I first heard Camille Paglia in a conversation between her and Jordan Peterson. At first, I did not register too much interest. She seemed intelligent and engaging. Later, I saw that historian Carl Trueman interviewed Paglia. This caught my attention. I respect Trueman. So if he found it worthwhile to interview Paglia, I should at least take a deeper look.
Books
3 Thoughts on Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis
In her massively popular book, Girl, Wash Your Face, Rachel Hollis exposes common lies that we believe which prevent us from becoming happy. She explains, “This book is about a bunch of hurtful lies and one important truth.” (xi).
What is the truth? Hollis explains, “You, and only you, are ultimately responsible for who you become and how happy you are. That’s the takeaway” (xi). Buck up. Get to work. And grab happiness by the horns.
To do so, Hollis argues that we need to destroy every lie we believe (xii). She explains, “Recognizing the lies we’ve come to accept about ourselves is the key to growing into a better version of ourselves” (xiii). Elsewhere she writes, “More than anything, I hope you’ll rest in the knowledge that you can become whomever and whatever you want to be, my sweet friend” (xvii).
Given the popularity of Hollis and her book, I’d like to offer three thoughts on Girl, Wash Your Face to help you to evaluate the book.
Review of Seeing God by Hans Boersma
Hans Boersma continues his project of retrieving and promoting traditional Christian beliefs in an era where many of these beliefs have lost their lustre. In this most recent book, Boersma advances historical and dogmatic arguments for our telos of seeing God in the face of Christ. While Christians of all ages have understood the beatific vision to be our final destination, some today question the validity of the beatific vision. [Read more…] about Review of Seeing God by Hans Boersma
Review of Rediscovering the Holy Spirit by Michael Horton
Read Rediscovering the Holy Spirit for an exegetical, theological, and historical understanding of the Holy Spirit. While Michael Horton’s exegesis may not convince everyone, it should please those who confess the primacy of Scripture for theological understanding. I recommend Michael Horton’s book on the Spirit to pastors, to interested readers, and even to academics. Here is why. [Read more…] about Review of Rediscovering the Holy Spirit by Michael Horton
Review of The Sermon on the Mount and Human Flourishing by Jonathan Pennington
Throughout church history, the Sermon on the Mount has rightly held a prominent place among Christians. Jonathan Pennington continues in the tradition of valuing this great sermon by returning to the Jewish wisdom and Greco-Roman cultural encyclopedia that explains the words and concepts that Jesus uses. He concludes that Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, sagely teaches his audience how to flourish by wholly giving one’s life to God.
You should buy this book because it will not only challenge common (mis)conceptions about the sermon but also draw you into a closer understanding of what it means to flourish in life. [Read more…] about Review of The Sermon on the Mount and Human Flourishing by Jonathan Pennington
Review of the Homilies of Photius Patriarch of Constantinople (Translated by Cyril Mango)
Cyril Mango translated and edited 18 homilies of Photius, the Patriarch of Constantinople (d. 893). Photius is well-known for his role in the parting of ways between the Western and Eastern church. During this tumultuous time, Photius famously maintained that the Spirit proceeds from the Father and not from the Father and the Son as the Western church argues.
The procession of the Spirit was the presenting theological reason for the eventual separation of the West from the East. But the actual picture is more complicated. Politics, geography, and church order played important roles here too.
Despite the reputation of Photius, it is nevertheless important to note that he was a pastor and preacher. And his extant homilies provide insight into the spirituality of the 9th century in Byzantium. [Read more…] about Review of the Homilies of Photius Patriarch of Constantinople (Translated by Cyril Mango)