Bad Religion (Not the Punk Rock Band) *Note: If you choose to comment here, make sure your comment is relatively brief (no more than 100 words), on topic, civil and respectful (not argumentative or hostile), and devoid of links or photos.* It seems bad religion is all over the place these days. Maybe it always has been. In fact, I know it has been for a long time. The problem is that today, in the third decade of the 21st... Read more

Superstition Is Back and Its Going Mainstream *Note: If you choose to comment, make sure your comment is relatively brief (no more than 100 words), on topic, civil and respectful in language (not argumentative or hostile) and is devoid of links or photos.* For many years now I have studied and taught about “fringe religions” in America: cults, sects, alternative religions, minority religious-spiritual groups and movements, etc. I suppose my fascination with the subject began when I discovered as a... Read more

A New Book about Calvinism   *Note: If you choose to comment, please make sure your comment is relatively brief (no more than 100 words), on topic, and civil and respectful in language (not argumentative or hostile). Also, do not include any links or photos.* Thanks to publisher B&H Academic (formerly Broadman and Holman) I received two complimentary copies of the new volume “Calvinism: A Biblical and Theological Critique” edited by David L. Allen and Steve W. Lemke (2022). Some... Read more

Is Dispensationalism Orthodox? *Note: If you choose to comment, be sure to keep it brief (no more than 100 words), on topic, civil and respectful (not argumentative or hostile), and void of any links or photos.* Over the years of my journey through American evangelical Christianity of many types I have discerned that dispensationalism has become “taken for granted” as biblical and orthodox, perhaps even essential to a robust biblicism and orthodoxy, by many, many conservative Protestants. I am aware... Read more

Without a Doubt? *Note: If you choose to comment, please make sure your comment is relatively brief (not over 100 words), on topic, civil and respectful (not hostile or argumentative), and does not include any links or photos.* Is something wrong with me? I have begun to think there must be. Over the years I have read numerous Christian books that either are about DOUBT or include a discussion of doubt. Most that I have read make doubt either a... Read more

What Is Truth? An Answer Explored *Note: If you choose to comment, please keep it brief (no more than 100 words), on topic, devoid of links or photos, and civil and new respectful in language (not hostile or argumentative).* Pilate asked “What is truth?” Philosophers have been asking it—before and after Pilate. Today, in the early twenty-first century, many people have given up on truth. There seems to be a new crisis of truth in Western culture. Pop psychologist Ashleigh... Read more

There Is No Such Thing as “Just Fiction” *Note: If you choose to post a comment, make sure it is relatively brief (no more than 100 words), civil and respectful in language (not hostile or argumentative), and on topic. Do not include any links or pictures.* Some have told me “It’s just fiction.” I think their point is that there is no point to be discerned or perceived in the story (movie, television show, novel, etc.). I disagree. I believe... Read more

Theological Thoughts bounced off “Midnight Mass” *Note: If you decide to post a comment here, make sure it is relatively brief (no more than 100 words), on topic, civil and respectful in language (not hostile or argumentative), and devoid of any links or photos.* Why am I thinking “aloud” (musing) here about the Netflix limited series “Midnight Mass?” I realize many readers will not have watched it. It’s long and sometimes tedious. The makers of this horror show and others... Read more

Is the Bible a Horror Story? *Note: If you choose to post a comment, know that this is not a discussion board; I moderate the comments and post only those that are: relatively brief (no more than 100 words), on topic, civil and respectful in language (not argumentative or hostile). I do not approve comments that attempt to misuse my blog to promote the writer’s own alternative belief system. I also do not approve ones that contain links or photos.*... Read more

Putting the Bible in Its Place *If you choose to write a comment responding to this or any other blog post, please keep it relatively brief (no more than 100 words), civil and respectful in language (not argumentative or hostile), on topic, and devoid of any links or photos. Please do not attempt to misuse my blog to promote your own alternative belief system. Know that this is not a discussion board so not all comments will be approved or... Read more