Can we believe the Bible? Seeing it in context helps. When Jesus was asked about the “Greatest” or most important commandment he said it was to love God with all your being, but didn’t hesitate to add to love others as yourself. – Matthew 22:36-40. If there is a philosophy of Christian belief, this is it. What is the Bible about? You can get answers that differ from the four major Christian denominations, the over 200 minor denominations, and the... Read more
My “blog” on Patheos is in the “Progressive” category. I really hate labels because they Pidgeon hole everyone into strict definitions so that there is no need for understanding and no differences. Just throw a label at someone so you can hate or dismiss them. I don’t even like definitions, I like descriptions which are open to growth. But if you’re on Patheos, you’re in some category or you’re not on Patheos. Argh! Someone recently created a post with a... Read more
These are the author’s series so far on Patheos and One Spirit Resources for 2022. Featured Series Author’s series on Patheos: New Generations Explore Faith Series are excellent for group discussion. The Bible and Religion in Context Religion can become about being an institution or about what we want as individuals. For those who have their own agenda when reading the Bible, perception is the path to insanity and ruin. Before drilling down into the nitty gritty details of religion... Read more
God doesn’t depend on us for anything. God loves us and we depend on God. We’re expected to share that love with all others. “What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him? Yet You have made him a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty! You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet,”... Read more
Love isn’t something we can put under a microscope and analyze but psychologists and neurologists try to examine it through behavior and MRIs. That’s the best of science: observation. Despite scientific efforts we still don’t have a good understanding of love. Apostle Paul on Love The Apostle Paul clarified love very well. “But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.” – 1 Corinthians 1:13 (NASB) “Love is patient, love is kind and is... Read more
Can we believe this story? The Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) offers the story of Elisha and the Two Bears (2 Kings 2:23-25). A large group of young men insulted Elisha by insulting him with “baldy” (“Go up [to Heaven], you baldhead”). Elisha cursed them then two bears came out and “tore up” 24 of their number. Some believe this story is real and justify it. Elisha and the Bears On the face of it, the story doesn’t seem true to... Read more
This series looks at the Bible and what it’s useful for. It asks if the Bible and religion are valid and useful for today’s needs. It considers a philosophy of Christianity within religion. Since before the 1800s people have challenged both the Bible and religion. Many have rightly fled from the tyrannical aspects and fear mongering done in the name of religion, and many have left what has become useless to them. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:RELIGIONES.png Much of the doubt comes simply from... Read more
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” – John 13:34 (NASB) “What does God expect from us?” series. What did Jesus mean: Love one another? Not to put too fine a point on it, but in the Greek version of the Bible there are four types of love mentioned: Storge – empathy bond. Affection. Family love. Philia – friend bond. Also brotherly love.... Read more
We understand reasonably well when life ends. The body becomes no longer able to support itself, even with the help of machines. We can make aspects of the body go on for years with the use of machines and artificial feeding, but at some point there will likely come the decision to terminate, to pull the plug, knowing that the brain no longer functions. We respect the sanctity of life so much that we will keep coma patients “alive” for... Read more
“He pled the cause of the afflicted and needy; Then it was well. Is not that what it means to know Me?” Declares the Lord.” –Jeremiah 22:16 (NASB) Religion makes a lot of noise, so much that it becomes very hard to focus on what God asks of us instead of what organizations ask of us and endless religionists shout at us. Hypocritical religion is the practice of religious ceremony or practices that simulate qualities in a false pretense of... Read more
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