Tuesday, September 25, 2007

PBU Releases Nancy Pearcey News Advisory Via ChristianNewsWire

By Rick Pearcey

ChristianNewsWire has published a media advisory from Philadelphia Biblical University regarding Nancy's new position as professor of worldview studies at the school's Center for University Studies.

"Over 900 public policy groups, government agencies, PR firms, religious organizations, think-tanks, watchdog groups, advocacy groups, coalitions, foundations, colleges, universities, activists, politicians, and candidates use Christian Newswire to distribute their press releases," says the newswire's website.

Here's the announcement.

For a list of search engines and news outlets reached by ChristianNewsWire, go here.

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Rick Pearcey is editor and publisher of The Pearcey Report (archives).

Monday, September 24, 2007

Does God Ordain Evil?


By Rick Pearcey

Udo Middelmann's new book The Innocence of God: Does God Ordain Evil? is due to go on sale Oct. 10, 2007, at Amazon.com.

Having read through most of an uncorrected proof of the manuscript, I would highly recommend this book as a creative and thoughtful engagement of issues such as the sovereignty of God, the significance of man, and resistance to evil, with special attention to the kinds of determinism that emerge from secularism, paganism, Islam, and hyper-Calvinism.

Amazon lists the publisher as Paternoster, which is a division of STL (Send the Light). What follows is from the publisher's website:

*About the Book: "The Bible teaches us that God is sovereign over all. Does that mean in his sovereignty and foreknowledge, all events are determined? What about evil and the choices of man to disobey God or not to believe in him at all?

"What a choice! Between a good but weak, or bad but strong, God. The sovereignty of God, the existence of evil, the responsibility of man: How do these work together to explain human history and the reality of the world around us?

"Belief in the sovereignty of God has led to extreme forms of determinism, while a rejection of God's sovereignty has resulted in an openness view of history, which assumes the idea of a God with limited power and knowledge.

"In The Innocence of God Udo Middelmann critiques both positions and demonstrates the continuing battle of a good and powerful God for his creation. God admonishes us to seek justice, goodness, and mercy in the continuing struggle against evil. The truth of God's patient, yet powerful battle for redemption is absent when everything has already been determined."

* About the Author: "Udo Middelmann was born in Germany and has lived in Switzerland for over thirty years. He is a university lecturer by special invitation in various countries, a consultant, and principal speaker on 'Ethics for a Civil Society' for the Russian Ministry of Education, and is currently president of the Francis Schaeffer Foundation in New York and Switzerland."

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Rick Pearcey is editor and publisher of The Pearcey Report (archives).

Monday, September 17, 2007

Humane Truth: Trinity as Model for Human Social Life

By Rick Pearcey

A blog entry over at "Hanz" is titled "Christian Social Theory: The Trinity as a Model for Human Social Life."

First sentence: "Nancy Pearcey's Total Truth is to today as Francis Schaeffer's books were to 20 years ago."

What follows at "Hanz" is a brief excerpt from Total Truth, here.

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Rick Pearcey is editor and publisher of The Pearcey Report (archives).

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Nancy Pearcey Speaking in Tampa Area

PBU Professor of Worldview Studies Dr. Nancy Pearcey will speak next week at the Cambridge Study Center, Lakeland Christian School, and Berean Academy, all three located in the Tampa, Fla., area.

* Cambridge Study Center: She will speak under the auspices of the center in Lakeland, Fla., Thursday and Friday, September 20-21. For more information, see the website here or phone 863-686-4862. The Cambridge announcement is here.

* Lakeland Christian School: The venue of the Thursday evening September 20th event is provided by cohost LCS (website). For additional details, see the school announcement "Award-Winning Author and Speaker to Appear at LCS"; phone: 863-688-2771.

* Berean Academy: Nancy will speak at the academy in Tampa, Fla., Friday and Saturday, September 21-22 (website). For more information, see the academy announcement page here or call 813-932-0552.

An updated bio on Nancy is available here. Press announcements concerning Nancy's recent academic appointment are located at The Pearcey Report and this PBU "News and Events" page.

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Warning -- Fascist Robots Reading Nancy Pearcey, C.S. Lewis

By Rick Pearcey

A website alerts readers that the Minnesota Family Council (MFC) is up to no good.

The first paragraph sets the tone: "The Minnesota Family Council is a spawn of Dobson (it's got 'family' in the title, so you know it's got to be evil), and it's usually one of those organizations that lobbies to get legislative support for their hatred of women and gays. They are not nice people. If you're ever in this state and want to see some splendid examples of calcified brains, this is the group you want to track down."

2nd paragraph: "They're starting a new training program: the Minnesota Worldview Leadership Project. It's the weirdest thing. Apparently, it's a seminar and discussion series that is supposed to turn you into an even more fervent theocrat, ready to shape the United States into a more Christian nation. And, as you might guess, they don't like evolution."

To make matters worse: "They're reading Nancy Pearcey" (formerly an agnostic and still a free-thinker) and, next paragraph, C.S. Lewis (formerly an atheist and still a free-thinker).

I know nothing about this MFC program, but I highly recommend the writings of Nancy and Jack. Some secularists know whom to fear.

The Minnesota Family Council website is here. More insights from a self-described "godless liberal" are here.

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Rick Pearcey is editor and publisher of The Pearcey Report (archives).

Wednesday, September 5, 2007

Nancy Pearcey Accepts Scholar for Worldview Studies Position at PBU

By Rick Pearcey

We thought you might enjoy hearing about the latest in Nancy's work. What follows is from the press statement, released today, on her new position as "Scholar for Worldview Studies":

Sept. 5, 2007 -- The Pearcey Report is pleased to announce that editor-at-large Dr. Nancy R. Pearcey has accepted a position as Scholar for Worldview Studies with the rank of professor at the Center for University Studies at Philadelphia Biblical University (PBU), based in Langhorne, Pa.

Dr. Pearcey is the “first-ever faculty scholar to be appointed to the Center for University Studies, which PBU established to advance scholarship and cultural engagement,” says a soon-to-be-released press statement by the university. She will teach, speak, and write on the relevance of the Judeo-Christian worldview as a humane and verifiably true alternative to secular, pagan, and humanistic philosophies set forth in the academy, politics, society, and popular culture of today.

“Her distinguished education – which includes studying under the late Dr. Francis A. Schaeffer of L’Abri Fellowship in Switzerland – and her extensive work in bringing Christian worldview perspective to important issues of the day make Dr. Pearcey uniquely qualified for this position,” says PBU Provost Todd Williams.


The entire press release appears here. PBU's website is here.

Updates:

* "Dr. Nancy Pearcey Named Worldview Scholar at PBU's Center for University Studies" (PBU)
* "Hats Off to Nancy Pearcey" (Alex Chediak)

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Rick Pearcey is editor and publisher of The Pearcey Report (archives).

Tuesday, September 4, 2007

Kick Mayor Off the Board for Anti-"Gay" Remarks?

By Rick Pearcey

"The mayor of Fort Lauderdale has been removed from the local tourism board because local officials feel his comments regarding homosexual activity in the area threaten the tourism industry and the billions of dollars it brings to Broward County," reports OneNewsNow today.

"Earlier this summer, Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jim Naugle apologized to parents for not realizing the extent of homosexual sex in public restrooms. He also said a pro-homosexual library should not be housed in a city building because it included pornography."

Comment: One is mystified as to why Mayor Naugle was kicked off the tourism board. Perhaps he was simply (though admittedly awkwardly) pointing out ways in which homosexuals are just like everyone else, including parents with vacation dollars.

"Sameness" has been a major theme in reimagining America according to the pro-homosexual songbook, and it'd be a shame if the board balked at singing this time around.

First, am I wrong, or doesn't world know that both homosexuals and heterosexuals are always having sex in public restrooms -- airports, train stations, McDonald's, etc., all conveniently located close to your local theme park with special days for special people? This basic human right is what the Founding Fathers and Mothers fought for, along with the right to abortion.

Second, am I wrong, or doesn't the world know that both homosexuals and heterosexuals have no problem in allowing city buildings to house pornography? Just ask any mayor of any city. Any parent of any child.

Just like there's no problem with that long line curving around the block for access to the kiddie porn stash in your local mayor's and tourist board's offices.

It's free expression. It's creating a safe place for the recognition of basic human needs. Take a picture of that curvy line, and you could call it art.

The Broward County Tourism Development Council should relax. Vive la sameness.

The report at OneNewsNow is here.


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Rick Pearcey is editor and publisher of The Pearcey Report (archives).