St. Augustine, in his exploration on evil, came to understand that evil does not exist in and of itself, that it is merely the privation or corruption of some good. The corrupting power and influence of evil grows the more it is acted upon, destroying its host, even as it has its host hurt various other goods around them. If it is not stopped, evil will continue to corrupt and destroy until all that is good is brought to an... Read more
It probably is clear from what I have written that my primary (but not only) encounter with other religions has been as a scholar reading theological and historical texts coming from various faith traditions. And while other can do so as well, it is always better to do more than read, but rather, to interact with people from other faiths, listening to them, finding out how they understand their own texts instead of trying to interpret them all by themselves. ... Read more
For a few weeks, I have seen a terrible, and potentially dangerous, trend on social media: people (and bots, to be sure) are saying that all Muslims in the United States must be rounded up and deported. They suggest that all Muslim must be treated as foreigners, whether or not they were born in the United States (showing one reason why Christian Nationalists are taking on birthright citizenship, because if it is removed, it is easier to deport American citizens... Read more
Just as it is difficult to know the full history behind the story of the people of Israel, how they got into Egypt, how many of them were in Egypt, and how they became oppressed, so it is difficult, if not impossible, for us to know all the historical details which are behind the story of Moses. We have extremely limited historical records which relate to the matter, and those which do, do so mostly indirectly; that means, when trying... Read more
Fanaticism has people so focused on their own ideological perspectives that they lose sight of the common good. They become so hyper-focused on achieving their ideological end, they are willing to sacrifice anyone and everything to promote it. This is one of the many reasons why fundamentalism is dangerous, and why, in the Christian faith, fundamentalism, with its fanaticism, leads to ungodly beliefs and practices. Fundamentalism, when combined with the zeal of the fanatic, can even lead to its adherents... Read more
Studying other faiths, listening to people of other faiths, learning to interpret their Scriptures and dogmatic teachings based upon how they understand them (instead of how they are presented in polemical treatises by their critics), has helped me appreciate those faiths better. It has led me to see why people believe in them, and the good which has come out of such beliefs. I have seen that interfaith dialogue is better than apologetics, because apologetics looks at judging and condemning... Read more
While Trump seems to constantly change his mind as to what he wants from the Iran War, he has indicated that to end it, Iran must declare an “unconditional surrender.” Anyone following the just war tradition knows that this is an illegitimate goal; wars must be fought defensively, and their goal must be a cessation hostilities which allows for restorative justice (and the enemies reconciling, if possible). Unconditional surrender is not about justice, but revenge (or, in a situation in... Read more
The story of Joseph, despite the tragedy, despite the betrayal and abuse Joseph experienced at the hands of his brothers, seems to end happily for Joseph and his family. Joseph had risen high into Egyptian society, becoming one of the most powerful men in it. He wisely predicted that Egypt, and the region surrounding it, would experience a terrible, long-lasting famine, and he made sure Egypt would be prepared for it. In this way, he was able to help many... Read more
Christians are expected to live their lives with the realization that, with the advent of Christ, they are living in the “end times.” This does not mean they will see the end of the world in their lifetime (though they might); rather, they are to engage the way in the incarnation the eschaton has become immanent with material creation. God the Word, who is the “first’ in and through whom all things are made, is also the “last” to whom... Read more
While the focus of my religious engagements, inter-religious studies, and comparative theology have been with Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism, I have not limited myself to them. Through the years, I’ve investigated and read from a wide variety of religious faiths (and, if possible, talked to people from them, or went to lectures or events sponsored by them). I am interested in having a general knowledge of the religious landscape, in part, as a way to discover the sparks of... Read more
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