Welcome to the Clapham Institute Blog. You may have followed us previously at doggieheadtilt.com or come across us through a corporate event, church gathering, or online outreach. However you arrived here, we're glad to have you. If you have any questions about the content we're presenting, please feel free to reach out to us at any time.
In an argumentative mood. “Do you have to go to church?” That’s not the way I imagine a business meeting beginning, but since my work is helping organizations navigate conversations that advance faith-centered reform; questions about religion inevitably come up.
On December 11, 1620 the Mayflower sailed into Plymouth. The weather was so bad it took 26 days to build the “Common House” for Sunday’s worship. But the Pilgrims enjoyed no Christmas festivities on December 25, 1620. They viewed it as a treacherous event. Rather, they devoted their first Christmas Day to hard labor, including…
“Coach, am I a guard… or a tackle?” If you watch the old, grainy high school football film, you can catch the moment I was kicked in the back of the head and wobbled to the sideline. It was not until later that evening – when the locker room (and my head) had cleared out…
People rarely see a catastrophe like Katrina as a philosophical struggle, but the next few days are partly a battle to see who is right – Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) or the Hebrews Scriptures. Hobbes, a pessimistic atheist, believed that humans were basically selfish creatures who would do anything to better their position (like loot, plunder,…
Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge?Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?1 A year ago, biologist Richard Sternberg (who holds two PhDs in evolutionary biology) published a paper by Stephen C. Meyer (a Cambridge University-educated philosopher of science) making a case for “intelligent design.” At that time, Sternberg was the…
“Faith can and should be proclaimed from every mountaintop and city square. But it has no place in science class.”1 One week ago, Charles Krauthammer – a respected journalist, commentator, and a friend of religion as a public voice – wrote that “intelligent design” supporters make a grievous error when they attempt to integrate their…
A good friend in Kansas City told me how awkward he feels in broaching the subject of faith. We both agree that religion is treated like cigarette smoking today – it’s fine to smoke in private; but rude in public. So here he is – enjoying a summer cookout with his neighbors – and all…
As you well know, Tuesday, June 21st, was the longest day of the year in the Northern hemisphere – in terms of sunlight. The summer solstice occurs when the sun is farthest north and the length of time elapsed between sunrise and sunset is at the maximum for the year. From June 21st until January…
As you well know, Tuesday, June 21st, was the longest day of the year in the Northern hemisphere – in terms of sunlight. The summer solstice occurs when the sun is farthest north and the length of time elapsed between sunrise and sunset is at the maximum for the year. From June 21st until January…
Too much… too fast
Michael Metzger
November 1, 2005
I enjoyed an unremarkable football career. The most memorable moment didn’t occur on the gridiron. It happened in the weight room – the afternoon I was alone and put too much weight on the bench press bar too soon. I had barely hoisted the bar off the rack when it quickly settled on my heaving…