Monthly Archives: November 2011

Writers’ quote of the day: John Grisham on the best writing decision he ever made

Posted on 30/11/2011 by

‘[While on an early book tour] a very young executive with a big book chain just said in passing that “the big guys come out every year.”  He meant the likes of Clancy, King, Crichton, Ludlum, Follett.  I heard that loud … Continue reading →

Posted in Authors, Writing | Tagged , , ,

Thriller writer John Grisham on Jesus Christ and the death penalty

Posted on 30/11/2011 by

‘I was talking to the chaplain in the holding room [on a Mississippi death row], a tiny cell where the inmate has his last 30 minutes of life before they walk him next door.  It is a very cramped, dark … Continue reading →

Posted in Authors, Quote of the Day | Tagged , , , , ,

Famous Presbyterians: Jack Nicklaus, the most successful golfer of all time

Posted on 30/11/2011 by

Jack Nicklaus is a Presbyterian and attends First Presbyterian Church of North Palm Beach, Florida.

Posted in Presbyterian, Reformed, Sport | Tagged , , ,

Why fundamentalism is wicked and must be opposed

Posted on 29/11/2011 by

Click here to find out: Latest From Fundy News

Posted in Fundamentalism | Tagged ,

Canadian Rex Murphy on Pamela Anderson, St. Paul’s Cathedral, excrement and what the tolerant must tolerate

Posted on 28/11/2011 by

Well worth a few minutes of your reading time: Rex Murphy: What the tolerant must tolerate To be a serious Christian in modern Western culture is to be the favoured easy target of every progressive thinker and every half-witted comedian.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Popular Culture, Society, Secularism | Tagged , , , , , , ,

Theological word of the day: apostasy

Posted on 27/11/2011 by

Apostasy . . . is the act of rebelling against, forsaking, abandoning, or falling away from what one has believed. . . . Apostasy certainly is a biblical concept, but the implications of the teaching have been hotly debated.  The … Continue reading →

Posted in Theology | Tagged , , ,

UK now persecuting Christians? Nohad Halawi loses her job after being harassed by fundamentalist Muslims

Posted on 27/11/2011 by

Christian worker loses her job after being ‘targeted’ by Islamic extremists Nohad Halawi, who worked at Heathrow Airport, is suing her former employers for unfair dismissal, claiming that she and other Christian staff at the airport were victims of systematic harassment … Continue reading →

Posted in Popular Culture, Society, Secularism | Tagged , , ,

United Kingdom Prime Minister David Cameron states the obvious: Richard Dawkins is clueless about religion

Posted on 26/11/2011 by

Prime Minister of the United Kingdom says Richard Dawkins is clueless about religion Richard Dawkins, ethologist, evolutionary biologist and author [asks Prime Minister David Cameron:] Why do you support faith schools for children who are too young to have chosen their … Continue reading →

Posted in Atheism, Politics, World Events | Tagged , , , , ,

Music CD that will be in many Christmas stockings: American country singer Collin Raye’s ‘His Love Remains’

Posted on 25/11/2011 by

Collin Raye’s new CD, “His Love Remains”, is exceptional Though this is not the type of music that I personally prefer listening to, Collin Raye has an excellent voice and has chosen some great old hymns and praise song standards. He … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , , , , ,

A church building so ugly it could be Presbyterian!

Posted on 24/11/2011 by

Saint Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church, USA, designed by Marlon Blackwell Architect.  Click on the image to enlarge its ghastliness.

Posted in Visual Arts | Tagged ,

Scott McLemee on American evangelical scientist Francis Collins

Posted on 24/11/2011 by

‘It’s worth stressing two things about the case of Francis Collins [the director of the National Institutes of Health, who spent a decade heading the Human Genome Project].  One is that, while being completely orthodox with respect to evangelical doctrine, he played an … Continue reading →

Posted in Sciences | Tagged , , ,

Writers’ quote of the day: Kim Fabricius on writing

Posted on 23/11/2011 by

‘Writing is like a trip to the dentist for a root canal: you hate going but you’re glad you’ve been.’ ~ Kim Fabricius

Posted in Quote of the Day, Writing | Tagged

Blaise Pascal’s theological response to the philosophical problem of Divine Hiddenness

Posted on 22/11/2011 by

‘Instead of complaining that God had hidden Himself, you will give Him thanks for not having revealed so much of Himself; and you will also give Him thanks for not having revealed Himself to haughty sages, unworthy to know so … Continue reading →

Posted in Philosophy, Quote of the Day | Tagged , , ,

Charles Lewis says: My atheist brothers and sisters! Be prepared for Advent and the rough road ahead!

Posted on 22/11/2011 by

Tongue firmly in cheek, Charles Lewis says: My atheist brothers and sisters!  Be prepared for Advent and the rough road ahead!

Posted in Atheism, Secularism | Tagged , , , ,

Self-contradictory statement of the day: Robert H. Schuller’s daughter denying the obvious about Crystal Cathedral

Posted on 21/11/2011 by

Senior Pastor Sheila Schuller Coleman said the decision [to sell Crystal Cathedral] “breaks my heart.” “If it’s God’s will for us to move, we believe it will be where he needs us most.  It does not mean that our ministry will … Continue reading →

Posted in Fundamentalism | Tagged ,

Pic of the day: Meteorite streaking through the Milky Way above the vibrant colours of the Northern Lights

Posted on 20/11/2011 by

Click on the image to enlarge it.

Posted in Visual Arts | Tagged , ,

Robert Royal asks: When are secularists and atheists going to do some of the repenting they expect from Christians?

Posted on 20/11/2011 by

‘[Atheistic] communism killed at least 100 million people in the twentieth century, 25 million in the former Soviet Union, 65 million in Communist China – in all about seventeen times as many people as there were Jews who died in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atheism, Secularism | Tagged , , , , , , ,

Writers’ quote of the day: Joseph Conrad on creating a believable fictional world

Posted on 19/11/2011 by

‘Every novelist must begin by creating for himself a world, great or little, in which he can honestly believe.’ ~ Joseph Conrad

Posted in Authors, Writing | Tagged , , ,

Robert Schuller’s Crystal Cathedral: bankruptcy judge approves sale to Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange

Posted on 18/11/2011 by

The ostentatious Crystal Cathedral will become the new Roman Catholic cathedral for the Diocese of Orange for the price of $57.5 million.  Retired televangelist Robert Schuller’s dwindling congregation will have three years to find a new home. Let’s hope they tart it … Continue reading →

Posted in Fundamentalism | Tagged ,

More biblical dilettantism to come from Hollywood: Steven Spielberg sets his sights on Moses’s life story

Posted on 17/11/2011 by

Steven Spielberg sets his sights on Moses’s life story The directing giant is in talks to bring the life story of Jewish figure Moses to the big screen in Gods And Kings. The director and producer, 64, is hoping to … Continue reading →

Posted in Biblical Studies, Visual Arts | Tagged , , , , , ,

Canada human rights watch: Christian sacked for Tweeting his support for traditional marriage

Posted on 17/11/2011 by

Firing of Sportsnet broadcaster after gay marriage tweet tests religious freedom, free speech In May, Sean Avery, a professional hockey player, made a public service announcement supporting gay marriage in the United States. Soon after, hockey agent Todd Reynolds tweeted, … Continue reading →

Posted in Secularism, Sport | Tagged , , , , , , ,

53-year old Catholic nun who campaigned for tribal people against a mining company was hacked to death in her home

Posted on 17/11/2011 by

Catholic Church leaders in Kerala, India have expressed shock after a nun who campaigned for tribal people against a mining company was hacked to death in her home: Church leaders in Kerala have expressed shock and outrage over the killing yesterday … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Churches | Tagged ,

Pamela Anderson is going to be the Virgin Mary

Posted on 16/11/2011 by

Pamela Anderson is going to be the Virgin Mary.

Posted in Visual Arts | Tagged , ,

Q. R. Markham’s ‘Assassin of Secrets’ spy thriller, plagiarized from 17 other books, now soaring in value

Posted on 15/11/2011 by

The original retail price of Assassin of Secrets before it was withdrawn by publisher Mulholland Books/Little, Brown was US$ 14.99. Prices realised on eBay for copies of the book over the last few days: November 12: $ 51.00 (6 bids) November 13: … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Advice for science-fiction/fantasy/horror writers: establish the story’s rules early and then don’t break them

Posted on 15/11/2011 by

‘The hard part for storytellers in speculative fiction is figuring out what the rules should be, then getting them across to the audience clearly and convincingly.  And then not breaking those rules for the sake of a moment, even if … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing | Tagged , , , ,