Engaging Our Culture: Roundup for 1/11/08

The feature for the second roundup of every month for 2008 is Cultural Engagement. Blogging has the potential to be a quality source of up-to-the-minute analysis of changes and trends in our culture. It has been my pleasure to assemble the following prime examples of thoughtful cultural engagement.

• David C. Price alerts us to a proposed Ban on Spanking in Massachusetts.
• G. F. McDowell shows how a Massachusetts Spanking Ban would pit the laws of men against the command of God and puzzles over what the appropriate response would be.
• Blake White engages a Time magazine article that seeks to explain morality.
• Brent Thomas
  • points out how the recent parade of outspoken atheists is out of touch with the culture at large.
  • commends Christian “grunge” band P.O.D.’s appearance on the Howard Stern show as an example of needed cultural engagement.
  • shows how Joel Osteen has succumbed to our self-help culture.
  • muses on the utter cultural dissonance of classic Punk music’s commercial success and brand identity in today’s youth culture.
• Celucien Joseph reminds us of where Darwinism inevitably leads us.
• Reid Monaghan
  • reflects on the narcissism in The 4 Hour Work Week.
  • reviews the Will Smith movie I Am Legend.
  • engages an article from The New Yorker about the detrimental effects of the commuter lifestyle on society.
• Tony Kummer promotes a new blog that focuses on cultural engagement, called Engaging Pop Culture.
• Dr. Albert Mohler tells us of the rise of the grieving father in the Abortion debate.
• G F McDowell engages a secular newspaper story on the rise of the grieving father in the Abortion debate and how that shapes unbelievers’ perception of Christians.
• Dustin Benge wonders: Would Jesus receive the Nobel Prize?
• Owen Strachan
  • is doing some cultural engagement through reading.
  • shares some of his deep thoughts on the Will Smith film I Am Legend.
• W. Hank Balch reflects on the utter wickedness behind eating disorders.
• Paul Fuller mulls the lyrics of REM’s Everybody Hurts.
• Courtney Tarter was surprised and shocked by her reaction to the story line of Jane Eyre.
• Alex Leung managed to hold back from having a very physical encounter with culture and lived to ask, WWMDD?
• Philip Bethancourt asks whether Country Music Causes Suicide. Does his boss know about this blog post???
• Jared Bridges blogs about sustainable growth by engaging Jared Diamond’s take on the role of humans.
• Rich Clark at Christ and Pop Culture blogs about Sea World.
• Corey Reynolds engages the scripture references in Stephen King.
• Josh “The Louisville Slugger” Hitchcock of the Reformed Mafia engages Mark Driscoll’s book on engaging culture.

If Said at Southern were a newspaper, its editorial position would be pro-SBC, pro-Southern Seminary but still independent. We have been enormously blessed by Dr. Mohler’s leadership of this institution and his faithfulness in contending for the faith once for all delivered to the saints. When Southern Seminary bloggers heard of Dr. Mohler’s decision to accept a nomination to be president of the Southern Baptist Convention, there was much joy. Now I get to share that joy with you.

• Dustin Benge has created a handy graphic you can use to support Dr. Mohler’s candidacy on your blog. [scroll down for the BIG one -rr.]
• Professor Hershael York’s blog has been a flurry of activity since the announcement.
  • The Announcement.
  • The Article in the Louisville Courier-Journal.
  • The Cooperative Program Statement from Highview Baptist Church.
• Nathan Finn prophesies makes a few guesses about how the race for the SBC Presidency will shape up.
• Tony Kummer gives sixteen reasons why Dr. Mohler would make a great president.
• Denny Burk criticizes Dr. Mohler’s critics.
• Todd Benkert
  • shares his favorite Mohler quote.
  • explains why Dr. Mohler is good for evangelism.
• Tom Ascol linked to the announcement.

Next week, the roundup will have a special emphasis on gender and gender roles. Stay tuned, and don’t forget the special Racism Roundup that will be going up Monday. There is still time to be included in it; just send an email to Darth Blogmeister Tony Kummer with a link to your post.

Email Racism & Religion Themed Post Links To TonyKummer@gmail.com