Category Archives: Culture

Heaven & Hell

Posted on January 24, 2011 by Richard Heyduck

In today’s Parade Magazine (a supplement to the Dallas Morning News) there is a brief piece on actor Javier Bardem. He is described as having “a somewhat novel account of the afterlife.” What’s novel about it? He says, “I don’t … Continue reading →

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Hirsch on “Genuine Christianity” & Liberalism

Posted on January 6, 2011 by Richard Heyduck

In The Forgotten Ways Alan Hirsch claims: What is clear is that genuine Christianity, wherever it expresses itself, is always in tension with significant aspects of the surrounding culture, because it always seeks to transform it. Movements are transformative by … Continue reading →

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Social Deviance

Posted on December 14, 2010 by Richard Heyduck

One of the courses offered at my undergraduate institution was in Social Deviance. I didn’t take the course, but had many friends who took it. Since I haven’t taken the course, what I say here is not based on any … Continue reading →

Posted in Consumerism, Culture, Ecclesiology | 1 Comment

Global Faith Forum

Posted on November 16, 2010 by Richard Heyduck

Last week I attended the Global Faith Forum in Keller, Texas. As a United Methodist, I’m part of a tradition that loves dialogue. We tend to be universalists, if not in theory, then in our ethos and our practice. We … Continue reading →

Posted in Clash of Civilizations, Culture, Evangelicalism, Evangelism, Friendship, Globalization, Islam | 2 Comments

Dangerous Places

Posted on June 10, 2010 by Richard Heyduck

What should we make of this story? Apparently a school district in Indiana planned to hold its graduation ceremonies at a local church. I’m sure the church was thinking, “This is a way we can be generous and share with … Continue reading →

Posted in Church & State, Consumerism, Culture, Current events, Ecclesiology, Public Schools | Leave a comment

I’m Not Drawing Today

Posted on May 20, 2010 by Richard Heyduck

Today is “Draw Muhammad Day.” I won’t be taking part. One response will be, “Of course you won’t. You can’t even draw a straight line with a ruler!” Well, yes, that is true. But even if I could, I wouldn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Current events, Islam, Prayer | 3 Comments

Avoiding Fame

Posted on May 4, 2010 by Richard Heyduck

Have you read the Miley Cyrus quote in the recent Christianity Today: “My faith is very important to me. But I don’t necessarily define my faith by going to church every Sunday. Because now when I go to church, I … Continue reading →

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Reading Cavanaugh on the Invention of “Religion”

Posted on April 14, 2010 by Richard Heyduck

One of the books I’m working through now is William Cavanaugh’s The Myth of Religious Violence. If you’re open to a little heresy (not heresy directed toward Christianity, but toward religion-like phenomena like nationalism, capitalism, Marxism, etc.), check it out. … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Ecclesiology, Politics | 2 Comments

Bumper Sticker “Thinking”

Posted on March 11, 2010 by Richard Heyduck

While it is easy to rouse emotions with a bumper sticker, it is more difficult to express intelligent thought. Yesterday I saw a bumper sticker that said, “Last Time We Mixed Politics and Religion People Got Burned at the Stake.” … Continue reading →

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Ancient-Future

Posted on October 15, 2009 by Richard Heyduck

I sure have heard the adjectival phrase “Ancient-Future” thrown around a lot these past few years. As one who sees value in recovery of historic Christian doctrine, I can see “ancient” as embodying a willingness to be associated with the … Continue reading →

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