Today is my 62nd birthday. Let me share what I’ve learned so far about who God hates. Do you think God hates you because: You had an abortion? Slapped your child? Hit your husband? Hit your wife? Got divorced? Betrayed your gay lover? Betrayed your heterosexual lover? Committed adultery? Lost your faith? Hate church? Are a racist? Hate God? Hate yourself? Molested a child? Are a bad parent? Killed someone? Stole money? Are a drug addict? Are an alcoholic? Lied?... Read more
Dear Patheos Friends, I’m Launching a PROJECT “Say NO to Fundamentalism and YES to Mystery, Wonder and Love!” Will You Help? I’ll make a bet: If I asked you for a $32.79 donation to a “Crowdsourcing” project of mine that would change what religion is in America by turning our “church of hopeful uncertainty” into a virtual “mega church” of tolerance, forbearance and love you’d donate. But I’m not asking for that. I want something else: healed souls one at a... Read more
(John Hagee greets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu) With apologies to David Letterman, here’s my TOP TEN LIST of things Israel might do that would erode Evangelical American support for Israel’s war on the people of Gaza. (Hold the email, I believe in Israel’s right to exist as much as any Middle Eastern messed up country anyway, and so forth… but, that said… maybe existence at ANY moral cost isn’t what it’s cracked up to be… as any Native American... Read more
Those of us raised in the Christian tradition need to choose to either see God in Jesus or to continue to let the Bible define God. Our tradition says that Jesus is God. Maybe we should act as if we think he is instead of worshiping a book. Maybe we should be brave enough to admit that we are compelled to either become blinded ideologues or we need to forthrightly pick and choose what we follow in the Bible. Most... Read more
According to the New York Times (“Conservatives Hone Script to Light a Fire Over Abortion,” July 25, 2014), Republican operatives are once again gearing up to make abortion a central issue in the next midterm elections. This did not happen by chance. The GOP’s shift from a normal political party to a crusading party driven by moralistic religion was a thought-out conspiracy. I know. I was there. I am not a conspiracy nut. But in this case no other word than conspiracy will... Read more
Scientists and theologians can’t offer better than circular arguments, because there are no other kinds of arguments. Bible believers quote the Bible, and scientists quote other scientists. How do either scientists or theologians answer this question about the accuracy of their conclusions: “In reference to what?” Our status as fallen sinners or diminished and newly humbled microbes is calculated in reference to biblical or scientific stories that are self-reinforcing. Is there a frame of reference relative to which we can... Read more
If the history of Christianity proves one thing, it’s that you can make the Bible “say” anything. That way God takes the blame for your stupidity, say burning witches or discriminating against gays. Speaking of stupidity, consider the public relations disaster that’s engulfed Christianity Today magazine’s editor, Gordon College’s president and Wheaton College post-Hobby Lobby. When you hear words like “Without a robust religious exemption [from laws protecting civil rights for gays] . . . this expansion of hiring rights will come at an... Read more
What is an Evangelical church? An asylum for the easily led. Read this review of my new book from the The MethoBlog (a labor of love and a gift to the people called United Methodists Church) and then buy my book and cure your addiction to certainty! Buy today for only $3.99 (Kindle) or $11.00 for the paperback! Here’s the review: UMR: Book Review: “Why I am an Atheist Who Believes in God” by Frank Schaeffer Latest from the MethoBlogoSphere, UMR by Kevin Alton... Read more
Frank, Thanks again for offering to post this on Patheos.com. In addition to registering my personal protest via the direct letter and return of my diploma to Gordon College, I’m interested in having the letter reach Gordon students, faculty, alumni, and ‘friends’ of Gordon College. I sent it to a contact on faculty at Gordon just yesterday morning and have received numerous positive and appreciative responses already. I understand that the faculty are under a gag order from... Read more
In 1947 my family moved to Switzerland from the U.S. as missionaries to the Swiss, whom they rarely converted since neither of my parents could speak anything but English. Dad never learned to speak any other language notwithstanding his forty-year sojourn in Europe. So my parents ministered to American tourists and other English-speaking visitors. Then in 1954—after yet more splits with the home mission board—Mom and Dad were “led” (another way of saying they had to figure something out... Read more
Why I Still Talk to Jesus -- In Spite of Everything
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