Randal Rauser

A New Year’s Greeting from Randal

Anomie and the City: A Reflection on ‘Midnight in Paris’

Last night I watched Woody Allen’s forty-first feature film, “Midnight in Paris.” The film stars Owen Wilson playing screenwriter named Gil in a performance that channels Woody Allen’s persona so effectively it’s almost spooky. Gil is visiting Paris with his fiancee Inez and her parents. But he is clearly dissatisfied in the relationship, and it increasingly becomes clear [...]

Singing the praises of the imprecatory psalms?

I have been having a very interesting conversation with David Houston (http://randalrauser.com/2011/12/does-love-of-ones-spouse-require-hatred-of-all-others/) which is very illuminating as it touches on some deep issues. The matter of discussion concerns the cursing psalms. I have decided to include some of that conversation here and then offer some further reflections. It opens with David commending the singing of [...]

Please rescue me lest I drown: On the fear of losing faith

The following is an essay I wrote on three different kinds of fears that keep Christians from examining their faith. Please rescue me with a strong hand to deliver from these waters of doubt lest I drown Bill Mallonee, “Dreamcoat”   Some years ago a seminary student came to me with a question. She had [...]

Christians singing pagan songs … and liking it

Star 2 critiques my defense of Christians singing and enjoying “pagan” songs like “White Christmas” by asking the following (presumably rhetorical) question: “What is biblical about singing pagan songs that do not reflect the reason for Christmas, that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came into the world to save sinners?” There is so much wrong [...]

Sometimes it is okay just to say ‘Merry Christmas’

The White House had a lovely Christmas card this year, though reliably contrarian Sarah Palin was deeply offended at the outrageous inclusion of the family dog: http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2011/12/sarah_palin_white_house_christ.html. My Christmas well wish didn’t get quite as much press as that of the Obamas, but I guess I should have expected that. Perhaps next year I’ll include my Maltese [...]

Does love of one’s spouse require hatred of all others?

When I was out walking the dog this afternoon I realized I left off one of the most glaring problems with David Houston’s marriage analogy. Remember, this analogy is intended to explain why it is sweeter to discover that God hates some and loves others rather than the Arminian milquetoast view of God loving all. [...]

Why the Calvinist’s need to exclude some people from God’s love does not bode well

David Houston argues that the Calvinist has a richer view of God’s love than the Arminian. This is initially a surprising claim. We knew that Calvinists had cornered the sovereignty market. But love? Wasn’t that the Arminian’s specialty? Not according to Houston. His argument proceeds as follows: Arminians are able to claim that God loves everyone [...]

How do you schedule a convenient Christmas service?

In a new poll 28 percent of Canadians said they would be attending church for Christmas. Ironically, 68 percent responded on the survey that they were Christian. (See ” Traditional holiday customs on the outs in Canada: study” available here: http://www.canada.com/life/holiday-guide-2011/Traditional+holiday+customs+outs+Canada+study/5905786/story.html) Wow, a little over one-third of Canadian “Christians” go to church at Christmas. If you’re not going to church at [...]

Merry Christmas from Randal

So here’s the question: what kind of card do I give to my motley crew of readers? A friend of mine received a card this year that said inside: “I wish you whatever makes you merry.” I thought about borrowing the line but ultimately decided against it not least because I don’t know what makes [...]