Let the Government Shut Down Indefinitely (here’s your chance, Church)

Last updated on: November 15, 2013 at 10:51 pm By Benjamin L. Corey

The last presidential election which resulted in Barack Obama being elected to a second term to the presidency, was the first presidential election that occurred since my public break with fundamentalist religion and conservative politics. During the long public discourse prior to the election, I got sucked into far more public, political debates than I ever care to again. One of the reasons why I broke with fundamentalism and conservative politics was my rediscovery of social justice and liberation from... Read more

When Belief is Questioned (why is anger a first response?)

Last updated on: November 15, 2013 at 10:51 pm By Benjamin L. Corey

Why is it that when our beliefs, theology, or long held doctrine is called into question, its easy to experience anger as a first response? I recently wrote a couple of articles dealing with the “rapture”, the first being a piece that explains how bad eschatology can detrimentally impact our social ethics, and the latter was a piece that laid out a few of my theological reasons for rejecting doomsday eschatology. While I’m no stranger to hate mail, the issue... Read more

Why the Rapture and Santa are Both Fairy Tales: a theological explanation

Last updated on: February 18, 2019 at 7:16 am By Benjamin L. Corey

Are you still believing that the world is getting worse and worse, and that one day you’ll get raptured out of here? Well, there’s good news and bad news: the bad news first: you’re not going anywhere. Good news? Well, the world is actually getting better and better. Recently I wrote a piece about the ways that believing in the rapture creates poor social ethics, which may actually create destructive forces in the world (you can read the original article... Read more

I’m Writing a Book– and the publisher wants YOUR help in naming it!

Last updated on: November 16, 2013 at 9:32 pm By Benjamin L. Corey

That’s right– I’m happy to announce that this week I have signed a book deal with my new friends over at Destiny Image Publishers to write a book that is currently scheduled to be released in August of 2014! I am beyond excited about this opportunity, and am humbled to add a progressive, Anabaptist voice to the larger discourse regarding American Christian culture. I am already busy plugging away at the manuscript, which I don’t have a ton of time... Read more

Simple Life: why we need less stuff in our lives

Last updated on: February 18, 2019 at 7:16 am By Benjamin L. Corey

In February, I found myself spending time in the slums of Mumbai, India while on a research expedition for my dissertation on Human Trafficking in India. It had long been a dream of mine to spend time in the slums and make some friends. While many of my friends here in the west want to go to an exotic Caribbean locale when they travel, I much prefer hanging out in dirty places with poor people. I get way more out... Read more

Definition of Irony: why “end times” believers might actually trigger the end times

Last updated on: February 18, 2019 at 7:17 am By Benjamin L. Corey

Like many of you, I grew up as an end-times believer. I mean pre-tribulation rapture, antichrist, battle of Armageddon, and the whole nine yards. While other kids were thinking about where they were going to go to college, I was worried that the rapture would come before I had sex. Or worse, that I would actually have sex but that the rapture would happen while I was having sex… and well, that would certainly be disappointing and awkward all at... Read more

Wrestling with God: (Why am I still convinced God hates me?)

Last updated on: November 15, 2013 at 11:03 pm By Benjamin L. Corey

While I broke with fundamentalist religion somewhere around 2007, I still struggle. As any therapist will tell you, old mental habits take a long time to break. I’ve been reflecting on this lately during some sleepless hours, and have come to accept something: I still believe that God hates me. I don’t know why. Intellectually, I reject the notion- but I think emotionally I’ve never fully been freed from it. I’ve always seen Jesus as being good, loving and accepting…... Read more

Common Objections & Misunderstandings on Christian Nonviolence

Last updated on: February 18, 2019 at 7:18 am By Benjamin L. Corey

One of the most difficult Christian doctrines to accept is the doctrine of Christian Nonviolence. The reason why it is among the most difficult Christian beliefs to embrace is because it directly contradicts what American culture has taught us from day one. However, the teachings of Jesus were always radical. They were in conflict with culture from the first moment he uttered them, and remain so today. This is because we all live submersed into kingdoms of men. The invitation... Read more

Trayvon Was My Grandson: why I want to see King’s dream completed

Last updated on: November 15, 2013 at 11:11 pm By Benjamin L. Corey

50 years ago today, Martin Luther King, Jr stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and gave what is perhaps, the most profound speech in all of American history. I remember visiting Washington D.C several years ago and standing in the exact spot where Dr. King gave his speech, not knowing how deeply I would come to identify with his dream. King had a dream. In the past, I didn’t share it. But, now I do. His dream, has... Read more

10 Ways We Water Down the Gospel (let’s admit, we all do it)

Last updated on: November 15, 2013 at 11:06 pm By Benjamin L. Corey

The accusation that some other group or person is “watering down the gospel” is an easy one to make. It’s an accusation I’ve heard many, many times over the years– and have even been on the receiving end of it a time or two. In fact, while I was writing this post, in some of my first quality hate-mail yet, I was accused of having a “liberal, watered down, democratic, toothless and people-pleasing gospel.” (emphasis mine) Often, when someone else... Read more