Author Archives: Arlan

Why the new law won’t work

There are two kids in the back seat, and little Ashley whines, “Mom, he’s touching me.” So Mom says, “Sam, stop touching your sister.” And in less than thirty seconds, there is Sam, expertly holding his finger an inch from Ashley’s face, whispering “I’m not touching you!” Anyone who could doubt this scenario has not had two kids in the Read More


How to Talk About Clothes

Due to the sensitive nature of my topic–I am going to talk about women and clothes–I feel that I must first issue a total and absolute disclaimer. It covers everything: my credibility on the topic, my indemnity should you attempt to apply anything you find below and suffer undesired consequences, and any impression that someone specifically is being described, or, Read More


Submission on Authority

I have wanted to produce the authoritative guide to New Testament teaching on authority, and this is less a pun than an irony. Perhaps sometime I will produce a categorical, comprehensive analysis of each New Testament use of authority. For now: a working outline. First, the reader should understand that my religious background has been what some might call libertine. Read More


Easy Society

Since casting off the bondage of Victorian society with all its repressive rules and conventions, we have gradually liberated human expression until today there are only three simple rules of our egalitarian society: There are no rules. Do not ask about the rules. Do not talk about the rules.