Are Christian Parents Too Protective of Their Children?
In 2017, Jack Gilbert—who teaches microbial science at the University of Chicago—published a fascinating book: Dirt is Good: The Advantage of Germs for Your Child’s Developing Immune System.
As the title suggests, Gilbert challenges a core assumption of every nervous parent, namely that we must take every step humanly possible to protect our child from any and all forms of contamination. It seems that our kids can never use enough hand sanitizer or take enough baths or use enough Clorox wipes.
As paradoxical as it seems, argues Gilbert, some level of exposure to germs can actually be a good thing. It can help children develop their immune systems which, … Continue reading...
How Can I Believe in a Miracle If I’ve Never Seen One?
I’ve been working my way through a blog series in light of the recent release of my book, Surviving Religion 101: Letters to a Christian Student on Keeping the Faith in College (Crossway, 2021). This series includes 7 videos that tackle key intellectual questions about the Christian faith.
We now come to the seventh and final video, and this is a big one: “How Can I Believe in a Miracle If I’ve Never Seen One?”
Of course, skepticism over the supernatural is nothing new. Even when it seems a miracle just may have occurred, the knee-jerk reaction of most people is to prefer a naturalistic explanation: someone is lying, eyewitnesses … Continue reading...
My New Book “Surviving Religion 101” Releases Today!
In the fall of 1989, I began my freshman year at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Like many freshmen, I was excited for the next chapter in my life, eager to explore the new opportunities and experiences that college had to offer.
Of course, I knew there would be challenges. College life would not be easy, especially for a Christian. But I had grown up in a solid Christian home, was taught the Bible from a young age, and was a faithful member of my church youth group. So I figured I was ready.
I wasn’t.
The problem stemmed not from what I was taught but … Continue reading...
Why Does It Seem Like the Smartest People Are the Ones Who Reject Christianity?
I am working my way through a new blog series in anticipation of my forthcoming book, Surviving Religion 101: Letters to a Christian Student on Keeping the Faith in College (Crossway, 2021). This new series will include 7 videos that tackle key intellectual questions about the Christian faith.
This week’s video deals with one of those things we all wonder as Christians: “Why does it seem like the smartest people are the ones who reject Christianity?”
This question will be particularly acute for college students because their professors are often the ones who don’t believe. There they are, trained in some of the finest research universities in the world. Brilliant. … Continue reading...
What If I Can’t Answer Questions about My Faith?
Last week I began a new blog series in anticipation of my forthcoming book, Surviving Religion 101: Letters to a Christian Student on Keeping the Faith in College (Crossway, 2021). This new series will include 7 videos that tackle key intellectual questions about the Christian faith.
This week’s video deals with one of those things we all fear as Christians: “What if get asked a question that I can’t answer?”
For college students, this may happen in the classroom or in conversations with fellow students. For others it may happen in the workplace, at family gatherings, or even in conversations with your non-Christian neighbor.
And when it happens, you get … Continue reading...