Your Opinion: Heaven for Animals?

I came across this beautiful poem this morning while reading The Groaning of Creation (2008) by Christopher Southgate. I will have more to say about this book later. Its central premise, however, is that evolution presents a difficulty to Christian theology, in that the suffering of individual animals is not a product of sin, but is integral to the creative process. The only way out is to posit some sort of redemption for the created world. This leads to James Dickey's vision of what a redeemed world might look like, for predator and prey.

Top Five Scariest Parasites

I enjoy the occasional horror movie, but it is always nice to know that those vampires or zombies or Stay-Puff Marshmallow men are fiction.  Their existence ends when the movie ends.  Nature is not so kind.  It has creatures that make The Exorcist look like Casper the Friendly Ghost.  And they COULD BE ANYWHERE!  Maybe there is a parasite behind you right now...

This Halloween, enjoy my top five most terrifying parasites of all time.

Creation Groans

Should Christians care for the environment?  This is the leading question at a workshop being put on by myself and Ryan Scruggs on June 23 at Bow Valley Christian Church.  Yes, that's right, a scientist and a theologian are working together to discuss the environment!  If you know anyone who might be interested, please pass this on to them.  It should be a rewarding but challenging discussion, as we discuss the tension between evangelism and environmentalism, climate change, overfishing, the theology of creation care and much more!  Snacks will be provided.  See the poster for more information, or go to http://www.bvccweb.ca/creationgroans/index.htm

We are asking that people register ahead of time so we have an idea of numbers, but we will certainly accept people at the door!  If you have questions, please let me know.

Accusing God: Suffering, Scripture and the Book of Job

The topic of suffering often comes up in religion-science dialogues, generally in the context of 'How could a good, all powerful God allow evil and suffering?'  This is a valid question, with a deep theological, philosophical and experiential history.  I do not at all intend to engage with this topic, but I would like to suggest that the Bible has some deeper insights into this than is usually recognized.  Take, for instance, the Book of Job, an ancient text found in the Old Testament.  For me, Job is one of the most honest and forthright religious texts when it comes to suffering.  It looks God square in the face and calls him on the injustice of it.  There is no 'this is the best of all possible worlds' Liebnizian view of the world in Job; nor is there a Robertsonian 'they got what was coming to them' mentality.  Suffering is viewed as inherently out of whack with the world and Job, who experiences the full brunt of a God-given suffering, gives vent to the frustrations that we all feel.  He does not come to an explanation for suffering in the end, but does find a partial solution in the faith in a God who can and will end it.