Stephen Milliken, who provoked my first post on monism, pointed out that I never actually got around to defining it.Indeed–with good reason, since it seems to me to be a term that can mean several things. I’m more interested in teasing out what those several things could be than in deciding which of them is the right definition. Insofar as I provided one, it was “that all things emanate from God.” But as I pointed out, that’s rather ambiguous.Stephen then... Read more
Traditional spiritual disciplines and the observance of the liturgical year have been making a comeback among Protestants. This is, from my perspective, a very good thing. I may wince when United Methodists speak of an “Ash Wednesday meal,” but I’m happy that they are celebrating it at all. I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised that the growth of interest in Ash Wednesday and similar practices is causing some pushback. Brian Lee, a Reformed pastor in Washington D.C., has just written... Read more
A friend and former student recently asked me what to think about “monism.” Is it compatible with Christianity? Are “monism” and “dualism” the only alternatives, or is there a third one? I think we need to start by defining “monism” and thinking about just what the problems might be with it from a Christian perspective. And the best place to start for that is surely the very beginning–i.e., the doctrine of creation 🙂 There are three possible positions on creation... Read more
Yes, it is still Christmas until January 6. This raises a possible solution to the whole Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays dilemma. Why not wait to say Merry Christmas until Christmas day, and then surprise people with it for the Twelve Days of Christmas? You might still offend people, but you would at least not be predictable. Our society seems increasingly to be falling into a rut of empty, slogan-ridden conflict, in which people throw cliches at each other, or more likely... Read more
This post arises from a discussion I’ve been having online with Catholic apologist Dave Armstrong. It began when Dave cited a passage from Calvin condemning contraception on the ground that it is a form of pre-emptive murder. As an offshoot of that discussion, Dave has posted a succinct statement of the “murder analogy” argument against contraception. The core argument goes as follows: A) Contraception is a deliberate act of preventing the conception of Person X who would have been conceived... Read more
According to Aulen, the “classic” view is superior to both the later Latin theories in part because it preserves both “objective” and “subjective” elements, whereas the two Latin theories each stress one aspect at the expense of the other. Like the Anselmian/penal substitution approach, the “classic model” recognizes that there is something objectively alienating us from God, beyond our own subjective disposition. The classic view takes seriously the idea that Jesus’ death is necessary in order for God to be able... Read more
As I was writing about the Rob Bell controversy a couple of years ago, it occurred to me that one of the major issues raised by Bell’s conservative critics is Atonement theology. One of the major examples of a doctrinal boundary that is extremely important to traditional evangelicals but not characteristic of the Christian tradition as a whole is the doctrine of penal substitution. For some conservative evangelicals, penal substitution is at the heart of the Gospel. And too often,... Read more
As I was writing about the Rob Bell controversy a couple of years ago, it occurred to me that one of the major issues raised by Bell’s conservative critics is Atonement theology. One of the major examples of a doctrinal boundary that is extremely important to traditional evangelicals but not characteristic of the Christian tradition as a whole is the doctrine of penal substitution. For some conservative evangelicals, penal substitution is at the heart of the Gospel. And too often,... Read more
Two days ago a gunman killed six Sikhs at their place of worship in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. And the response of America so far seems to be: “What’s a Sikh? Oh, never mind–tell me about the Olympics.” Well, I’m happy to tell anyone who cares (and even those who don’t) everything I know about Sikhs (which is much less than I’d like). Here’s a starting point for anyone reading this blog who doesn’t know about Sikhism (I beg indulgence from... Read more
Ross Douthat published an article this past weekend in the NYT called “Can Liberal Christianity Be Saved?” It’s gotten a lot of response, including this one by Diana Butler Bass arguing that all of Christianity is in the same boat and liberals are just feeling the decline first, and this one by Rachel Held Evans pleading for detente between liberals and conservatives and more room for those “stuck in the middle.” A specific criticism about Douthat’s piece: He makes the... Read more
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