Are Demons Real? challenged pastors, theologians and seminary students to reflect on the existence of demons today. But one of our regular contributors, Bruce Epperly, politely refused and chose instead to give his energy to the question of angels. Read more

In this season of haunted houses and horror movies, we couldn't imagine a better time to grapple with the subject of demons. In our tradition, demons take center stage in numerous biblical stories and continue to chill us today as central characters in popular and religious culture. But do they really exist outside of our imaginations and nightmares? Are demons real, today? Read more

Are angels and demons biblical? Associate Dean of Religious Life and author Jim Burklo recently responded to a series of questions on angels and archangels by the producers of the TV series "Supernatural." We'll post excerpts from his interview over the course of this week. Read more

The afternoon sun dappled through the palladium windows in Kirby Parlor at Perkins School of Theology one autumn afternoon a couple years ago. It lit up the rugged, handsome features of an athletic 60 year old man seated in a circle of about 30 young preaching students. He was John Irving, the novelist, author of The World according to Gap, Cider House Rules, and A Prayer for Owen Meany among other novels. He was on campus to do the Tate lectures at SMU and graciously agreed to spend an hour with my preaching students. They provided the topic: What do sermon writing and novel writing have in common? “Where do you start when you write a novel?” asked one young student. Read more

Despite the hyperbole of its dustcover -- “The Clash of the Gods” -- Stephen Prothero’s God Is not One presents a simple truth: the world’s religions are really different. Our blogger roundtable continues with a post by progressive Christian theologian Bruce Epperly. Read more

This week's parable is about two men who each offer prayers, with surprisingly different results. I would rather identify with the tax collector, not, of course, because he is hated by his community due to his exploitative profession, but because God liked his prayer better. Read more

"No matter how hard I try, the moment I mention the word, church, people pretty much run in the other direction. Which would be OK with me if I didn’t think that some active engagement with the mystery we call God might be useful for people who would like to develop and grow. So I tell them what church is not, and still they run. Now I’m thinking, maybe we ought to just call it “Bob.” Presbyterian Pastor Sam Alexander considers re-naming Church. Read more

"I had five roommates my freshman year of college. Three of them were Jewish. And one was more involved in Jewish student life than the rest. So one night, I asked her if she’d be interested in a conversation to compare our religious beliefs. I was cross-legged on the bed. She pulled the chair out from my desk and turned to face me. “Let’s start with the basics,” I said. “What do you believe about God?” Amy Julia Becker on why the book God Is Not One may have aided her ensuing conversation. Read more

The twists and turns of the labyrinth, at one moment walking straight towards the centre and then suddenly turning towards the perimeter, reminded me that there are times well into our Christian journey when we feel we are back to our starting point. Read more