Mike Wittmer

Month: February 2013

  • historic day

    The pope resigned today, which has to turn out better than last time. Last time began with what historians call the “The Babylonian Captivity of the Church” (1305-77), which began when King Philip IV of France imprisoned and abused the 86 year old Pope Boniface, who died in a sack on his way to France.…

  • wrong number

    Maybe it’s the influence of my Amish relatives, but I have a rule that no wifi may be used in class. Some students complain, especially the fidgety ones, but I think it helps build a better community in each class. So I appreciate this clip, forwarded to me by Bob Deardoff, a superb Missouri Synod…

  • mysterious mystery

    This is my second post on the superb new book by Steven Boyer and Christopher Hall, The Mystery of God. Steve sent me a link to their book’s website for those who want to learn more, and you really should. I want to blog mostly through the specific issues that occupy the second half of…

  • deja vu all over again

    I saw in the paper yesterday that Rob Bell will begin his new book tour in Grand Rapids next month, and his slightly pretentious trailer (I read books! I take notes! I am creative!) is already drawing comments from a few blogs. If history is any guide, here is what is about to unfold, again.…

  • march madness

    My thanks to Dan Kersey, who remembered the bracket we passed out in class the last time the church selected a pope. Notice that the cardinal who won was a sixth seed, which was more of a long shot than Duke. So don’t count out Cardinal Timothy Dolan just yet. Don’t know the names of…

  • the mystery of God

    In 2005 I read a paper at ETS with the title, “Divine Mystery as Theological Method.” My thesis was that when trying to resolve difficult theological questions—such as how the Trinity could be one and three or how to integrate divine sovereignty and human freedom—we should choose the option with the most mystery, the one…