The Anti-Manichaeist

New Yorker columnist Sy Hersh says the “single most explosive” element of his latest article involves an effort by the Bush administration to stem the growth of Shiite influence in the Middle East (specifically the Iranian government and Hezbollah in Lebanon) by funding violent Sunni groups.

Christian Initiatives for Europe (IXE)
The European Union today must face new challenges: an economic globalization that is accelerating; poverty that persists or worsens, particularly at its doors, in Africa; massive immigration; conflicts with the Near and Middle East, and serious threats to the world environment. In this context, silence or too timid action by Europe […]

The Moderate Al-Ahram Weekly describes the attention given to Obama Hussein Barack by the media and the lack of attention given to him and the US presidential elections by Arab Muslims.

There is a debate going on in US Christianity (and elsewhere) between (economically liberal) activists and Hauerwasians/Neo-Orthodox people over whether the advocacy of Jim Wallis et al is a Constantinization of the Left-flavor.
Philosophical Theologian Chuck Gutenson offers a defense of his and Wallis’ practices that responds to these critics.
Brad Anderson provides a response.
They go back […]

I wrote this over at a Faithful Democrats’ post on the politics of imperfection. 

My presentation in NYC went well.  It took me 9 hours to get home finally because of the severe snow/sleet in MN yesterday, but I got home safe and sound.
It wasn’t the biggest or the most influential audience, but I had an outline of my paper that I presented from and it was more or less […]

David Gushee, a professor of moral philosophy and writer based at Union University in Tennessee, sees signs that a broader vision among evangelical students in the South is taking hold. He sees them as more willing to engage in meaningful social engagement thru four ministries.
International Justice Mission is “a Christian ministry led by human-rights professionals that helps people suffering injustice […]

Some of the first-fruits of political reforms in Ukraine are starting to show in various cities.  It goes to show that personal integrity in politics can make a significance difference.  Let’s hope more Ukrainians want more of that…
dlw

I found out via Jesus Politics that Wallis is now vouching for the character of Barack Obama on the basis of the ten years that they have known each other.
dlw

I signed their petition for President Bush and added a brief plea for Bush to call on the US to undergo a week of fasting(of some sort) and mourning for the horrendous unintended consequences of our regime-change of Iraq.
dlw