Tag Archive
What Do Christians Believe? A Response
If we limit ourselves to widely-held stereotypes, the answer seems filled with cognitive dissonance. On the other hand, if we allow his response to help us brush away all the detritus of easy caricatures and selfish political agendas, we can then answer honestly. When we do, we can preserve a voice that is… »
Avatar is not Anti-Christian
The artistry of Avatar is not a threat to Christian belief, but it is a threat to arrogant assumptions about our own exclusive claims to truth, power, and wealth. Dig deeply enough and it becomes clear that it is in fact these desires which many people actually worship (after layering a veneer of Christianity… »
Christmas Wishes
Nativity SceneI wish all those who observe this holiday a peaceful and joyous Noel. For those for whom this season brings sadness or reminders of grief, I wish you the comfort of those who love you. For those who find themselves in places of violence, hunger, or fear I pray you find the shelter of… »
Favorite Quotes
I’ve kept a text file of favorite quotes on my PC since 1993. I’ve added surprisingly few quotes to the list in the ensuing years, but here they are: Asesino alevoso, enemigo del pueblo, y digno del escarnio de todos los hombres es todo aquél que, con el pretexto de guiar a las generaciones futuras,… »
Being Theologically Conservative
I am theologically conservative because I believe that, to be a “Christian” means to neither add to nor subtract from the common beliefs of those who died to give the word its meaning. This has nothing to do with issues of social morality, the Church’s perspective on which has changed from generation to… »
Politics Should Stay Out of the Pulpit
Endorsing a candidate from the pulpit demeans Christian… »
Who Really Explains Away the Bible?
Fundamentalists ignore far more of the “plain reading” of Scripture than they would like to admit. The more mature approach is simply to let the biblical writings be what their authors intended for them to… »
Are We Really Saving People from Hell?
Is the function of the gospel really to save people from… »
Why We’re in Birmingham
People of faith will be in Birmingham to support the work of the women’s health clinics there because the work they are doing is necessary and… »
No One Literally Believes Genesis
No one, not even (or especially?) fundamentalists reads Genesis… »