In my last installment, I explained why I am no longer a bible/scripture literalist. In this post, I want to take on one of the most common — albeit ridiculous — positions: “The Bible Clearly Says…” So many times, especially in the realm of social media, this variation of the logical fallacy of “appeal to authority” is trotted out in an attempt to silence or discredit a plethora of opinions and positions. The bible is also a go-to to support... Read more
One of the great things about achieving escape velocity from the black hole of religion is freedom. I was once bound by scriptural literalism — but no longer. I used to quote and cite scripture for virtually everything; now I quote and cite it for almost nothing. As a pastor and an aspiring theologian, I was given an overarching premise by many teachers and mentors — that the bible is the inerrant, infallible word of God. They told me that... Read more
I’m neither given to writing on current events nor am I a purveyor of bad news. However, what is going on right now in our country and in the world is sheer madness. And I have something to say about it. We are in the midst of a global pandemic. “Coronavirus” has become a household word. International travel is restricted and domestic travel is not recommended. Financial indices are plummeting. Contrary to what some think, this is not some left-wing... Read more
One of the things I discovered on my road to Deconstructing Religion is that theology is the only major field of study that hasn’t advanced since, I don’t know, the dark ages. Think about it. Medicine, astronomy, physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, and linguistics all have seen significant advances but theology remains largely unchanged. Why is this, you ask? I believe that most fields of study existed for the advancement of humanity. Medicine brings forth healing. Astronomy helps us to understand... Read more
Allow me to gloat. This week, I’m on an expenses-paid business trip to London, England. Nice, huh? Not long ago, I was bitter and angry about my career. I felt that it was stopping me from what I thought I was “purposed to do;” that is, preach the Gospel. Now, forget for a minute that blessings often come disguised as hard work — even though my work (software engineering) is challenging. What I’ve learned is that it is what I... Read more
If you’re looking for “Slim Shady,” I think you tuned into the wrong channel. Although I have no desire for his fame (or infamy), I do love his music and I wouldn’t mind having his loot. How many commandments did I break there? Seriously, though, for the folks who don’t know me, I’m a full-time husband and father, author, speaker, and software engineer. I am also a former pastor, bishop, and apostle. But, for the purposes of this space, I’m... Read more
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