The new year will mark some important anniversaries. The biggest will be the 500th anniversary of Luther’s posting of the 95 theses and thus the beginning of the Reformation. The significance of that event–not just for theology but for culture, education, socio-economic change, and the overall history of Western civilization–will be intensely debated, especially as October 31 approaches. Was the Reformation a good thing or a bad thing? A high point of Christianity or the beginning of its decline..

Carrie Fisher, who played Princess Leia in the Star Wars films, died last week. One day later, her mother, actress Debbie Reynolds, also died. Her father, singer Eddie Fisher, abandoned his family to marry Elizabeth Taylor (who would later abandon him to marry Richard Burton). He died in 2010. Reynolds was known for playing the wholesome ingenue in scores of classic movies. She also sang and danced on stage and in musicals such as Singin’ in the Rain. Carrie lived a life plagued with mental ill..