I recently watched this video, called “The God Debate II: Is God Good?,” which was sponsored by the Notre Dame College of Arts and Letters in April. The debate is between Sam Harris, whose book “Letter to a Christian Nation” I am currently reading…
Monthly Archives: June 2011
Cross Examination: The Limits of Science
Science has a lot to contribute to our lives and our knowledge. It studies the way things are in our world–physical and natural–through observation and experimentation. Scientists have enhanced the world in which we live. But science has limitations. There are things that science cannot answer.
Weekend Reads – June 25, 2011
Here are four articles/posts from this week that you should read. These are the best of the best of what I’ve read in the areas of politics, economics, Christianity, and leadership:
Make Immigration Easier!
In the New York Times Magazine this week was an article written by Jose Antonio Vargas, in which he “outed” himself as an undocumented worker. He was part of a team that won a Pulitzer Prize for their coverage of the Virginia Tech shootings. It was an incredible piece of journalism. His public confession again raises the issues of immigration reform.
If You Tax Something, You Get Less of It
I hear it time and time again. Liberals say, “Let’s raise taxes on the rich people. Just a little bit.” Then, conservatives answer, “If you raise taxes, you’ll drive people and businesses away.” We’re going through this right now in Illinois. In January, the Illinois state legislature raised the individual tax rate 66%, and raised the corporate income tax rate 49%. Do higher tax rates actually drive people and businesses away? Or is this just conservative fear-mongers beating their fear drum?
Cross Examination: Is the Universe Eternal?
One of the most vexing and foundational questions that I’ve come across in my study of Christianity: “Is the Universe eternal?” The answer to that question has huge ramifications, both for science and for people that believe in a personal God.
Weekend Reads – June 18, 2011
Here are four articles/posts from this week that you should read. These are the best of the best of what I’ve read in the areas of politics, economics, Christianity, and leadership:
The Economics of Parenting
One of the blogs that I follow is called “Freakonomics,” which is the title of the authors’ book, Freakonomics (they’ve also just released another book called SuperFreakonomics). Yesterday, I listened to an episode of their radio show called “The Economist’s Guide to Parenting.” This was one of the most interesting things I’ve listened to all week (that, and the Anthony Weiner resignation announcement). If you have a little bit of time, you should listen to it.
Extraversion and Success
Is there a link between extroversion and success? My wife and I had a discussion this evening about a possible link between extroversion and success. Does having extroverted tendencies lead one to have greater success, in business or in life?
The Failure of Compromise
Last week, in a post about redistricting, I noted that people are mistaken if they think that their vote actually elects their representative. Here’s another reason why your vote counts for less than you think: the representatives we send to Congress write very little of the governing law of our nation. Not that I’m trying to discourage you from voting or anything…
