Of False Pedestals and True Clay Feet *Note: If you choose to post a comment here, make sure it is civil and respectful, not hostile or argumentative. Do not include any links or photos.* American Christian leaders (to say nothing of other leaders) have often fallen off their pedestals; this is commonly termed a “fall from grace” when it should surely be called a “fall from favor.” American Christians have a tendency to place certain religious personalities up on “pedestals”... Read more

I Have Given Up…on the Book of Revelation *Note to would-be commenters: Know that your comment will not appear here if it is hostile or off topic or contains a link or photo.* Recently I joined a wonderful group of people in a home-based but church-related weekly Bible study. They are dear Christian folks and I miss them—for now. They decided to spend a few weeks reading and discussing a book about The Apocalypse, the Book of Revelation, The Revelation... Read more

If I Were a Calvinist or an Atheist *Note to would-be commenters: Keep your comment relatively brief and kind, civil and respectful, or it will not appear here. This is a moderated blog, not a discussion board. Think of it as like an opinion page in a newspaper; not all letters to the editor get published. Do not include any links or photos.* Again there has been a mass school shooting in the USA. As many as sixteen elementary school... Read more

What Is “Progressive Christianity?” *Note to would-be commenters: If you choose to compose and post a comment here, please know that this is a moderated blog, not a discussion board. It is a place for me to express my opinions and engage in constructive dialogue with readers. Please keep your comment relatively brief and on topic; make sure it is calm and not hostile. Do not include any links or photos.* Today, in 2022, in America, most liberal Christians, Christians... Read more

Jesus and the 20 Percent *Note to would-be commenters: Please know that this is not a discussion board; it is a space for me to express my opinions and engage in civil, respectful dialogue with those who agree or disagree or both. Think of it like an opinion page (editorial page) of a newspaper. I post some “letters to the editor,” but not all. If you hope for your comment to be posted here, make sure it is civil and... Read more

Jesus and Ronald Reagan *Why no picture: I have tried to find a picture of Ronald Reagan that would fit here but none will be allowed due to limitations of size (number of pixels).* *Note: If you comment, do not include any links or photos. Also, please keep it calm. Thank you.* *Note: Kristin du Mez is annoyed that some men are reviewing  her book without reading it—as she should be. But, as I have here before, with other books,... Read more

Jesus and Roy Rogers I recently here responded critically to an interview with Kristin Kobes Du Mez, arguing here that she only told one side of the story of white, American evangelicalism and that my experience, as a boy and youth growing up in “the thick” of white American evangelicalism did not fit exactly how she described it. Or at least that there is another side to the story that she told the interviewer. All along I intended to read... Read more

A Strange Thought Experiment in Ethics *Note: If you choose to comment, make sure your comment is civil and respectful to the conversational ethos of this blog. Harsh, vicious, insulting comments will not be posted here. If you post a comment, make sure it is on topic and responds to what I wrote. Respond to me only. Do not misrepresent at what I wrote. Do not misuse my blog as a forum for your own views not directly related to... Read more

Review of “God in Motion” and Thoughts about “Open Theism” Thanks to Baylor University Press which sent me a complimentary review copy of “God in Motion: A Critical Exploration of the Open Theism Debate” by Swiss theologian Manuel Schmid (translated by Alex Englander) (2021). Here I will not even attempt to summarize the book. I will just say (for now) that anyone really interested in the doctrine of God and especially the concept of God’s “openness” to new knowledge and... Read more

Remembering “My” Evangelicalism I grew up in the “thick” of white American evangelicalism in the 1950s through the 1970s. It did NOT include Southern Baptists who, although geographically present, generally declined to participate in evangelical cooperative programs or events. I grew up in the Upper Midwest but knew many evangelicals from around the country, especially the Eastern Central, Great Plains, Rocky Mountains and West Coast regions of the country. (Not many from the Northeast, East Coast, or Southern regions.) Only... Read more