CHEN Wei-yih has posed for a set of photos in a flowing white dress, enlisted a wedding planner and rented a banquet hall for a marriage celebration with 30 friends. But there is no groom. Chen will marry herself.

Uninspired by the men she’s met but facing social pressure to get married, the 30-year-old Taipei office worker will hold the reception next month in honor of just one person. “Age 30 is a prime period for me. My work and experience are in good shape, but I haven’t found a partner, so what can I do?” Chen said.

Poor lady. I feel sorry for her. The “wedding” won’t be legal, of course, but neither would a divorce.

Let’s hope that she can keep herself together.

Thank you for your patience as you have waited for the next posts from bioethike.com. I have been feverishly working on a very special project entitled, Natural Law: A Lutheran Reappraisal, which will be released by Concordia Publishing House January, 2011.

I know that some of you have been waiting for the day when Lutherans, in a big way, were going to start talking about natural law again. Well, Deo volente, that day will be in January.

Sixteen Lutheran scholars, teachers, and pastors from the US and Germany (representing five Lutheran denominations, including the LCMS, SELK, ELS, NALC, and ELCA) take a look this doctrine with a fresh pair of eyes. (Spoiler: the opinions about natural law will run the gamut, from the standard fare to the highly supportive. I envision Natural Law being a “conversation starter” for further discussion about why this doctrine has all but vanished in the Lutheran Church.)

The book will also be controversial. While old themes will be addressed, some authors have plowed new ground and provide fresh interpretations of Luther and his views on natural law. Some critiques of the current disavowal of natural law within Lutheranism are quite provocative. Topics such as abortion, marriage and family, and human sexuality are frankly discussed. Additionally, since current and former teaching theologians of the ELCA have authored several essays in the book, you’re sure to find some candid commentary about what has happened to that organization.

In short, I hope that you will agree with some ecumenical academicians who have previewed Natural Law: They are excited that Lutherans finally have rejoined the conversation.

And now, to quote Forest Gump, “That’s all I have to say about that.”

Again, thanks for your patience.

Robert

P.S. Oh, before I forget, based on some research I’ve been doing recently I’ve updated “Bakernitions” in bioethike.com. My essay in Natural Law will bring up some of those, so some of what you find in the book may sound familiar.

Now it seems Obama administration science advisors are suggesting that we “geoengineer” the planet in order to reduce global warming. Sound cool? Wait until you read this: They’re thinking about shooting pollution up into the outer atmosphere.  You can read today’s funny paper here.

HT: Wesley J. Smith at Secondhand Smoke.