I am writing in response to the article “Redemption, not violence” (Nov. 22), and wish to make something clear at the outset. I am a soldier, a reservist with the Canadian Army. I have had friends and associates deployed in Afghanistan, where they were shot at, mortared, wounded and watched their friends die. Neither I nor they are warmongers; we have very complicated feelings on the consequences of war, and all of us are opposed to the United States’ military action in Iraq, since it represents an unjust use of power.
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December 6, 2006 | Leave a Comment
In the last century, Western society lost its purpose. Two World Wars, mindless genocides, and the failings of scientific and religious systems have left society groping for meaning.
Following WWII, French poet Francis Ponge wrote, “Ideas give me a queasy feeling,” whereas “objects in the external world, on the other hand, delight me.” This “delight” may have stemmed from society’s absolute disgust with ideas and its appreciation for “things” that were real expressions of otherwise abstract concepts.
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December 6, 2006 | 1 Comment
A while back, a passage in Jeremiah stood out to me. In chapter 23, Jeremiah is speaking about profanity and the false teaching of the prophets and priests of his day. I could empathize. The people followed and worshiped other gods. The prophets gave prophecies of good news and safety to those who were enemies and haters of God. The priests let their own hearts dictate their actions. They preached and prophesied, though God had not spoken to them.
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November 21, 2006 | Leave a Comment
If you don’t already own a copy of The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli, I recommend that you dash out to the nearest bookstore and buy it. Packed full of witty wisdom and cunning thoughts, The Prince is sure to cause centaur horns to blossom in your spirit and garnish your selfish ambition with petals of piety.
Those of you who have already read Machiavelli’s most esteemed and highly controversial book will appreciate my sarcasm; nonetheless, I am sure you will understand that The Prince must not be treated with anything less than the deepest respect it demands and deserves.
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November 21, 2006 | Leave a Comment
Given the choice of attending any number of schools, why do we choose Trinity Western University? Considering that any other university or community college has significantly lower tuition and far more specialized classes, what makes TWU worth the investment?
Because, as a Christian liberal arts university, TWU has a position on education that provides its students and graduates with a unique educational experience and preparation for life.
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November 21, 2006 | 11 Comments
The Virgin Mary has often been a symbol of hostility between Protestants and Roman Catholics. The dogma of her Immaculate Conception – the doctrine that she was born without original sin, established in 1854 by Pope Pius IX – has strengthened the controversy surrounding her figure.Yet Protestants, Catholics, and Orthodox all share two thousand years of tradition, during which we have worked through our understanding of Christ.
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November 21, 2006 | 2 Comments
The other night I was watching Green Street Hooligans, which is about English street gangs who represent different football (soccer) teams. The whole purpose of the movie is to demonstrate that there is more to life than violence. The end of the movie makes you feel sickened by how much blood and violence you’ve just observed in order to understand this point. It got me thinking about how we as Christians view politics.
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November 2, 2006 | Leave a Comment
What is the purpose of the university? This is one of the main questions that first year students have grappled with since the inception of IDIS 102. With the recent publication of The Passionate Intellect, co-written by current Trinity Western University professor Dr. Jens Zimmermann, and former TWU professor Dr. Norman Klassen. This material was the foundation of IDIS 102, and is now available. in print.
Recently, Dr. Zimmermann sat down with Mars’ Hill to discuss some of the major themes the book addresses, and offer his insight into the future of the university.
