We’ve been working through Denis O. Lamoureux’s book Evolutionary Creation: A Christian Approach to Evolution – a book that describes a way to move beyond the creation and evolutions debates. In the posts today and Thursday we will look at the third chapter of the book. This chapter, The Creator in a Designed and Evolving Universe, is rather long, covering a number of interesting topics – the question of divine action in creation, intelligent design in creation, and the anthropic... Read more
From my piece at CT: Many biblical scholars and lay Christians have noted that Jesus preached almost exclusively about the kingdom of heaven, while Paul highlighted justification by faith—and not vice versa. Some conclude that they preached two different gospels. Others argue that really they both preached justification; still others say it’s all about the kingdom. What gives? Note: Clicking the “video” links placed in the article will take you to a segment from an interview with Scot McKnight about... Read more
Good grief, too many games, but here they are: Read more
Especially in the South. What do you make of this? I’ve always thought it weird to see a Rep get elected on one ticket and flip to the other by choice. But, it must be according to the rules. From AP: ATLANTA (AP) — Staggering Election Day losses are not the Democratic Party’s final indignity this year. At least 13 state lawmakers in five states have defected to Republican ranks since the Nov. 2 election, adding to already huge GOP... Read more
This is my contribution to the CEB Advent Blog Tour. (Go to the link for other posts in this series.) The true light that shines on all people was coming into the world. The light was in the world, and the world came into being through the light, but the world didn’t recognize the light. The light came to his own people, and his own people didn’t welcome him. But those who did welcome him, those who believed in his... Read more
Paul Copan, in his new book, Is God a Moral Monster?: Making Sense of the Old Testament God, defends the God of the Old Testament. He cuts against the grain of one of the most popular and ill-informed criticisms of both the Bible and the Judeo-Christian tradition. Copan is taking a vital topic and he does this with perspective, scope and with clear prose. This is an important book at an important time. The New Atheists are not alone in... Read more
From Arise: I’ve taken this entire post, apart from the questions, from the CBE newsletter linked above. The post is by Alan Johnson (ThD, Dallas Theological Seminary) and he is Emeritus Professor of New Testament and Christian Ethics, Emeritus Director of the Center for Applied Christian Ethics (CACE) at Wheaton College, and editor of How I Changed My Mind About Women In Leadership. * * * * * * I’ve seen folks change views, but this one is a particularly difficult... Read more
Adam McHugh, author of the fine book, Introverts in the Church: Finding Our Place in an Extroverted Culture, has written for Patheos a reflection on Advent that deserves reading by the introverts and the extroverts, who will see Advent from a different angle. How do you introverts experience the Christmas season? How can we be more pastorally sensitive to introverts during Advent? For some people, the Advent season on the church calendar is one of the most anticipated times of... Read more
Often on Sunday afternoon I post a brief review/report of a book, and I’m open to having you send me reviews like this one — brief, descriptive, suggesting how a book could be used by others. The scholarly quest for Jesus, which exploded into proposal after proposal in the 80s and 90s, has a parallel quest among some scholars of Muhammad. Thanks to F.E. Peters, Jesus and Muhammad: Parallel Tracks, Parallel Lives, this parallel questing has been sketched. Peters is... Read more
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