How Community Shapes Our Understanding Of The Truth

Last updated on: February 19, 2025 at 3:07 am By Henry Karlson

Christianity teaches us something special about God, something which a few pre-Christian philosophers (such as Platonists) perceived in an imperfect manner (that is, they had a glimmer of the truth, allowing them to develop philosophical insights which Christians would later explore and develop in their theological exploration), and that is, God is Triune. There are three divine persons, and each of them desires to have a relationship with us: The entire world at its interior is filled with the self-communicating... Read more

When Law Fails: Reflections On Justice

Last updated on: February 17, 2025 at 7:42 am By Henry Karlson

0 Comments

My father was a law professor, and because of it, I was taught to respect the rule of law. He believed in it. However, as I studied philosophy, theology, and history, I came to understand the limitations with the rule of law. Law is meant to help in the promotion of justice, and with it, the common good. Sadly, that often does not happen. Those who create laws and those who enforce the rule law, often use laws, not for... Read more

The Call to Salvation: God’s Desire For Everyone

Last updated on: February 16, 2025 at 3:16 am By Henry Karlson

0 Comments

God desires for the salvation of all. Jesus said it best, he was sent by the Father into the world, not to judge or condemn it, but to save it. This is the good news we all need to hear. God, who is just, merciful and loving, does all that is possible to bring about the salvation of all. This is not to say justice will be ignored, but it does mean God will work with justice, combing it with... Read more

Mercy: A Key Component In Achieving True Justice

Last updated on: February 14, 2025 at 3:17 am By Henry Karlson

0 Comments

Mercy and justice go together. Mercy makes no sense without justice, because it is through justice and its expectations we understand why various actions need to be rejected and punished, while such punishment tells us where the potential for mercy will be needed. Without mercy, without an ability to help those who have done wrong to change and be forgiven, and even helped they seek to make restitution, justice becomes legalistic and brutal, allowing no transformation, that is, it allow... Read more

Wrestling With Abuse: The Faith Journey Of African Americans

Last updated on: February 12, 2025 at 3:13 am By Henry Karlson

0 Comments

The relationship and experience of African American Christians with Christianity is complex, and when examined closely, often includes several great paradoxes and challenges which make it that much more difficult to navigate and understand. Perhaps one of the greatest of those challenges was the fact that many white masters forbade their slaves to become Christian, making it appear that Christianity was a white religion (the fall-out of this sentiment continues to this day, with many African Americans rejecting Christianity for... Read more

How Covid Has Exposed the Fragility Of America

Last updated on: February 10, 2025 at 7:34 am By Henry Karlson

0 Comments

As I am writing this, I am sick with covid. I have been sick for several days, but only got the covid diagnosis yesterday. After the confirmation, I have been thinking about the time which has passed since covid first made its appearance in the world, and what we have seen happen ever since. It is from these thoughts which I plan to write about here, perhaps in a way which is less organized than normal, and in a way,... Read more

Welcoming God’s Great Love Like The Publican

Last updated on: February 9, 2025 at 3:58 am By Henry Karlson

0 Comments

In the Sundays preparing us for the Great Fast, the Byzantine tradition gives us various themes for us to contemplate, such as the one given to us today, the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee. Each of these Sundays gives us examples of those who have done good which we should imitate, even as they show us people who represent the worst instincts which most of us have and must fight against. Sometimes, we have a story which puts... Read more

Grieving For Pets: Navigating Beliefs About Life After Death

Last updated on: February 6, 2025 at 3:07 am By Henry Karlson

0 Comments

Often, I see people online asking what happens to their beloved pets when they die. They care about the fate of their pets thanks to the bond they have with them. This helps them know that something would be wrong for their pets to just vanish out of existence. They intuitively understand the problem inherent in annihilationism of any sort, even if it is a limited kind of annihilationism which relates to non-human forms of life. Why would God create... Read more

Flexibility In Prayer: Insights From William of Auvergne

Last updated on: February 5, 2025 at 3:14 am By Henry Karlson

0 Comments

Performative piety, such as the kind done by priests during liturgies making their liturgies way too long, adding prayer after prayer, or speaking too long during their homilies, end up hurting the people they should be helping with their priestly service. They might think they are giving good examples, but they are not; all they are doing is wearing thin the patience of their community, causing many to become distracted, if not bored. When it goes on too long, even... Read more

The Importance Of Black History Month Today

Last updated on: February 3, 2025 at 7:02 am By Henry Karlson

0 Comments

Not only is it troubling at how much the Trump administration has done in its short time back in power to destroy the integrity and legacy of the United States in the world, it is extremely disturbing that the media is not doing all it can to reveal this fact and help make sure the people of the United States know what is going on. How many people realize all the violations of the Constitution and basic human rights we... Read more

What was the primary agricultural tool in Biblical times?