Iran's troubled past and present

As an undergraduate student in the mid 1970s I was taking a course at the University of Minnesota and one day happened upon a demonstration by what I assumed were Iranian students against the Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who had occupied the Peacock Throne since 1941. 

The Shah was responsible for something called the White Revolution, a top-down effort to modernize the country, bringing it into the 20th century and making it a great regional power. In pursuing this policy, he was following the examples of Peter the Great in early 18th-century Russia and Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in interwar Turkey. Closely allied with the western powers, the Shah was restored to his throne by the US and the UK in 1953 after having fled the country in a dispute with Iran's parliament. Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh had nationalized the oil industry with parliament's support to the displeasure of the British interests that had controlled it. Once the Shah had returned to power, he centralized rule in his own hands. A secret police force, SAVAK, was the most brutal instrument of his rule, effectively alienating many Iranians, especially those of a more traditional bent.

Apologética cristã interview/entrevista

Last month I was interviewed by Gabriel Ennes for his Apologética cristã podcast. The conversation was in English. Although I am by no means fluent in Portuguese, I am coming to recognize the different accents and dialects from the different parts of Brazil. From his speech I could tell that Ennes is a Carioca. Indeed, I subsequently learned that Ennes lives in Petropolis, a city located north of Rio de Janeiro. His accent betrays his origins.

Apologies for the poor quality of the sound and for the frequent silent spots in our conversation. But the subtitles continue even in the absence of sound.

Kentucky sojourn: University of the Cumberlands

From 22 to 25 February I was privileged to visit the University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, Kentucky, where I was a guest speaker. My time there was originally scheduled for last month, but a severe storm passing through the central part of the United States delayed my travels until this week. My principal host was Devon Goings, a graduate of Cumberlands who now works there as Director of Civic Responsibility. Goings has studied at Fuller Seminary under Matthew Kaemingk, whom I've known for the better part of two decades and for whom I have considerable respect.

Cumberlands is a Christian university in the Baptist tradition, although it is no longer formally affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. Established as the Williamsburg Institute in 1889, it became Cumberland College in 1913 and University of the Cumberlands in 2005. I was astonished to read that it has over 25,000 students, making it one of the largest universities in the state. But I was told that most of these are online students with around 2,000 residential students on campus. Student numbers have grown considerably in recent years, with a focus on outreach to the larger eastern Kentucky region.

Recent activities for February 2026

I have just posted my Global Scholars Canada newsletter for February 2026. Included are material related to Christian Nationalism, memories of Minneapolis prompted by recent events, an ecclesiological revolution, and a book review. Thank you for your ongoing support for my work!

Sowing chaos for no good reason

My most recent column has been published at Christian Courier's website: Trump is sowing chaos for no good reason. An excerpt:

Minneapolis holds a special place in my heart because, as a young man, I attended a Christian university in Minnesota’s Twin Cities. I grew to love the area’s numerous lakes, Minnehaha Falls, the many Lutheran churches, the Dinkytown neighbourhood near the University and the many friendly, hospitable people who lived there. There is even a suburb in Saint Paul called Little Canada, testifying to the presence of early French Canadian settlers. While the severe climate was definitely a trial, at the time I thought it was a place where I might eventually make a home.

Read the entire article here.

The death of the parish

A friend recently informed me that the daily First Things newsletter for 27 January 2026 contains a reference to an article I wrote for the periodical in 2014: The Death of the Parish. Here's an excerpt:

The territorial parish cannot easily withstand this new ecclesiology. Near universal automobile ownership has made Christians of virtually every tradition into consumers of perceived spiritual goods. It is de rigueur these days to claim to be “spiritual but not religious,” because religion implies binding obligation within a larger authoritative community, while spirituality leaves the individual in control and need not entail a transformed life and redirected affections. Everyone becomes a seeker and churches are compelled to attract potential members by whatever means necessary. Why? Because no one has to show up, after all. They can easily drive past the nearest church building and find another congregation that better meets their subjective needs. Or they can simply stay home and sleep late. The net effect is that the institutional church has no more authority than its members are willing to grant it. In other words, it is one more voluntary association not essentially different from the local birdwatching society.

Last year it looked as though FT had removed virtually everything I had written for them when they revamped their website, but it seems that at least some of these posts have been restored. I am grateful for this, despite my having cancelled my decades-long subscription for reasons indicated here: FT's evolution: 'populism' overtakes 'highbrow'. The article is also posted on my blog.

¿Puede el NACIONALISMO CRISTIANO considerarse bíblico?

Several weeks ago I was interviewed by Jairo Mendoza for the Spanish-language Cápsulas de Teología podcast. The subject matter: Can Christian nationalism be considered biblical? The interview has now been posted and is embedded below.

I cannot help but comment on the AI-generated version of yours truly in the cover image. There is a superficial resemblance, but that's as far as it goes.

Recent activities for January 2026

My Global Scholars Canada newsletter for January 2026 is now posted for your perusal. Included this month are a reflection on mentoring young people, thoughts on an unpleasant anniversary, three podcast interviews, a brief visit to Toronto, and how seeking security can go wrong. Thank you, as always, for your support for my work!

Justice for Ukraine

My latest in Christian Courier: Justice for Ukraine may rely on Canada and Europe. An excerpt:

Next month marks four years since Russia’s all-out invasion of Ukraine began. In undertaking this military operation, Russia has arguably stretched itself dangerously thin. It has been unable to defeat Kyiv outright and is now playing a waiting game. There are no victors in a war of attrition. Who will hold out the longest? Kyiv or Moscow? Who will get exhausted first and throw in the towel?

Read the entire article here. 

Schuman Talks, episode 60

“Being a Christian does not make you immune to the temptations of political ideologies.” Five years ago Jeff Fountain interviewed me on an episode of Schuman Talks. We had another conversation last week on the subject of my three books. Listen below:

How seeking security can backfire

Christian Courier has just published my latest: What Trump’s actions in Venezuela mean for Canada. An excerpt:

In this second quarter of the twenty-first century, the United States seems bent on repeating the mistakes of the past, unilaterally seeking a type of security that can only alienate friends and enemies alike, thereby paradoxically making the country less secure than before. One hopes that saner heads will eventually prevail and that decades of efforts to build solid international ties, especially among Western nations, will not be quickly undone.

Read the entire article here. 

January 6 plus 5

Five years ago today many of us watched in disbelief as a mob of protesters stormed the Capitol building in Washington, DC, egged on by a President who refused to admit that he had lost the previous November's election. During his four years in the presidency Donald Trump had deliberately sown division in the American public, putting family members in important positions, and using his high office to advance his personal brand. But in his first term, he was surrounded by officials, such as Vice President Mike Pence, whose principal job seemed to be damage control, that is, to put the brakes on Trump's more outrageous behaviour. Following the events of 6 January 2021, the House of Representatives moved quickly to impeach the President for the second time. However, the following month the Senate decided to acquit him of the charge of inciting an insurrection.

Mentoring young people: a moving tribute

If one feature of my ongoing ministry can be said to give me the most joy, it is mentoring young people. I've been doing this in some fashion for nearly four decades—formally in the classroom, and informally in my semi-retirement. When I retired nearly nine years ago, I never expected mentoring to continue and thought I was leaving it behind for good. But over that time, especially since affiliating with Global Scholars Canada in 2019, God has put in my path several young people whom I have had the pleasure of getting to know and love. These have come about mostly by accident, although some have sought me out and others I have sought out, especially those with a previous connection through parents or grandparents.

 

Assembly Required: preview

I am not generally accustomed to showing readers what I received for Christmas, but my beloved wife gave me a fascinating book that is at once informative and beautiful in appearance. It's called Assembly Required: Inside the World's Most Powerful Buildings, and it was published by TLDR News in 2025. This is a book that I had long wished to see published, as its subject matter sometimes came up in my political science classes. Many of us have noted that legislative assemblies meet in rooms with different shapes. In many countries, deputies fan out from the speaker in a semicircle, while in other countries they face each other across an open floor. Still others have legislators sitting in a horseshoe or in a room resembling a classroom or theatre. 

Recent activities for December 2025

I have now posted my Global Scholars Canada newsletter for December 2025. Included this month are an (almost) award for my latest book, an enjoyable conversation with British young people, a map-inspired reflection on political culture, a protest against the left-right spectrum, and a video commentary on Dooyeweerd's relevance for North America. Thank you once again for your support for my work! May God bless and keep you in his care.

Citizenship Without Illusions: finalist

Christianity Today Book Awards finalist

I am pleased to report that my book, Citizenship Without Illusions, which has been out for just over a year, has been designated a finalist under the category of Politics and Public Life for the Christianity Today Book Awards. Read all about it here, along with the winners and finalists in the other categories. I am grateful for this affirmation of my work by what is arguably the premier evangelical journal in the United States.

Philosophy in full colour

This past saturday, 29 November, an event was held to launch a new book: The Intellectual Legacy of Herman Dooyeweerd (1894-1977): A Hopeful Philosophy for our Time. Co-authored by Maarten Verkerk, Gerrit Glas, and Suzan Sierksma-Agteres, it was translated into English by David Hanson and published by Amsterdam University Press. From the publisher's website:

The work of Herman Dooyeweerd is currently attracting global interest. From the United States to Korea, from New Zealand to Brazil, and from the United Kingdom to South Africa, professionals across various disciplines—philosophers, engineers, politicians, economists, and others—are expanding upon his ideas within their respective fields. At the same time, his work is becoming increasingly relevant as contemporary society displays characteristics reminiscent of those observed in European culture a century ago. The Intellectual Legacy of Herman Dooyeweerd (1894-1977): A Hopeful Philosophy for our Time introduces his most significant concepts and numerous examples of their contemporary applications.

CARE UK conversation

As I have done every year for the past few years, I was privileged last friday morning (afternoon London time) to speak with the latest group of British young people who are part of the CARE Leadership Programme. CARE stands for Christian Action, Research, and Education. According to the organization's website,

At CARE, our vision is to see Politics Renewed and Lives Transformed. We believe that politics and government, at their best, can be a real force for good in our nation. We hold the conviction that the Bible tells a better story for our broken world, a story that benefits society as a whole. By actively participating in politics, we help shape it to be the best it can be. Our vision is to create a society where everyone flourishes, exactly as God intends.

The young people in this programme are working for members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords. They recently read my Political Visions and Illusions, which was the principal focus of our conversation together. May God bless them as they seek to serve him in public life.

Robert Putnam and an Italian referendum

One of the more significant studies in my discipline of political science is Robert Putnam's award-winning Making Democracy Work: Civic Traditions in Modern Italy. I used to have my students reading this book, because it demonstrates the durability of political cultures over many centuries and their power to make or break political institutions. I was reminded of Putnam's study when I recently came across this map:

As many will be aware, the Italian peninsula was politically divided between the end of Roman/Byzantine rule and the mid 19th century, when the Kingdom of Sardinia united the various realms into a single Italian kingdom under the House of Savoy. There was no inevitability to this union, and even today many linguists are wont to speak of the languages of Italy rather than of a single Italian language with dialectal differences.

The poverty of left and right

In chapter 1 of Political Visions and Illusions, I call into question the use of left and right as labels for identifying people's political leanings for three principal reasons: First, the issues covered by these labels are constantly changing and are thus relative to these issues from one age to the next. Second, the notion of a left-right spectrum is one dimensional and thus unable to cover the full diversity of issues by which people measure their political convictions. Third, it does not adequately account for the religious differences underpinning these convictions. I hint at a fourth reason in the book: "Often these terms are used in a derisive fashion as a way of discrediting those with whom we disagree" (19). People caught up in this bipolar categorization are typically unable to see the moments of truth in the convictions of those on the opposite side. Moreover, they tend to engage in a strategy of assigning guilt by association. If Stalin is a leftist, then even moderate socialists are deemed guilty of his crimes against the Russian people. If Hitler is a rightist, then even classical liberals and tradtionalists must bear the burden of his guilt.

Given my general discomfort with using these labels, I find myself resonating with Andres Acevedo's argument in this video. Take 15 minutes to watch it in full.

According to his website, Andres Acevedo is a "Stockholm-based video essayist, motion designer and freelance content creator" who once worked as a lawyer.

Recent activities for November 2025

My Global Scholars newsletter for 2025 is now posted. Included this month are my thoughts on a controversial billboard, two podcast interviews, a response to a question whether a famous Dutchman would wear a MAGA hat, and a round table discussion on Christian Nationalism. Please consider making a contribution to my work as we near year's end. As always, I am grateful for your support.

An Evangelical's Guide to Christian Nationalism: posted

Last week's conversation on Christian Nationalism has now been posted online. Listen here:

Social media stardom

The recent tragic death of Charlie Kirk, the young founder of Turning Point USA, prompted these thoughts from me: Social media stardom. An excerpt:

Kirk was one of a number of mostly younger men who have gained a following through astute use of social media. At one time fame and fortune generally came to those who were willing to be slotted into existing institutions and channels associated with the stage, cinema, print journalism, publishing, radio and television. Film stars, for example, were discovered by studio executives or their minions and found their lives circumscribed by the studio system.

Not anymore.

Read the entire article here. 

An Evangelical's Guide to American Christian Nationalism

Tomorrow I will be participating in an online symposium titled, "An Evangelical's Guide to American Christian Nationalism," along with three other participants. The time will be 14:00 UTC -5, or 2 pm EST. I expect this to be a lively discussion about a movement that is in today's headlines. Register here for the event. I hope many of you will be able to make it.

MAGA Kuyper? Why the Dutch Polymath Would Not Wear the Hat

Cateclesia Forum has just published my article: MAGA Kuyper? Why the Dutch Polymath Would Not Wear the Hat. An excerpt:

If the American nation is in a covenant relationship with God, along the lines of ancient Israel, we would then have to inquire which institution is responsible to enforce this covenant’s terms. A nation, especially when conceived in undifferentiated fashion, can never be a responsible agent but only an amalgam of pluriform social structures bound loosely together by certain common elements, such as shared culture and language. Yet generally the nationalist assumption is that this responsibility belongs to the state, viewed as the highest agent in that nation. This again makes entirely too much of the state as an institution, in addition to misapprehending its normative structure as led by public justice—a proximate justice falling well short of God’s final judgement.

Read the entire article here.

Faith Seeking Understanding interview

Last week Allan R. Bevere interviewed me on the subject of my latest book, Citizenship Without Illusions. The interview, which forms a part of his Faith Seeking Understanding podcast, has now been posted online and can be viewed immediately below:

Stop censoring unpopular speech

A recent controversy over a billboard here in Hamilton prompted me to pen this article: Stop censoring unpopular speech. An excerpt:

[T]he use of psychological language to censor unpopular speech has become commonplace as we near the second quarter of the century. A phobia is generally thought to be an irrational fear properly addressed by therapeutic means. In contemporary parlance, however, a phobia is something to be suppressed, often by political means. Accordingly, the term love is misused as a way of stifling needed discussion of an issue of obvious importance to families with minor children.

Incidentally, I have spoken remotely to the staff of the Association for Reformed Political Action, referenced in the article, several times in recent years. 

Correction:  ARPA's Levi Minderhoud has made a correction to this statement of mine in the article: "It is true, of course, that gender reassignment surgery is not permitted for minors." Here is Minderhoud:

Aside from Alberta, that isn't true for most of Canada (which makes this all the more shocking). Every six days on average, one teenage girl has a "gender-affirming double mastectomy" in Canada (sources: Let Kids Be, National Post, attached CIHI data). Bottom genital surgeries generally are not performed on minors, but even there CIHI has stated that at least one minor has received such a bottom surgery in the last few years. Nova Scotia seems to be a big culprit here.  

Thanks to Minderhoud for setting the record straight. 

Recent activities for October 2025

I have now posted my Global Scholars Canada newsletter for October 2025. This includes recent travels within Canada and to the US, a response to Canada's recognition of Palestine, a forthcoming online discussion of Christian Nationalism, and the completion of my guitar journey through the Genevan Psalter. Thanks again for your ongoing support for my work! I deeply appreciate it.

ICE and the rule of law

Three months ago I posted on a topic that has now been published in somewhat modified form in another venue: ICE and the rule of law. An excerpt:

Until recently, I assumed that the rule of law was firmly rooted in the political cultures of the English-speaking countries, uniquely heir to the tradition of the common law, Magna Carta, the Bill of Rights of 1689, and numerous precedents which together are the shared birthright of our several countries. A key principle of this heritage is that the law applies to our rulers as much as to ordinary citizens, who enjoy constitutional protections against abuse by government officials. Such protections apply as well to non-citizens who have entered the country legally. Moreover, even illegal immigrants must be treated in accordance with their shared humanity. How do we know who is who? Great care needs to be taken to distinguish rightly between legal residents and illegal immigrants. Cutting corners for a supposedly greater good inevitably leads to miscarriage of justice.

Read the entire article here.