Culture & Wordview

Is There a Crisis of Character in America?

May 5th, 2012 | By
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“Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall.
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the king’s horses and all the king’s men
Could not put Humpty Dumpty together again.”

Although the origin of this nursery rhyme is much disputed—the point for us is well taken: Once something is broken, it is most difficult/nearly impossible to fix or restore.



The Pernicious Nature of Gambling

Jan 21st, 2012 | By
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Once again, the pernicious issue of gambling is raising its ugly head in the state of Nebraska, the state in which I live. It is important to refresh our collective memories on the nature of gambling and its indisputable effects on culture and society.



Israel’s Changing Population

Jan 14th, 2012 | By
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The mixing of political and religious ideas is central to understanding Judaism and the modern state of Israel. Thomas Friedman, in his book From Beirut to Jerusalem, argues that there are four distinct groups of Jews within modern Israel (and the world).



The Role of Parents in Educating Children

Dec 3rd, 2011 | By
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Every 3 years, the OECD conducts exams as part of the Program for International Student Assessment, which tests 15-year olds in the world’s leading industrialized nations on their reading comprehension and ability to use what they have learned in math and science.



Zen Buddhism and Steve Jobs

Nov 26th, 2011 | By

With the death of Apple founder and CEO, Steve Jobs, and the subsequent release of the biography of Jobs by Walter Isaacson, we have gained a new insight into the mind and heart of this remarkable man.



Emerging Adulthood: Implications for the Church and the Culture

Nov 12th, 2011 | By
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Nearly two weeks ago, I read a book by sociologist Christian Smith while returning to Omaha on a plane. It was an astounding account of the cultural phenomenon called emerging adulthood.



The Importance of Worldview: Roman Paganism vs. Christianity, AD 50-180

Nov 12th, 2011 | By
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Recently, I read a remarkable magazine on medicine and health care throughout history. What was most striking was the article on healthcare in the Roman Empire. In my opinion, nothing better illustrates the power of worldview in explaining social change than this article.



A 2008 Offer to the Palestinians

Nov 12th, 2011 | By
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In the new book by former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, there is a startling account of an offer Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, made secretly to Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority in the summer of 2008.



The End of Traditional Marriage?

Oct 29th, 2011 | By
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If one is intellectually honest about what is occurring in western civilization, especially in the United States, one would conclude anecdotally that traditional marriage with one man and one woman, married and having children—is non-existent in major parts of the culture.



“The Age of the Screen”

Oct 29th, 2011 | By
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Recently, the American Academy of Pediatrics expressed deep concern about the effects of exposure to “screens” (i.e., TV screens, computer screens, monitors, iPads, smartphones, and other such devices) on children. In fact, the AAP called upon parents to place severe limits on the exposure of young children to such “screens.”