partisan bias simply because I find the article stimulating. The upshot: you should not assume I agree with everything an author says in an article I mention, much less things the author has said in other articles (although if I strongly disagree with something in the article I\u2019ll usually mention it). And to the extent you can discern my opinions, please understand that they are my own and not necessarily those of Chi Alpha or any other organization I may be perceived to represent.<\/p>\n<p>Also, remember that I\u2019m not reporting news \u2014 I\u2019m giving you a selection of things I found interesting. There\u2019s a lot happening in the world that\u2019s not making an appearance here because I haven\u2019t found stimulating articles written about&nbsp;it.<\/p>\n<p>If this was forwarded to you and you want to receive future emails, sign up <a href=\"https:\/\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/\">here<\/a>. You can also <a href=\"https:\/\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/category\/links\">view the archives<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On Fridays I share articles\/resources about broad cultural, societal and theological issues. Be sure to see the explanation and disclaimers at the bottom. I welcome your suggestions. If you read something fascinating please pass it my&nbsp;way. Things Glen Found Interesting America\u2019s New Religions (Andrew Sullivan, New York Magazine): \u201cThe need for meaning hasn\u2019t gone away, \u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/archives\/2018\/12\/07\/things-glen-found-interesting-volume-181\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> \u201cThings Glen Found Interesting, Volume 181\u201d<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wp_typography_post_enhancements_disabled":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"Things of interest to the sort of person who preaches the gospel to students at Stanford University.","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[16],"tags":[143,124,170,120,161,117,135],"class_list":["post-5269","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-links","tag-alcohol","tag-apologetically-interesting","tag-devotional","tag-famous-christians","tag-global-christianity","tag-politics","tag-stanford"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6Ded-1mZ","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5269","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5269"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5269\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5273,"href":"https:\/\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5269\/revisions\/5273"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5269"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5269"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5269"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}