Biblical Theology and Systematic Theology

Ben Myers’ Faith and Theology is a treasure trove of modern theological analysis. His latest post criticizes Millard Erickson’s model of systematic theology:

1. Exegesis: analysis of the biblical texts in their historical and literary contexts.
2. Biblical Theology: situating exegesis in the wider context of each body of literature (e.g. theology of the Pentateuch or Pauline corpus, and then OT or NT theologies respectively).
3. Systematic Theology: the act of synthesising key motifs and ideas as they relate to the mosaic of Christian belief.

Follow this link for Erickson’s article. Follow this link for Myers’ response.

Huckabee: We Should Change the U.S. Constitution to Be Consistent with God’s Word

Lon brought this to my attention in a comment to one of my earlier Huckabee posts.

Says Huckabee:

“I have opponents in this race who do not want to change the Constitution,” Huckabee told a Michigan audience on Monday. “But I believe it’s a lot easier to change the Constitution than it would be to change the word of the living god [sic]. And that’s what we need to do — to amend the Constitution so it’s in God’s standards rather than try to change God’s standards so it lines up with some contemporary view.”

Huckabee on Mutual Submission

Both Mainstream Baptist and the Big Daddy Weave are hammering Huckabee this morning over his comments last night during the Fox News Republican Debate in South Carolina. Huckabee asserted a mutual submission interpretation of marriage based on Ephesians 5, and claimed that was the intent of the Southern Baptist 1998 Family Statement. Prescott and Big Daddy disagree, saying the Family Statement endorsed “a one-sided submission by the wife to the rule of her husband.”

Gas Will Hit $3.50 by this Spring

In only a few weeks American motorists will face yet another spike in gasoline prices, according to the Energy Information Administration, the U.S. government’s top energy forecasting agency. The target: $3.50 / gallon.

Cycling: Pedaling vs. Aerodynamics, and Cleaning Up the Sport

In Bicycle Magazine’s Training Techniques for Cyclists, edited by Ben Hewitt, we find this interesting advice from Jeff Broker, an expert on pedaling mechanics:

Huckabee’s Record on Higher Education

InsideHigherEd.com analyzes Mike Huckabee’s record on higher education while governor of Arkansas, giving him a mostly positive review.

When former colleagues and education officials in Arkansas talk about Huckabee, though, they remember a governor who cared deeply about higher education and who pushed for more research and better facilities, supported job training initiatives and emphasized the necessity of high-tech investment for sustained economic growth.

Follow this link for the article.

On Huckabee’s “Fair Tax”

Actually, Huckabee didn’t come up with the idea. Credit for that goes to the Americans for Fair Taxation, and to conservative radio personality Neal Boortz for championing it to the public. It’s a fairly simple idea: do away with the national income tax and replace it with a national sales tax. The tax rate would be either 23% or 30% depending on how you calculate the mark-up. Without some kind of kick-back to low-income and middle-class wage earners, the “fair tax” is so regressive it would lead into an economic stone age. But supporters have an answer for that . . . follow this link for an analysis of the plan.

Why Do You Not Like Hillary Clinton for President? Seriously.

I have made no endorsement for President. I need more time to make up my mind. But I’m curious about the disdain many people have for Hilary Clinton. At this early date, I neither support nor oppose her. But I also find nothing about her that suggests she would make a terrible President. I’m willing to give her a fair shake along with the other candidates.

Election ‘08

On Tuesday 4 November 2008, U.S. citizens will elect the full membership of the U.S. House, one third of the U.S. Senate, and a new President. Elections will also occur at various state and local levels. Needless to say, much rhetoric will fill the airwaves over the next eleven months. To help you cast an informed vote, I have compiled links to sites that provide a dispassionate, fact-based analysis of the candidates, their claims, and their money. I also include several other relevant links.  Click on the tab at the top of my blog to access the links.