ROBERT ASKS: When Christians claim they know they’re going to heaven should they be regarded as conceited, boastful, and arrogant? Is it unfair of God to say you can’t get into heaven unless you believe, even though you’ve been a good person? THE GUY ANSWERS: Fellow religion reporters of a certain age will remember those throngs of “Jesus freaks” holding index fingers aloft to proclaim that their faith is the “One Way.” That attitude is no Christian eccentricity. All religions... Read more

BEV ASKS: I’ve been running into people who are cessationist [aligned with conservatives like] John MacArthur, who calls those who believe in the supernatural gifts chaotic, heretics, apostates, and not part of the true church. So, what are your thoughts? THE GUY SAYS: The cessationist movement opposes practices in Pentecostal and “Charismatic” churches that have prospered during the past century. Even celebrities Katy Perry and Megan Fox have provoked buzz by recalling Pentecostal experiences and there’s vigorous online debate among Protestants.... Read more

RACHAEL ASKS: (After trying to explore Reformed theology via Facebook): I do not understand many terms used, such as dispensationalism, cessationism, amillennialism, and many more. Is there a Reformed dictionary you know of or should I resort to brief Internet searches? THE GUY ANSWERS: To explore those big fat words The Guy suggests buying a theological dictionary that covers all of Christianity, not just Reformed/Calvinist Protestantism, which will treat the major terms though probably not every esoteric one you’ll come... Read more

SARI ASKS: What are the major and almost-major groups of Jews, and how do they differ in terms of belief and practice? THE GUY ANSWERS: Nothing compares with Christianity for complexity, with an ever-expanding variety of denominations, independent congregations, religious orders, “parachurch” ministries, and miscellaneous movements. Still, Judaism is more complicated than some people realize. Running down beliefs and practices would require a long article, but here’s a summary: First, keep in mind the huge and fundamental split among three... Read more

ELIZABETH ASKS: Liberals in the U.S. frequently point out that clergy will not be forced to perform same-sex marriages against their beliefs. However, are there other religious freedom issues at stake with the new Supreme Court ruling? THE GUY RESPONDS: The answer is yes, lots of them, according to religious groups that oppose same-sex marriage but also certain legal experts who advocate same-sex marriage and yet worry about threats to religious freedom. The Supreme Court’s decision to abolish the federal... Read more

HARVEY ASKS: A Mormon scholar says the Christian belief that God created the universe ex nihilo (“out of nothing”) is “apostasy in action” and typical of the pagan Greek thought Mormons believe corrupted the early church. But Mormonism unites with ancient Greek philosophers in thinking matter is eternal and had no beginning. Explain? (Paraphrasing the posted question). THE GUY ANSWERS: This may seem esoteric but “creation” debates always get interesting. One of the most famous sentences ever written is “In the... Read more

The Guy points out these previous Religion Q and A postings in light of the Supreme Court’s two marriage rulings June 26: — Which congregations in America are the most accepting when it comes to same-sex marriage? http://www.patheos.com/blogs/religionqanda/2013/03/same-sex-marriage-and-u-s-religion — Are there any [Bible] passages that explicitly condemn same-sex marriage? http://www.patheos.com/blogs/religionqanda/2013/04/does-the-bible-condemn-same-sex-marriage Also note that Religion News Service, a valuable resource, posts reactions to the “Hollingsworth v. Perry” and “U.S. v. Windsor rulings: http://www.religionnews.com/2013/06/26/reactions-to-gay-marriage-wins-at-supreme-court     Read more

JOSEPH IN MARYLAND ASKS: According to Christianity, is suicide a sin? THE GUY ANSWERS: The answer from Christian tradition is clearly yes. However, as with many topics these days the full answer is yes, but. Historic Christianity strongly opposes murder and, by extension, self-murder, “mercy killing,” and assisting others to kill themselves. All are regarded as basic violations of the Ten Commandments’ “thou shalt not kill,” and defiance against God’s sovereignty over life and death. Founders of Protestantism (Luther, Calvin)... Read more

JOSEPH IN MARYLAND ASKS: Since Jehovah’s Witnesses do not believe that Jesus is God, are they truly a Christian denomination? THE GUY ANSWERS: As an old-school journalist, The Guy’s role is not to answer such questions but to explain the dispute. Jehovah’s Witnesses assert that across the centuries all other groups claiming to be “Christian” have been grievously in error about Jesus Christ and related beliefs, and that Jehovah God commissioned Charles Taze Russell, a self-educated Bible teacher in 19th... Read more

JAY (no location listed) ASKS: Who / What do Muslims look to to understand what the Quran teaches? THE GUY ANSWERS: Jay’s full posting says that when questions or confusions about the Bible arise his fellow Catholics can refer to ample, officially sanctioned explanations, including those in the 1992 Catechism of the Catholic Church. He wonders whether a Muslim has such standardized resources on the Quran, in addition to guidance from a local imam. Actually there are varied Bible interpretations... Read more