Undertaking my doctoral dissertation research in Russia and Ukraine was one of the best ways to recover from the intellectual deformities I acquired in graduate school. Graduate students are too often allowed to play with ideas without consideration of those ideas’ consequences. Professors often indulge students in too many intellectual games and not enough reality (it is why I think every humanities major needs more empirical studies and history in their intellectual diet). Interviewing over one hundred Russian and Ukrainian educators, religious leaders, and political leaders connected me firmly with reality and the consequences of both bad ideas and ideologues who try to implement their bad ideas by force. Some interviewees sobbed as they told about having their relatives and friends dragged away or mysteriously disappear (e.g., “a fishing accident”). Or some sobbed because they had betrayed their friends and relatives, taught young children about the virtues of mass murderers such as Lenin and Stalin, or they had simply ignored the massive evils perpetuated around them. Encountering the effects of the decisions of Soviet or Russian political leaders unfortunately all too often reminds us of how real evil is. It is an evil that must be fought with all the weapons described in Ephesians 6. Let us pray for the people of Ukraine and for our political enemies.

Margaret Diddams’ blog post from yesterday outlined the engaging content we have in our new issue. I want to note that Kenman Wong continues our “Advice to…” series in which a senior scholar in a discipline provides advice to those looking to learn how they can engage the Christ Animating Learning conversation. If you know of a Christian senior scholar in your discipline (or even a different one) from which you want to hear, let us know.

On Tuesday, March 15, Eerdmans will release an updated edition of Mark A. Noll’s The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind. Indiana Wesleyan University’s President David Wright will offer a blog post that morning concerning the impact Noll’s book had since its original release in 1994 as well as Wright’s hopes for this updated edition 

Later that day, a panel will gather at Wheaton College (4:00 PM in the Billy Graham Center’s Barrows Auditorium) to discuss how Noll’s analysis and critique look from the perspective of 2022. Panel members will include Theon Hill, Karen Johnson, Matthew Milliner, and Christa Tooley. Mark Noll will offer a response. Provost Karen An-hwei Lee will serve as the moderator and President Philip Ryken will serve as the host.   

With great appreciation to Wheaton College, Christian Scholar’s Review will distribute a link to a recording of that discussion on Saturday, March 19, along with a discussion guide to this edition of The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind. We hope all of you will take time to watch the panel discussion as well as consider forming reading and discussion groups this spring with your colleagues.    

Encountering evil on a massive scale, as one does if one studies Russian/Soviet history, had an odd influence on my Christian faith. In a way that I did not expect, it strengthened it. One of the major reasons is that atheism and Marxism, in all their various forms, do not supply intellectual or emotionally satisfying answers to such massive evils. Christianity and the Bible embrace raging against it (e.g., numerous Psalms–indeed Psalms is the book of the Bible with the most reference to enemies), realizing we are part of it ourselves, and also recognizing that their are powers and principalities at work that further it, which must be defeated. Most importantly, Christianity requires we look to the triune God for the ultimate answer and strength for defeating and redeeming it. May we be faithful in where we turn for addressing the major evils of the day.