Downton Abbey is the Edwardian Battlestar Galactica

Priceless for the opening illustration alone. Downton Abbey is the Edwardian Battlestar Galactica

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Joel Osteen worships himself

The constant recitation of God’s transcendent goodness and the deference paid to his ironclad ability to lift believers magically out of suffering and woe both subtly downgrade the divine presence into a glorified lifestyle concierge. This God has no real way of accounting for the age-old paradoxes of theology, such as the tolerance of personal and historic evil, or the deeper ironies and unintended consequences of the believing life.

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Benedict Cumberbatch Moves From Role to Role

the success of “Sherlock,” the television series that casts him as a cool and contemporary — if brutally rational — upgrade of Sherlock Holmes. It returns on May 6 for a second season on PBS’s “Masterpiece Mystery!” So looking forward to this. Benedict Cumberbatch Moves From Role to Role

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Social Media's Small, Positive Role in Human Relationships

For most people, the choice is not leisurely walks on Cape Cod versus social media. It’s television versus social media. Social Media's Small, Positive Role in Human Relationships

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The Mighty Scrivener… You might not ever use word for writing again

Follow-up to the Word post, with a light intro to Scrivener, aka the Batman of writing tools. The Mighty Scrivener… You might not ever use word for writing again

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The Coming Book Wars: Apple vs. Amazon vs. Google vs. the U.S.

A good description of the darkling plain. The Coming Book Wars: Apple vs. Amazon vs. Google vs. the U.S.

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Microsoft Word: 5 misuses and 7 alternatives

Something for the students as they write their papers. I see every one of these misuses and more besides. It’s enough to make me start doing a course just on digital workflows and academic tools. (via Instapaper) Microsoft Word: 5 misuses and 7 alternatives

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Notes on Poll-Watching

Essential tips for reading the deluge of polls that we’ll experience between now and November; general wisdom for every strain of partisan, completely independent of political views, from Nate Silver at fivethirtyeight.com. (via Instapaper) Notes on Poll-Watching

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Q & A: Ross Douthat on Rooting Out Bad Religion

Buy the book; I am. (via Instapaper) Q & A: Ross Douthat on Rooting Out Bad Religion

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How the first Christians understood Jesus' resurrection

Historically, then, how Christians have understood Jesus’ “resurrection” says a lot about how they have understood themselves, whether they have a holistic view of the human person, whether they see bodily existence as trivial or crucial, and how they imagine full salvation to be manifested. Just so. How the first Christians understood Jesus' resurrection

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