I was a pastor for 20 years, but I never really considered myself a theologian. When something puzzled me or interested me, I would do some research and try to find understanding. Often, I was more interested in what made people work than proving a religious point of contention. But, over the past few years…
For over 20 years, I held my theology close to my chest. There were some things that were considered “essentials.” I often recited what is usually attributed to Augustine, “In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, liberty; in all things, charity.” Essentials are considered by many groups as the things that are written in stone—we don’t change…
I used to walk to the pulpit and hold up the Bible and say, “I have nothing of value to say except what is written in this book.” I now regret saying that for a variety of reasons that might become apparent if you have read my book, “Apparent Faith,” or heard me speak lately. …
New Landing Page: http://www.quoir.com/apparent-faith.html Several years ago I began to question whether I could be certain any longer about some of the things I was sure of. By reflecting on being a father, I was able to re-evaluate Father God and what I believed. It resulted in a more loving, less retributive view of God…
“This is My Son, My Chosen One, listen to Him!” ― God “Whatever He says to you, do it.” — Mary Often our theology can be tangled up in a lot of stuff. For twenty-first century Americans, I think it is a dual problem. Most evangelical faiths tend to lean…
I remember at various times saying, as I was walking up to preach in my Fundamentalist church, “I have nothing of value to say that is not written in this book” (pointing to the Bible). It’s really kind of a sad statement when you think about it. Even though Jesus quoted Scripture, he never held…
In the previous blog, I started to talk about the fact that taking the Bible too literally could lead to problems in our interpretation. I explained that examining how I feel about my children helps me understand how God must feel about His children. I am certainly not God and I don’t tell Him how…
When I was a kid, I used to burn ants with a magnifying glass. Actually, it was my glasses, but the effect was the same. Later, as a teenager, I would shoot sparrows out of the tree next to the church with my friend Jeff and his pellet gun. It was fun to me and…
I have always loved the Sermon on the Mount. At the urging of a friend, I slowed down and bit…this is what I found in the first Beatitude….
Most of the religious traditions I have been exposed to promote a literal view of Scripture. Most people in these traditions are quick to point out that a literal view is not a wooden view. Jesus doesn’t literally believe he is a door – it’s a metaphor. I agree, we certainly must account for figures…
Every year, around Halloween, you can expect a certain amount of chatter around the subject of fear. There is the fear that the dark forces are using this holiday to get to our children. The warnings promote a fear that we will be duped or desensitized into believing that the Halloween is harmless. There is…
The Desert Sanctuary 