{"id":6656,"date":"2021-07-02T16:47:08","date_gmt":"2021-07-03T00:47:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/?p=6656"},"modified":"2021-07-02T16:47:08","modified_gmt":"2021-07-03T00:47:08","slug":"things-glen-found-interesting-volume-308","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/archives\/2021\/07\/02\/things-glen-found-interesting-volume-308","title":{"rendered":"Things Glen Found Interesting, Volume 308"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/issachar-update-logo-wordswag\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" 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 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>     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\n\n\n<p>This is the 308th installation of this series, and the number 308 is a <a href=\"http:\/\/oeis.org\/wiki\/Pyramidal_numbers\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"http:\/\/oeis.org\/wiki\/Pyramidal_numbers\">heptagonal pyramidal number<\/a>. Pyramidal numbers describe the number of objects required to form a pyramid of a certain height with a given number of sides (in this case, a seven layer pyramid with a heptagonal base).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Things Glen Found Interesting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"simple-list wp-block-list\"><li>Academia and&nbsp;faith:<ul><li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/biologos.org\/articles\/dr-karin-oberg-planetary-formation-faith-shaping-books-and-the-beauty-of-an-intelligible-universe\">Dr. Karin \u00d6berg: Planetary Formation, Faith-Shaping Books, and the Beauty of an Intelligible Universe<\/a> (Raquel Sequeira, BioLogos): \u201cI feel like there are so many stories of Christians that have had a great struggle in academia and for whom living out their faith has been problematic in different ways. While these people do exist and those struggles are real, I want people to know that this is not always the case. I have had a smooth and joyful journey being very open about my faith at the very secular place that Harvard is.\u201d<\/li><li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/mercatornet.com\/the-turning-tide-of-intellectual-atheism\/72999\/\">The turning tide of intellectual atheism<\/a> (Jonathon Van Maren, MercatorNet): \u201cNot so long ago, the atheists who retreated to their Darwinian towers and bricked themselves up to fire arrows at the faithful&nbsp;<em>wanted<\/em>&nbsp;to be there. Their intellectual silos were a refuge from faith because they didn\u2019t want Christianity to be true. They hated it and thought we\u2019d be better off without it.\u2026 [but v]iewing Western civilisation with its Christian soul cut out, many are now willing to say: <em>\u2018We need Christ<\/em>.\u2019 What they are unable, thus far, to say, is: <em>\u2018I need Christ<\/em>.\u2019 But the political must become personal. Peterson appears to understand that\u2014and is awestruck by the reality of&nbsp;it.\u201d&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/frenchpress.thedispatch.com\/p\/when-the-aliens-come-will-it-destroy?token=eyJ1c2VyX2lkIjoxMzIyMjQyLCJwb3N0X2lkIjozODA3ODczMSwiXyI6InRaWmdEIiwiaWF0IjoxNjI0OTA0ODgwLCJleHAiOjE2MjQ5MDg0ODAsImlzcyI6InB1Yi0yMTc2NSIsInN1YiI6InBvc3QtcmVhY3Rpb24ifQ.Am-kbM3u0TUsJwGQuxvdbVyMFHRnQyHHuqOfgEZtfIQ\">When the Aliens Come, Will Their Arrival Destroy Our Faith?<\/a> (David French, The Dispatch): \u201c\u2026a surprising number of theologians and Christian thinkers have openly considered the possibility of alien intelligence, including in&nbsp;books&nbsp;and&nbsp;essays. The good folks at Biologos have&nbsp;pondered the question. And surveying the literature, there is an interesting amount of consensus about both the key Christian questions and the Christian conclusions about alien life.\u201d David French agrees with me, which is always a happy outcome.<\/li><li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2021\/06\/25\/opinion\/coronavirus-lab.html?unlocked_article_code=AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACEIPuonUktbfqohkTlUZBibSRdkhrxqAwvPI2rs6j2H_NjWODDJLxaIVH42EsQ_rVJZUWuESjX6dVcMTd_gmXuBzxetSeBZgQAD2-8Ld3c1Uc3lw9IjuDyY8gsOXGL40_2_mY2Llcrxzyff3pR-JMRmcU6ba0XQmJg9nsMElIQnsgSpUs_-DRu1l2dB-3eMjAYR6QVoAZiqJt_rqA3ZuKYnML0GcukRtBbYvCXyElsWc6rkDbAxXFVvNKXh-6m4349teU8gFPOBlsV6Dq5NGPdTdxn3KZw&amp;smid=url-share\">Where Did the Coronavirus Come From? What We Already Know Is Troubling.<\/a> (Zeynep Tufekci, New York Times): \u201cNearly every SARS case since the original epidemic has been due to lab leaks \u2014 six incidents in three countries, including twice in a single month from a lab in Beijing.\u201d This article is unlocked \u2014 you won\u2019t use up your NYT articles reading it.<\/li><li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/freddiedeboer.substack.com\/p\/what-bari-weiss-wont-tell-you-about?token=eyJ1c2VyX2lkIjoxMzIyMjQyLCJwb3N0X2lkIjozODEwMjA3MywiXyI6Ii8vMkVWIiwiaWF0IjoxNjI1MDYxOTkwLCJleHAiOjE2MjUwNjU1OTAsImlzcyI6InB1Yi0yOTU5MzciLCJzdWIiOiJwb3N0LXJlYWN0aW9uIn0.KCS6kIbxbcEOHUs3SgBieMDM4GCLuL2MYEzW017YVfs\">What Bari Weiss Won\u2019t Tell You About Human Rights and China<\/a> (Freddie deBoer, Substack): \u201cPerhaps there could be greater trade barriers between the United States and China \u2014 but there\u2019s a real risk that doing so could cause major damage to the international economy. And that\u2019s precisely the problem, right? When the fight to treating people with respect and dignity by extending them basic freedoms is such a challenge to the world economic system, you have to acknowledge that there\u2019s something wrong with what that system defines as valuable.\u201d<\/li><li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/bariweiss.substack.com\/p\/my-conversation-with-winston-marshall\">My Conversation With Winston Marshall<\/a> (Bari Weiss, Substack): \u201cOne of the things that I have noticed is that an inordinate number of people who have been willing to tell the truth and stand up to the new illiberalism, are religious. And I wondered if you could just tell us a little bit more about how your faith guided you through this decision or maybe to put it another way, maybe it\u2019s that your faith anchors you in values that are so much bigger and more eternal than the idiot winds that feel like they\u2019re sweeping through our politics every&nbsp;day.\u201d<\/li><li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.chronicle.com\/article\/a-scholarly-screw-up-of-biblical-proportions?cid=gen_sign_in\">A Scholarly Screw-Up of Biblical Proportions<\/a> (Ariel Sabar, Chronicle of Higher Education): \u201cWhat should a journal do after publishing a blockbuster paper marred by fraudulent evidence, failed peer review, and undisclosed conflicts of interest? If you\u2019re&nbsp;<em>Harvard Theological Review<\/em>, the answer appears to be nothing.\u201d<\/li><li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/musaalgharbi.com\/2021\/05\/05\/book-announcement-we-have-never-been-woke\/?subscribe=opted_out#485\">Book Announcement: We Have Never Been Woke<\/a> (Musa al-Gharbi, personal website): \u201c\u2026the Americans who are the primary producers and consumers of content on antiracism, socialism, feminism, etc. also happen to be among the primary beneficiaries of gendered, racialized and other forms of inequality \u2013 and not <em>passive<\/em> beneficiaries. We are active participants in exploiting and reproducing inequalities. And yet, it is difficult for us to \u2018see\u2019 how we contribute to the problem \u2014 precisely <em>because of<\/em> our deeply felt commitments to social justice. So we expropriate blame to others\u2026 often people who benefit far less from the system than we do, and exert far less influence over it.\u201d The author is a sociologist at Columbia, and this book looks like it will be straight fire.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Less Serious Things Which Also Interested\/Amused Glen<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"simple-list wp-block-list\"><li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=V5tdCRJFS20\">John Crist on Why He Scared to Listen to Christian Radio!<\/a> (YouTube): three minutes, amusing<\/li><li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gocomics.com\/pearlsbeforeswine\/2021\/06\/27\">Senior Year At Cal<\/a> (Pearls Before Swine)<\/li><li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/babylonbee.com\/news\/following-jesus-pros-and-cons\/\">Following Jesus: Pros And Cons<\/a> (Babylon Bee): \u201c<strong>Pro<\/strong>: The all-knowing, all-powerful Creator of the universe loves you and sent his Son to die for you&nbsp; <strong>Con:<\/strong> His book is really long\u201d The entire list is reasonably amusing.<\/li><li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/babylonbee.com\/news\/man-watching-food-network-has-already-committed-gluttony-in-his-heart\/\">Man Watching Food Network Has Already Committed Gluttony In His Heart<\/a> (Babylon Bee)<\/li><li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.smbc-comics.com\/comic\/average\">Are Humans Good Or Bad?<\/a> (SMBC)<\/li><li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=49oWFdgUi98\">Psychic Peter Antoniou Reads the Judges\u2019 MINDS!<\/a> (America\u2019s Got Talent, YouTube): eleven minutes<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Things Glen Found Interesting A While&nbsp;Ago<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Every week I\u2019ll highlight an older link still worth your consideration. This week we have <a href=\"https:\/\/dougwils.com\/books\/dealing-with-nuisance-lust.html\">Dealing With Nuisance Lust<\/a> (Douglas Wilson, personal blog): \u201cMinimize the seriousness of this, but not so that you can feel good about indulging yourself. Minimize the seriousness of it so that you can walk away from a couple of big boobs without feeling like you have just fought a cosmic battle with principalities and powers in the heavenly places, for crying out loud. Or, if you like, in another strategy of seeing things rightly, you could nickname these breasts of other woman <em>as<\/em> the \u2018principalities and powers.\u2019 Whatever you do, take this part of life in stride like a grown-up. Stop reacting like a horny and conflicted twelve-year-old boy.\u201d (first shared in <a href=\"http:\/\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/archives\/2018\/04\/20\/things-glen-found-interesting-volume-148\">volume 148<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Why Do You Send This&nbsp;Email?<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\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\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Disclaimer<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\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.\n\nAlso, 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 it.\n\nIf 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>there are a few articles touching on faith in unexpected ways this&nbsp;week<\/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":"There are a few articles touching on faith in unexpected ways this week. Enjoy!","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":[131,124,125,128,152,275],"class_list":["post-6656","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-links","tag-academia","tag-apologetically-interesting","tag-china","tag-economics","tag-free-speech","tag-pandemic"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6Ded-1Jm","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6656","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=6656"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6656\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6659,"href":"https:\/\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6656\/revisions\/6659"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6656"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6656"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6656"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}