The second issue of NEST’s newsletter is now available for download. Its name is Veritas (Latin for “Truth”). You can find it here: Veritas Newsletter Vol 1 No 2. Let us know what you think!
The Areopagus, as seen from the Acropolis.
When the Apostle Paul delivered his famous speech at the Areopagus near the Acropolis, what was he thinking? As he spoke about the identity of “the Unknown God” did he care what his listeners thought?
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How to Read these Books?
“How do you read a book?” a friend recently asked me. What a great question that is! Of course, my friend was talking particularly about serious or academic-type reading, so what I am about to say may apply less to pleasure reading. (For example, I just finished my first Edmund Crispin mystery – with no pencil in hand!)
While I don’t claim to be an expert reader, there might be something here that will prove helpful to you:
- There’s a time and a place. That is, just about any time and any place! Sure, it’s great to have a designated study time and location. But take your book with you wherever you go. It is amazing how many opportunities for reading will present themselves when you would otherwise be waiting, bored and otherwise fruitless. You should never have to reach for the used magazine rack again! So take your book with you – don’t be afraid, embrace your inner book nerd!
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A course on Apologetics
The New England School of Theology plans to launch the course Introduction to Christian Apologetics course this fall. We will meet every Monday night 6:30-8:30 starting on September 13th. We plan to cover: Classic Arguments for the Existence of God; Comparative Religions and Competing Truth Claims; Questions of Origins; Science and the Bible; God, Evil, and Human Suffering – to name a few topics in our sessions. Our course will explore competing worldview arguments (on death, evil, origins, etc) and position philosophical, historical and theological counter arguments.
But why?
Heady stuff, some might complain. What relevance does an obscure philosophical argument have to do with me? Isn’t it enough to just believe in Jesus and tell others? These questions have not escaped leading apologists who concern themselves with just such matters.
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How do we encourage our society, and especially our Christian brothers and sisters, to take their moral responsibilities seriously and to embrace the highest standards of righteousness? In other words, how do we best challenge one another “toward love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24)?
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Posted in Books, Ethics
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Did you know an image of Moses is depicted on the Supreme Court building? In two places the Ten Commandments are shown with Roman numerals. Among the collected figures and reliefs decorating the building, it is Moses who represents the intimate connection between God’s Law and man’s law. The representation, in short, shows a traditional and legal acknowledgment of his impact on American law.
To some, the inscribed images might be interpreted to guarantee a simple recognition of religious liberties such as praying in the shadow of the Supreme Court building.
Supreme Court officials have been challenged in a recent letter to address this assumption.
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Governor Jodi Rell of Connecticut issued the following statement in response to two firefighters that died in the line of service on Saturday (July 24th):
“The deaths of Lt. Steven Velazquez and Firefighter Michel Baik are heartbreaking reminders of the dangers our brave first responders face every day when they answer a call for help. My thoughts and prayers go out to their families and to their fellow firefighters.”
According to a local report, “Lt. Velazquez and Firefighter Baik of the 7-11 died Saturday while battling a house fire at 41 Elmwood Avenue (in Bridgeport). The two were ventilating the fire and checking for hot spots when mayday calls went out.”
Governor M. Jodi Rell directed that U.S. and Connecticut flags be lowered to half-staff in honor of Bridgeport firefighters.
Please remember the families of the firefighters in your prayers.
John M. DeMassa
Should a community-center-mosque be built near the site of the World Trade Center (WTC) aka Ground Zero? This question was taken up by the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) in New York City.
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Elana Kagan, the controversial Obama appointment to the Supreme Court was approved by Senate Judiciary Committee in 13-6 vote that fell mostly along party lines. All Republicans opposed the nominee except for Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).
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NEST is excited to present the course “Introduction to Christian Apologetics” that will meet in Fairfield CT for 12 weekly sessions starting Monday evening September 13.
