Theological Rants, Musings on the Mystical, and Wonderings about Stuff
It is important to remember that it was violence that was the cause of Christ’s death and he did not respond in kind. In his resurrection we do not find a response around the notion of “getting even” but instead around love and forgiveness. So many Christians seem to forget this, seem to embrace the violence that is very real in our world, and accept it as a given. Christ calls us to a better path.
Read MoreThere is a real problem with many aspects of Christianity (and other faith traditions) in that they are all too nice. It is this drive and desire to justify everything, to make all actions ok, and a underlying worry that everybody is always happy. Sometimes people need to be angry, sometime we need to criticize people’s actions, and sometimes everything is not ok. More than this, there are times when what we do can make God angry and it is appropriate to know this and to be realistic about it.
Read MoreOne of the things that comics do is engage the reader in a number of different ways. The story is told with pictures and words meaning that there are different ways of telling and showing the story.
Read MoreThe point is, good theology, well articulated, well thought-out, well reasoned theology relies on philosophy for input, guidance, and direction. The problems that people like Kant, Hume, Wittgenstein, and others have worked on should have a good and strong influence on theology and can help one to think theologically in a good and critical fashion. In many ways the two are very closely related and are almost impossible to separate.
Read MoreWe are dealing with and working with people. Some of these people have their own religious story and others do not, but they are all people with their own struggles, worries, and ideals. It is important that in working with people in the political arena that we continue to share and show the love of Christ to all that we encounter.
Read Morethe Bible should be used for more than just a passage to guide the sermon, but can inform and guide every aspect of worship. In fact, scripture should do more than just offer some prayers and a sermon text, but could and should give a believer a “grammar” for being a Christian.
Read MoreThe rest of the conversation that we heard in episode 3a, “Are You Proud, Mary?” Doug and Anthony like to talk. They like to talk a lot, so in this episode we hear the rest of what they had to share. No main topic, but listen to the rest and understand what a big deal it is to not only have an Orthodox and a Catholic with a Baptist, but also what a big deal it is to have two libertarians with a “socialist” (or so claims Doug about Jonathan).
Read MoreEach gospel offers a different perspective of Jesus, a different approach and understanding of who Jesus is and there may be some wisdom to this. You can never know someone fully through just one perspective, so with four we find a greater depth to the person and work of Jesus Christ. Perhaps then you can try to offer a fifth perspective (and we always like a fifth) – which would be yours. Listen to the episode, their pithy summary of the different gospels, and consider what your story of Jesus might be.
Read MoreThere is a real problem with the amount that some have in comparison with the amount that others have. It is a problem when some are living in lavish excess and others in the abhorrent squalor. I suppose you could say that they are in favor of sharing the wealth. ... The voice of religion needs to have a place at the cultural table when considering matters of economics. There is something deep-seeded about religions (most of them) that pulls people to consider again and again the least of society and to ask how certain policies and practices are effecting them. So it is economic as well as political, but that is no surprise.
Read MoreThrough Mary, the mother of God, we gain insight into the idea and mystery of the incarnation of Christ.
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