Acton Institute’s Post

The Nagel Institute was spotlighted in the recent Calvin University monthly publication by the Provost’s Office! Thanks to Joel Carpenter for sharing the mission of the Nagel Institute: “The Nagel Institute was born out of a desire to get North Americans who are thinking about faith and learning to see how these matters play out in other places, and to support Christian scholars in other places as they engage faith-and-learning, gospel-and-culture questions. The long Western quest for engaging faith with learning has been a response to the ancient theologian Tertullian’s question: “What has Athens to do with Jerusalem?” But at a time when Christianity has grown rapidly outside of the West and become a predominantly non-Western religion, the question of Christianity relating to learning must become more global. So, how does Christianity relate to Islamic learning and culture? To the ancient faiths and scholarship of India? To the traditional spiritualities and wisdom of Africa? Without a more global perspective, the integration of faith and learning at Calvin and other Christian centers will become hopelessly narrow and provincial. The Nagel Institute thus sees its work on Christian thought and practice as central and indeed strategic to the mission of Calvin University.” – Joel Carpentar, Senior Research Fellow, Nagel Institute

Challenging Historical Narratives: A Thoughtful Exploration In a world where historical claims often intersect with modern politics, it's important to approach such narratives critically and thoughtfully. My latest article, "Jesus Was Not a Palestinian", delves into the historical and theological dimensions of a contentious assertion. By examining the roots of this claim and its implications, the piece seeks to shed light on how history and identity are often intertwined in complex ways. 🖊️ Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eFeveSxJ I invite you to read and share your thoughts—let's engage in a constructive dialogue about the intersection of history, religion, and identity.

We're proud to announce the publication of "The Forgotten: Reconstructing and Reclaiming African Spirituality in the Post-Truth Era" by Dr Teboho Pitso. A groundbreaking work tracing African spirituality's influence on Christianity. The author challenges colonial myths, highlights African genius, and argues African spirituality significantly shaped Christianity. "Pitso makes the powerful and convincing argument that African spirituality shaped Christianity in significant ways." ~ Professor Jacob K. Olupona Get this vital scholarly contribution on African religions today by contacting Maylene at orders@africansunmedia.co.za. Read what the independent peer reviewers had to say about this scholarly output in the comments below. #Research #PeerReview #ScholarlyPublishing #AfricanSunMedia #SunPress

Ritual Dynamics and Religious Change in the Roman Empire: Proceedings of the Eighth Workshop of the International Network Impact of Empire (Heidelberg, July 5-7, 2007)

From the dawn of humanity, we've been captivated by the divine. Our need to understand the world around us, to find meaning in our existence, has led us to create gods and belief systems that span the globe. But as we stand here in the 21st century, it's worth examining the role of religion in our lives and the rich mosaic it creates in human society. Read this article by Dhruv Ghorpade on the Imperium Publication website to learn more.

🔍 The Achaemenid Empire: Balancing Religious Tolerance and Imperial Strategy The Achaemenid Empire's approach to religion in fourth-century BCE Palestine reveals a blend of pragmatic governance and cultural sensitivity. Persian rulers like Darius I viewed local religious institutions as vital to provincial stability. Their support for the rebuilding of the Jerusalem Temple, documented in Ezra and Nehemiah, secured loyalty and strengthened administrative cohesion in Yehud. Interestingly, biblical texts portray this support as divinely inspired, highlighting theological narratives of restoration and exclusivity. This perspective contrasts with archaeological evidence suggesting continued religious pluralism during this period. This dual lens—Persian pragmatism versus theological ideology—offers a rich area for exploration, connecting imperial policy to cultural and religious evolution. #AchaemenidEmpire #HistoricalStudies #ReligiousTolerance #BiblicalHistory

For a discussion of Lance Grande's new book on the application of evolutionary method and philosophy to the social sciences, see last week's episode of the Michael Shermer show on Youtube. The title of Lances new book is "The Evolution of Religions. A History of Related Traditions." The title of the Shermer Show episode is "The Formation, Differentiation, and Extinction of World Religions."

In some rooms, Christianity and colonialism are considered to be synonyms. Brothers in arms, insperable even in the face of divine intervention. There are some who would go as far as to say that Christianity functions exclusively as an imperial tool in the proverbial toolbox. An axe, sword or some other hypothetical implement that serves only to progress the euro-centric narrative. This contrasts greatly with the consensus among modern day (and even past time) christians with regards to what it means to be of faith. Followers of Christ defend the cross fiercely, arguing that the foundation of the Christian faith is love and acceptance of all, regardless of nationality, race or some other arbitrary measure of worth. In between these starkly contrasting perspectives of the Christian doctrine, exists a colourful spectrum full of nuance, ambiguity and insight into the ways in which this Abrahamic religion has changed the face of Africa forever (for better or worse?). Written by: Leruo Monang, Executive Journalist, The San African Read more: www.thesanafrican.com

My interpretation of the situation in the Middle East, have diligently researched both modern and ancient history https://lnkd.in/gRJ6-QRx