Is There a Doctrine in the House? Thesis: contemporary American Christianity has by-and-large let go of doctrines. Some churches have no doctrines. Some have doctrines but they serve as little more than historical relics or heirlooms that rarely get any attention. Many churches have decided, officially or unofficially, to make doctrines optional. Some even ridicule doctrines. How often have I heard “Doctrines divide; Jesus unites?” Often. My response is: “No, doctrines unite; Jesus divides.” I decided to teach Christian theology... Read more

Pay Attention to All that Trump Has Said and Done! Consider this an addendum to my previous blog post about former President Donald Trump’s statements that if elected again he will “fix it” so that his followers never have to vote again. I read the responses and here is my response to those who disagreed with my interpretation and warning: I believe you are not paying attention to all the pieces of the puzzle (to use a metaphor for all... Read more

If This Doesn’t Do It…Nothing Will Some time ago, fairly recently, I asked here what it would take for Trump supporters to stop supporting him (for president of US again). I received a variety of answers. Now, and I know this because I saw it and heard it on ABC News (from the horse’s mouth so to speak). Donald Trump has stated publicly, and without any hint of joking, that IF he is elected president again people will not have... Read more

Us For Them: Chapter 9: Twenty-Six Names Now we come to the final chapter of what most people here agree is an excellent book by Austin Fischer, my friend and former student, pastor of The Vista Church in Temple, Texas. I think it’s important to realize that Austin has been and is talking to Christians, the Body of Christ, the church. He makes his final appeal for friendship over ideological warfare. “Embracing others as family sounds nice but is hell... Read more

“Christianish” Repeatedly I have been challenged when I have dared to say that I don’t think a church or minister or teacher is truly, authentically Christian. And my challengers are sometimes right. The decision is not always a “black or white” one. So I have coined a new word—“Christianish.” What does it mean? It means, to me, neither fully, authentically Christian (orthodox) nor neither fully, authentically non-Christian. It’s what academics call a “liminal” category. Of course, you will want examples.... Read more

Bad Faith? I recently watched a documentary entitled Bad Faith (2024, Prime Video streaming service, $1.99 rent). It is about Christian Nationalism in America. I didn’t learn anything new. I’ve tracked the movement back to its roots in the so-called Religious Right/Moral Majority movements in the late 1970s through the 1980s and up to now. I know one of the commentators in the documentary, Randall Balmer. He has written some excellent books about American religion and politics. The gist of... Read more

Us for Them: Chapter 8: Wendell Berry Would Like a Word The subtitle of this chapter is An Imaginary but Real Conversation Between an Old, White Farmer and a Young, Progressive Pastor on Trump, Whiteness, Friendship, Exaggeration, Anger, and the Unsettling of America. If you are not reading this book with us, or missed this chapter, you are really missing out on something. Austin is a big fan of Wendell Barry. He ends this chapter with this paragraph: “Thinking, talking,... Read more

Trump and Putin and NATO and Ukraine According to reliable news sources, former president and presidential candidate Donald Trump has told Russia, including its leader Putin, to “do whatever the hell [you] want” to any NATO country that is not spending enough (whatever that means) towards its own defense. It’s one thing to urge NATO allies to spend more on their own defense and not to fall behind in its obligations to the alliance. It’s something else to say “Do... Read more

Overcoming Stereotypes and Caricatures Even as I type the title of this blog essay I realize how impossible it sounds—even to me. I believe one of humanity’s biggest problems is mental stereotypes and caricatures (a caricature is a stereotype taken to the next level) of “other people.” We all have them in our heads. They come from the media (broadly defined to include books and other printed material), from popular culture other than media, and from our own fears and... Read more

Us For Them: Chapter 7: Conservative and Progressive In this chapter author Austin Fischer delivers a powerful punch to Christians locked into ideological mindsets, unwilling to listen to others. I think he gives good descriptions of conservative and progressive mindsets and urges people with them to open up and learn from the others. Both mindsets have real values and virtues, unless they become rigid mindsets. Both have real problems, especially when they become rigid mindsets. I love Austin’s personal stories... Read more