It seems unfair to include Edison in the title of this episode, since our discussion of his biography is unrelated to the debate over homosexual unions and the nature of bigotry — but as usual, your hosts follow some rabbit trails. They begin with listener mail and a discussion of the definition of bigotry, which leads to a discussion of the foundation for pluralism in America. And then, briefly, Jeff and Bill talk about what Bill is reading now, and the life of America’s greatest inventor.
Posts in category Ethics
Casting Pearls Before Massachusetts
There were so many fun title options for this episode, including “How Long Should We Tolerate Intolerance?” and “Letting France and Massachusetts Sleep in the Beds They Made.” The problem, of course, is that this show deals with far more than a title can express. Should we be surprised to find the champions of tolerance being intolerant? Who are the swine Jesus refers to in Matthew 7:6? Should a Christian ministry choose its battles, or should it go looking for a fight? And is Jeff right to give up on France? Tune in and hear Bill poke Jeff with sharp sticks until he snaps.
Hitler’s Cross
What are we reading now? Radio Worldview co-host Bill Jack is fired up about a book entitled Hitler’s Cross by Erwin Lutzer. In this book, Lutzer reminds his readers that many Christians stood by and did nothing as Hitler rose to power and persecuted the Jews. Bill points out that it’s easy to assume, in hindsight, that you would have taken a stand against the Third Reich — but can you really be sure? This leads to a broader discussion of the false sacred/secular dichotomy.
Noir and Cussin’
When you see the title of this podcast, you might think that it’s about the cursing that appears in some noir novels — but you’d be wrong. Actually, Jeff has been reading Raymond Chandler, which sparks a long, unscripted discussion of detective noir, including such questions as: Is Batman noir? What about Clint Eastwood as the Outlaw Josey Wales? After this long digression, Bill and Jeff deal with a listener’s question about cussing. In other words, business as usual at Radio Worldview: rabbit trails galore.
No, Really: CEOs Tend to be Greedy
That didn’t take long! Radio Worldview’s recent podcast about greedy CEOs and the Occupy Wall Street movement generated immediate listener backlash, as a former staffer took exception to the generalization that CEOs of large American companies tend to be greedy. To no one’s surprise, host Jeff Baldwin is not willing to back down from his initial position. Things get especially interesting as co-host Bill Jack describes his recent interviews with Occupiers in Denver. This episode also features another installment of “Where the Tech Are We?” in which Bill and Jeff discuss the latest — and easiest — way for small businesses to process credit cards.
Mail From Oregon
As Worldview Academy continues to host Leadership Camps nationwide, Jeff Baldwin and his guests Jay Winslow and Mark Bertrand report in from the road–specifically, Oregon. After some whining from Jeff about his poison oak, they get down to discussing listener mail. The first two e-mails offer encouragement; then a listener asks for more recommendations re. books about worldview. The last e-mail presents a dilemma: Is it ever appropriate for Christians to lie, or to deceive others in any way?
Mailbag: Responding to Homosexuals
The show gets off on a light note, as Bill and Jeff present another edition of “Where the Tech Are We?” and deal with a funny e-mail. But the third letter raises a serious question: How can the Christian on the college campus defend Christian ethics when homosexuality is normalized? Is there any way to suggest that homosexuality is wrong without appearing intolerant? Incredibly, Bill ends by offering a political solution–something so tactful and strategic that Jeff is shocked.
Crazy Talk Rides Again
Finally, Bill Jack returns to Radio Worldview–but with only faculty member Mike Schutt to hold him accountable, will he eschew the crazy talk? Though it seems unlikely, Bill and Mike get right down to business, responing to a listerner’s questions about the Sabbath. Does it still apply to Christians? Does it matter whether you keep it on Saturday or Sunday? How can we avoid legalism?