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Extended Review

Why Comics? — An Extended Review

The Protestant Reformation made the Bible accessible not only to theologians and priests, but also to everyday people. Interestingly, though, certain branches of that same movement were deeply distrustful of the paintings, statues, icons, and stained glass windows that adorned churches, viewing them as objects of idolatrous worship rather than as doorways and windows to…
January 15, 2019
Reviews

Exploring Christian Song

Exploring Christian Song, a collection of essays marking the fifteenth anniversary of the Society for Christian Scholarship in Music (SCSM), is an admirable testament to the breadth and quality of contributions made by SCSM members to the growing conversation between music and theology. For these scholars, Christian song is more than liturgical decoration. It is,…
January 15, 2019
Reviews

Religion: What It Is, How It Works, and Why It Matters

In Religion: What It Is, How It Works, and Why It Matters, Christian Smith proposes an insightful theory of religion, differentiating between the nature of religion itself and the various effects of religion. Seeking such differentiation, the complex and overlapping relationship between an ontological understanding of religion and religion’s practical effects and impacts in and…
January 15, 2019
Reviews

Just Debt: Theology, Ethics, and Neoliberalism

Tracing capitalism’s evolution, particularly its lending and borrowing elements, from its Smithian beginnings to its neoliberal present, North Park University philosopher and ethicist Ilsup Ahn warns that something radically new and deeply troubling is now afoot: “The neoliberal idea of debt is problematic because it is no longer conceived as a morally relevant issue but…
January 15, 2019
Article

Revisiting the Moral Limits of Markets: An “Open Take”

Introduction In September of 2016, a 20-year-old student from Russia entered an online auction site to fund university education abroad. What was for sale? Her virginity. The student, who identifies herself as “Ariana,” posted a starting bid of 150,000 euros—enough money for housing, food, and medical school tuition. Moreover, prospective buyers were given the opportunity…
January 15, 2019
Review and Response

On Christian Teaching — A Review Essay

For those who teach at a Christian school, whether in grades K-12 or at the post-secondary level, there is an expectation that one’s faith is integrally connected with one’s teaching. For many, this takes the form of a philosophical or theological analysis of the academic content, often focusing on controversial issues or a more general…
January 15, 2019
Reflection

Faith and Learning in the Choral Rehearsal

Since I was a child, music has been an integral part of my development. In fact, I find it difficult to recall times in my life when music was not omnipresent—from singing in my preschool church choir to contributing my soprano voice to what is now the Houston Boychoir (that is, until being dismissed when…
January 15, 2019
Reviews

Rethinking Incarceration: Advocating for Justice That Restores

Reviewed by Joyce del Rosario, Ph.D. Candidate, Fuller Theological Seminary In full disclosure, since taking on this assignment as book reviewer, I have joined the national board of directors for the Christian Community Development Association, along with the author Dominique Gilliard. Recognizing this potential conflict, I still attempted to review this book as objectively as…
January 15, 2019