Category Archives: Ethics

Captain Picard Isn’t Going to Like This

Posted on August 6, 2010 by Darrell Pursiful

David Gelernter explores what Jewish theology and ethics can tell us about relating to thinking machines. We’re not talking about the kinds of computers and AI systems around today but genuine, honest-to-goodness machines that can pass a Turing test and … Continue reading →

Posted in Ethics, Theology | 1 Comment

Did God Command Joshua to Commit Genocide?

Posted on July 21, 2010 by Darrell Pursiful

Of course not, and it is possible to say so while maintaining the highest possible view of Scripture. The key, as is so often the case, is to pay attention to literary genre—in this case, the conventional literary tropes ancient … Continue reading →

Posted in Ethics, Old Testament | Tagged | 4 Comments

Dancing Auschwitz

Posted on July 14, 2010 by Darrell Pursiful

I’m not sure, but I think this is the first post I placed in both the “Ethics” and the “Tomfoolery” categories. It is definitely foolish—in the sense that the book of Esther and centuries of Jewish humor in the face … Continue reading →

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To Kill a Mockingbird: the First 50 Years

Posted on July 11, 2010 by Darrell Pursiful

Fifty years ago today, July 11, 1960, was the publication date of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. I loved the book when I first read it in Junior High School. I know someone who reads it every year. It’s … Continue reading →

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A Quest for the Halakic Jesus

Posted on June 4, 2010 by Darrell Pursiful

Wise words from John P. Meier, via Michael Bird: We return, then [after a study of the love commandment], to our theme song of the historical Jesus being the halakic Jesus. A ‘historical’ Jesus who is not involved in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Ethics, New Testament | Leave a comment

An Offensive Image of Christ

Posted on May 17, 2010 by Darrell Pursiful

This early second-century graffito may be the oldest known artistic representation of Jesus Christ. It was discovered in Rome 150 years ago. It depicts someone standing before a crucified man with the head of an ass. The crude Greek scrawl … Continue reading →

Posted in Ethics | Tagged , | 2 Comments

A Cross with No Religious Connotations Whatsoever

Posted on May 5, 2010 by Darrell Pursiful

Stanley Fish puts his finger on why I am ambivalent (at best) about “civil religion” in any form: It has become a formula: if you want to secure a role for religious symbols in the public sphere, you must de-religionize … Continue reading →

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I Wish I Could Give Him a Million Dollars

Posted on April 6, 2010 by Darrell Pursiful

Here is a bipartisan legislative effort all Christians—indeed, all Americans—should be able to embrace. If you can afford to make a donation, I encourage you to do so. If you can’t, perhaps at least you can spread the word.

Posted in Christendumb, Ethics | 1 Comment

Clarence Jordan, Pray with Us

Posted on October 27, 2009 by Darrell Pursiful

More people need to know the story of Clarence Jordan, a genuine Baptist saint: Southern Baptist Theological Seminary had hosted many people before Clarence and would host many after him but Clarence Jordan was something different. In 1938, Clarence had … Continue reading →

Posted in Ethics, Ministry, New Testament | 2 Comments

The Spirituality of African Peoples: Ethics

Posted on September 25, 2009 by Darrell Pursiful

At first I debated lumping the last two chapters of Peter J. Paris’s The Spirituality of African Peoples together, but then decided the final chapter, “Ethics: African and African American Social Ethics” really needed to stand alone as a kind … Continue reading →

Posted in Ethics, Theology | 1 Comment