Here I continue discussion of the book The Myth of Certainty by Daniel Tayler with Chapter 4: The Search for Truth and Certainty. If you have read the chapter, feel free to comment. If not, feel free to ask a question. In any case, be sure to follow the rules stated at the end of this blog post. It is my considered opinion that Dan has hit the proverbial nail on the head in this chapter. What “nail?” The whole... Read more

Many people are asking the same question: Are we in America now in fascist territory? (Here I will capitalize “Fascism” but not “fascist.) There’s no easy, simple answer. Here I will describe Fascism and leave it to you to decide whether or not we, in America, are now in fascist territory. Fascism began in Italy with Benito Mussolini in the early 1920s. He is the original prototype of Fascism. All later Fascisms must be tested by him and it although... Read more

*The image is not intended to represent God; it is only intended to represent deliberation* What I ask here is whether the God of the Bible makes decisions and chooses between options. I’m not asking about any other god. Does the God Jews and Christians worship consider options and make choices and then act on them? The god of the philosophers usually does not. Blaise Pascal said with some justification that the god of the philosophers is not the God... Read more

Here I continue discussion of Daniel Tayler’s book The Myth of Certainty: The Reflective Christian and the Risk of Commitment with Chapter 3: The Reflective Christian in the Secular World of Ideas. If you have read this chapter, feel free to comment. If not, feel free to ask a question. Speaking of his many encounters with secular academics (most likely at professional society meetings) Dan says “If I maintain my role as an academic, or good old boy, there is... Read more

I heard it and was flabbergasted. When asked what could hold him back from acting in world affairs, Trump said “Only my morality.” He went on to say that his own morality is in his mind and that he doesn’t want to hurt anyone. Every dictator thinks only his own morality limits him. That is what makes him a dictator. But the question for Trump and all dictators is what constitutes his own morality? Besides the fact that what Trump... Read more

Here I continue discussion of Daniel Taylor’s book The Myth of Certainty: The Reflective Christian and the Myth of Certainty (InterVarsity Press). If you have read Chapter 2 you may comment here. If not, feel free to ask a question. In any case, follow the rules at the end here. Chapter 2 is entitled The Reflective Christian and the Church. Here Dan reveals what he thinks about many American churches, especially (but not only) ones he and I consider fundamentalist... Read more

*The attached photo here is not meant to demean the specific police depicted who were, when this photo was taken, simply seeking to help civilians in an emergency situation. The photo is in public domain.* What is a “police state?” Type the phrase into a search engine and add “definition” and you will get a plethora of sometimes contradictory or at least contrary definitions. There is obviously no unanimous definition. Here I consider “police state” one in which armed police,... Read more

Not only is Christian Nationalism not new; it is not especially American. Yes, to be sure, America adds its own wrinkle to Christian Nationalism. “American Christian Nationalism” is not exactly the same as any other Christian Nationalism. However… My former colleague Philip Jenkins wrote an eye-opening book about World War I that has unfortunately been largely overlooked: A Great and Holy War: How World War I Became a Religious Crusade. Philip is a historian who writes books about religions in... Read more

Here I begin discussion of the book The Myth of Certainty: The Reflective Christian and the Risk of Commitment by my former colleague and always friendDaniel Taylor. If you have read Chapter 1: The Nature of Reflection feel free to comment. If not, feel free to ask a question. In any case, follow the rules set forth at the end of this blog post. Dan Taylor was professor of English at Bethel College (now Bethel University) in St. Paul, MN... Read more

*Now continues a second part of this series; this series is about my reasons for being a Christian and for embracing a particular “brand” of Christianity called (as in the name of this blog) “evangelical Arminianism.” In order to understand this post you need to read the preceding ones about my reasons for being an “evangelical” Christian. 10) Wrapping Up “Why I Am an Evangelical Arminian Christian”: In this two-part series I have attempted, to the best of my ability,... Read more