And Still More on (and from!) Ross Douthat and the Future of Denominations and Christianity

Last updated on: July 17, 2012 at 7:42 pm By James F. McGrath

Late yesterday I posted a round-up of links on this topic, and already there are enough for another, just on blogs to which I subscribe! First, let me mention that Ross Douthat himself has written a follow-up piece, “What Is Liberal Christianity?” In it his primary conversation partner is Steven Holmes, a British Baptist who wrote a response to Douthat’s initial piece in which he addressed this issue of defining Liberal Christianity. Holmes has now responded to Douthat, tempering his passion in... Read more

Popular Highlights in the Burial of Jesus

Last updated on: July 17, 2012 at 10:56 am By James F. McGrath

One nice feature of Kindle ebooks, such as my own The Burial of Jesus: What Does History Have to Do with Faith?, is the fact that data can be collected about what readers highlight in the text. Amazon shares such information anonymously on the book’s page. Here are the three most popularly highlighted quotes from that book: For some, religion is about confidently knowing; for others, it is about meekly acknowledging the inadequacy of our human knowledge. it was, in fact,... Read more

Is there or ‘aint there mistakes the Bible?

Last updated on: July 17, 2012 at 7:58 am By James F. McGrath

Some people think that they must defend the Bible's various words, statements, and depictions as being compatible with what we today know, whether scientifically, historically, or in other terms, lest its entire message be put in doubt. But it just cannot be done, at least not without a far greater cost, and undermining the very goal of attempting to do so in the first place. If you have to twist the meaning of Scripture in order to claim that it... Read more

“Ross Douthat is a Fruit Fly” and Other Responses Around the Blogosphere

Last updated on: July 16, 2012 at 11:00 pm By James F. McGrath

There have been quite a few responses and reactions to Ross Douthat's New York Times piece since I posted my own response and round-up (as there have been other responses to other reporting on the recent Episcopal General Convention here in Indianapolis). There are several excellent ones, but the most striking title award goes to Rev. Matthew Lawrence, for his post, “Ross Douthat is a Fruit Fly.” The post contains a lot of insight, but what I valued most was... Read more

“Be Deceitful as your Heavenly Father is Deceitful” (Things Jesus Didn’t Say)

Last updated on: July 16, 2012 at 3:48 pm By James F. McGrath

It struck me powerfully as I replied to a comment on a recent post featuring an infographic about the age of the Earth, that there is indeed a resemblance that appears between a deity and his or her worshipers, as one might and indeed should expect. In the case of young-earth creationists, the resemblance is deception and dishonesty. Think about it. Young-earth creationists claim to worship and serve a God who placed evidence in creation all of which agrees in... Read more

A Palestinian-American Student visits Israel/Palestine

Last updated on: July 16, 2012 at 1:28 pm By James F. McGrath

When I traveled to Israel and the Palestinian territories in May, I had the privilege of having a student of Palestinian descent on the trip. Loor has now shared a brief account of her experience on the Butler University Center for Faith and Vocation’s blog. Please click through to read it! Read more

How We Know The Earth Is Very Old

Last updated on: July 16, 2012 at 1:08 pm By James F. McGrath

The folks at BioLogos shared this infographic which some might find it useful to share with friends and family who don’t get why and how scientists conclude that the earth is so very old: Also at BioLogos, there is an article by Deborah Haarsma on the age of the Earth, plus an announcement that BioLogos is looking for a new president. Perhaps some blog reader will want to apply? Read more

Spoof or Clever Advertising? The Bacon-Covered Bible

Last updated on: July 16, 2012 at 10:12 am By James F. McGrath

Via God and several humans on Facebook. Clearly this marketing idea is not intended to be used for promoting the Jewish Bible to religiously-observant Jewish husbands. Read more

Can Non-Liberal Christianity Be Saved?

Last updated on: July 15, 2012 at 6:30 pm By James F. McGrath

I shared Ross Douthat’s recent New York Times piece, asking whether Liberal Christianity can be saved, on Facebook, and it has generated quite a lot of response. Let me start by sharing some thoughts of my own, and then share a number of links to blog posts and articles elsewhere that relate to this topic. First, it seems to me far from a given that conservative Christianity by definition will flourish. It is not as though it is only theologically... Read more

A Guide to Dealing with Inconvenient Bible Passages

Last updated on: July 14, 2012 at 11:53 am By James F. McGrath

Stephen Savage shared this with me on Facebook: Ouch! Satire is most effective when it hits painfully close to home. Does this seem to get things about right to you? As a liberal Christian, I think it is better to honestly disagree with the Bible, than to engage in the selective Biblicism that typifies most conservative approaches. After all, that is what the Biblical authors themselves did! Posted with Blogsy Read more