It is a fact that most atonement theories operate on the basis of (lightly understood and sometimes seriously distorted) Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. It is also a fact that Jesus and Paul connect the cross to Passover. It is also a fact that very few atonement theories give any attention to Passover. Passover combines liberation from oppressors with defeat of their powers. Those themes, too, are often ignored in theological studies of atonement. In NT Wright’s new book, The... Read more
The entire election season expectation is determined by the pollsters, and I include all the media who reports on the polls. Time and time again the news media was telling us the chances of Trump — Nate Silver at 538 had him with an 18% chance of election — or the chances of Clinton — the same had her at about 80%. In light of their own reporting the media then were shocked and stunned by the results. Trouble is that... Read more
By Alexis Waggoner, from Arise Image and Bio About Alexis Waggoner: Educated in Journalism, I worked for over 10 years in the fields of journalism and marketing. My love for writing and research continues to be part of my professional pursuits. This project is born out of my own process toward deeper theological understanding. Feeling the church didn’t offer what I was looking for, I journeyed to Seminary where I received an M.Div from Union Theological Seminary at Columbia in... Read more
Books, books, books … What is the best book you’ve read on Science and Christian faith? It seems to be the season … not the holiday season, but the book season. I recently received three new books. Books by a physicist, a biologist (with training in theology as well), and a philosopher. All three tackle questions of science and Christian faith. Each of the three presents an interesting perspective – and I intend to dig into them more completely over... Read more
By Michael Thompson Walter Brueggemann. God, Neighbor, Empire: The Excess of Divine Fidelity and the Command of Common Good. Waco: Baylor University Press, 2016. Chapter Four: Law: The Summons to Keep Listening (107–142) Beginning with the story of Daniel 6, where the prophet encounters the conflict between Jewish faith and Persian law, Walter Brueggemann begins to demonstrate the uniqueness of Torah, especially in a world of empire. What is emphasized in this account is the unchangeable decree issued by Darius,... Read more
Review of D.W. Pierce’s The Deborah Club By Greg Taylor D.W. Pierce’s debut novel begins with the main character stepping in it and trying to cover his tracks. A case of a mistaken text recipient leads to a zany, awkward moment for a minister of a traditional church that doesn’t allow women to speak in the worship services. Written in a moment of brash impulsivity and intended only for his wife, Craig had written a manifesto about how women ought... Read more
By Patrick Mitchel, a sketch of a public lecture by John Barclay, author of Paul and the Gift. Patrick Mitchel is at Irish Bible Institute in Dublin. John Barclay , Lightfoot Professor of Divinity, Durham University was speaking in St Patrick’s College, Maynooth this evening on ‘Grace as Free Gift: Freedom from What?’ This was the opening keynote address of the Irish Theological Association Annual Conference. His 2015 book Paul and the Gift is one of those very big books a top... Read more
By Leslie Leyland Fields We have a new president. We have much work ahead of us as a nation, as a Church. We will not move forward without looking behind. May these words of confession bring healing to us all. *Let us have compassion for one another, for we have all suffered through an unprecedented and interminable season of scandals, corruption, and assaults. We are united in our disappointments and disillusionment with politics. *Let us acknowledge there is no one... Read more
Somewhere overnight or this morning the eschatology of American Christians may become clear. If a Republican wins and the Christian becomes delirious or confident that the Golden Days are about to arrive, that Christian has an eschatology of politics. Or, alternatively, if a Democrat wins and the Christian becomes delirious or confident that the Golden Days are about to arrive, that Christian too has an eschatology of politics. Or, we could turn each around, if a more Democrat oriented Christian... Read more
What do you want from life? What brings a satisfaction that lasts? Wealth, power, sex? The correct candidate winning today’s election? (I am sure this hits a nerve with a large number of readers.) Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness? Tim Keller digs into the question of a satisfaction that lasts in the next chapter of his new book Making Sense of God: An Invitation to the Skeptical. There is much in this chapter, but I will focus in... Read more
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