Why “Orthodox” Rather than “Conservative” Note: If you post a comment here, make sure it is relatively brief (no more than 100 words), on topic, addressed to me, civil and respectful (not hostile or argumentative), and devoid of links or photos. Recently here I stated that I am neither conservative nor non-conservative theologically. (The headline of a review my recent book “Against Liberal Theology” in “Christianity Today” labeled me “non-conservative.”) I said in that blog essay that I prefer to... Read more

Thoughts about “You Are Gods” Chapter Two “The Treasure of Delight” *Note: If you choose to post a comment here, make sure it is relatively brief (no more than 100 words), on topic, civil and respectful (not hostile or argumentative), and devoid of links or photos.* Here are my thoughts about Chapter Two, “The Treasure of Delight: Nicholas of Cuba on Infinite Desire,” of David Bentley Hart’s book “You are Gods: On Nature and Supernature.” This is a good example... Read more

Why I prefer “Orthodox” to “Conservative” *Note: If you choose to submit a comment here, please make sure it is relatively brief (no more than 100 words), civil and respectful (not hostile or argumentative), and devoid of links or photos.* Here I am talking ONLY about theology and ways of describing theologies. A recent review of my book “Against Liberal Theology: Putting the Brakes on Progressive Christianity” called me “non-conservative.” ”Conservative” is an indexical term; it only has meaning within... Read more

“Waking the Gods” Thoughts about Chapter One of “You Are Gods” by David Bentley Hart *Note: If you choose to comment, be sure your comment is relatively brief (no more than 100 words), on topic, civil and respectful (not hostile or argumentative), and devoid of links or photos.* I have already begun responding to David Bentley Hart’s book “You Are Gods: On Nature and Supernature” with thoughts about the Introduction. I know that several of you, my readers, are reading... Read more

Thoughts about David Bentley Hart’s “Introduction” to “You Are Gods” Hart, an Eastern Orthodox Christian and general Christian intellectual, here advances a stringent critique of the whole Western Christian tradition of separating nature and grace, the natural from the supernatural. He complains that the old “two-tier system” of nature and grace of neo-Thomism is making a comeback in spite of the 20th century’s “Eastward turn” of Catholic nouvelle theologie which was based on a vision of nature and grace as... Read more

Why I Will Never Become Eastern Orthodox *Note: If you choose to comment, make sure your comment is relatively brief (no more than 100 words), on topic, civil and respectful (not hostile or argumentative), and devoid of photos or links.* I admit that I am attracted to Eastern Orthodox theology. As I explained here before, my main professor of historical theology during my Ph.D studies was EO. He opened my eyes to the goodness of EO theology and, of course,... Read more

How Many Basic Christianities Are There? *Note: If you choose to comment here, make sure your comment is relatively brief (no more than 100 words), on topic, civil and respectful in language (not hostile or argumentative), and includes no links or photos.* To clear away predictable objections, I will say “up front” that I know very well there are many types of Christianity. The question I am asking and attempting to answer here is whether there are really only three... Read more

How to Read a Challenging Book *Note: If you submit a comment, make sure it is relatively brief (no more than 100 words), on topic, civil and respectful in language (not argumentative or hostile), and does not include any links or photos.* By “a challenging book” here I mean something LIKE David Bentley Hart’s recently mentioned here “You Are Gods.” In less than two weeks I will begin a series of chapter-by-chapter discussions of the book. I have already read... Read more

An Outsider’s View of Eastern Orthodoxy *Note: If you choose to comment, make sure your comment is relatively brief (no more than 100 words), on topic, civil and respectful (not hostile or argumentative) and does not include any links or photos.* My first experience with Eastern Orthodoxy was my first girlfriend. She was Greek Orthodox and the first girl I ever kissed. Then, years later, one of my main professors in my Religious Studies Ph.D program at a major American... Read more

Are We Gods? *Note: If you choose to comment, please keep it relatively brief (no more than 100 words), on topic, civil and respectful in language (not argumentative or hostile), and devoid of links or photos.* I am looking at David Bentley Hart’s new book “You Are Gods: On Nature and Supernature” (University of Notre Dame Press, 2022). After trying to figure out the cover art, I finally, with some fear and trepidation, began reading. For those who don’t know,... Read more