We are told our God is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12). This is hardly a comforting picture, especially if one’s conception of “God” runs to the unicorns and rainbows end of the spectrum. However, fire can burn, but it can also purify. Fire can destroy but also heal or cauterize. It is a metaphorical, poetic description, as God is not literal physical fire, but it should still give us pause. Many have suggested that heaven and hell are simply the... Read more
To revisit quickly this post (see here), I wanted to follow-up with one of the comments. One reader (Jean), noted: “I look forward to hearing your take on how FG theology creates that subculture.” One would have to write a book or a series of posts to really address the assertion that theology creates culture, or subcultures, but I can give some glimpses or examples of what I’m talking about. One example is this essay in a recent issue of,... Read more
Putting aside the paradox that perhaps all fundamentalism is religious because the narratives we inhabit should be thought of as that which we believe reflect ultimate concern/absolute meaning and truth comprehensively—even if that ultimate concern/meaning and truth is that there no such thing, i.e. empiricism or positivism, I will still use this title as a nod toward what I’m sure the purely secular person/atheist/agnostic believes about his own world-view or narrative. And he/she believes it to be anything but religious,... Read more
What is the shape of water? The movie (see here) directed by Guillermo del Toro (see here) is a wonderfully subversive and visually enchanting movie, with great acting and writing. The movie hung around in my head several days after viewing. There is a strange quality to the movie, wherein the kaleidoscope of motifs, fairy tale, sci-fi, horror, homage to old Hollywood, Cold War spy thriller, and classic love story all conspire together to drown out whatever story Mr. del... Read more
So much of my early life in the FG world was about how God was “using” my life then, or, was going to use my life in the future. A common theme or question during those years, was: What were my spiritual gifts and was I allowing God to use those gifts in my life? I was told to give my “life” to God. All of me. My talents, gifts, resources, dreams, hopes and all the rest, so God could... Read more
One mark of modernity is dichotomy. The world was split asunder when the material and the spiritual were thought, one to be here, and the other, out there…somewhere. From theological and philosophical moves made in the 14th Century, a two-story universe was constructed. From thereafter, faith and reason, science and religion, the natural and supernatural, and many other areas of thought and life, all began to move further and further away from each other until the divide became, it would... Read more
Eric Elnes writes in his book, Gifts of the Dark Wood (see here), about “an ancient sacred well in Ireland where Saint Patrick is said to have visited.” Coming from my funda-gelical background, the idea of “sacred” spaces or geographical locations smacks of superstition. Of course, I’m not superstitious, but I am a little “stitious” (sorry, a Michael Scott reference–I had to). In the FG world, any emphasis as to the sacredness of a place is put on God’s presence. Thus,... Read more
Philosopher/theologian and organic farmer Michael Martin writes: “In the Gnostic myth, Sophia suffers in captivity (in matter, the world) awaiting her release and redemption by the soul awakened in Christ. Our own agapeic attention to creation, to the arts, to liturgy, scripture, and so forth likewise awakens Sophia and simultaneously makes present the Parousia (certainly this is a theme of Blake’s masterpiece Jerusalem). Otherwise, she remains in captivity. The attention of the artist is the paradigmatic site of this kind... Read more
I think I’ve mentioned before I don’t think everyone is “led,” “called”— (not sure what word…?), to leave the FG world. And depending upon one’s history, it may not even be possible to leave that world completely. In some ways it may be like being raised in the South but then relocating at some point in life. Even if one never goes back, can they ever say they are no longer “southern?” I also think some are meant to stay... Read more
We often think, after we read or hear something, we know exactly, what the speaker or writer meant. It’s obvious. Why would anyone think it meant something else? Isn’t it clear? Doesn’t everyone get out of this what I do? Doesn’t everyone interpret this the way I do? Doesn’t everyone interpret this (whatever “this” is) the way we’ve all heard or read, one is supposed to interpret “it” as to what it is supposed to mean? Well…no. Not everyone does.... Read more
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