Our Question That Haunts Christianity comes this week from Lausten North. Lausten has racked up 300 comments on this blog. He’s a thoughtful skeptic who has been “extremely disappointed” with my answers in the series thus far. So I thought I’d reward his faithfulness to reading and commenting with a question all his own: (more…) Read more
Last week’s Questions That Haunt Christianity came from Shira, who asked a question that provoked an unprecedented number of comments for the series: My question is this: How do Christian theologians deal with the fact that God is portrayed sometimes as a “man of war” who approves genocide and taking of women as war prizes, among other atrocities and sometimes as the “righteous judge” standing up for widows, orphans, and the strangers among us? I consider this a vital question because it... Read more
Over the weekend, CNN posted a lengthy story about the tenuous relationship between two prominent Atlanta preachers: Charles Stanley and his son, Andy. I’ve remarked to a couple people lately what an interesting time we’re in, as we watch the sons (and occasionally daughters) of prominent evangelicals. Of course, we’ve seen it writ large with Franklin Graham and Robert Schuller’s children recently. But I’ve also had the pleasure of befriending Jay Bakker, Sean McDowell, Chuck Smith, Jr., and a few... Read more
Please pardon the Sunday post. Usually, I don’t post on Sunday and try to keep a sabbath, but I’m not bound by the law! Also, I’m sitting in the DFW airport, reflecting on my time at the National Youth Workers Convention. Over the past few days, I’ve seen scores of old friends, given talks on culture and the atonement, and sat on theological panels discussing sexuality and the nature of scripture. It’s been since 2008 that I’ve spoken the NYWC,... Read more
Well, I assume that this Tumblr is from Mark Driscoll, because it’s titled “the real @pastormark”: So, Rachel – a woman, mind you – wrote that book. And, I’m guessing that she didn’t get her pastor or husband’s permission to do so. I just can’t bring myself to keep reading it – I mean, would I actually read a book written by a gay person? I don’t understand why she can’t just let the warriors like Behe and Keller duke... Read more
Tomorrow will mark my return to Youth Specialties as a content-provider. And I’m thrilled. My publishing career began under the tutelage of Mark Oestreicher, who was then the publisher at YS. He signed me to write my first and second books, and he advocated for me to speak at the National Youth Workers Convention. Tic Long, who I’m guessing was as uncomfortable with my evolving theology as his peers at the heart of the YS world, invited me to speak... Read more
Rose French of the Star Tribune reports: A Catholic priest in northwest Minnesota is refusing to administer the sacrament of confirmation to a 17-year-old after the teen posted a photo on Facebook condemning the [Minnesota] marriage amendment, according to a newspaper report. The decision by the priest at Assumption Church in Barnesville, Minn., to deny confirmation to Lennon Cihak last month has surprised the teen’s family, The Forum reports: “The Facebook post in question was a photo of Lennon in... Read more
Time for Guy Fieri to put on his big-boy pants. Guy Fieri’s Times Square restaurant got a wicked review this week in the New York Times. I live in a town with one of the greatest food writers in the land — I’ve been reading Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl for years. (Here’s her blog.) Back when she wrote for City Pages, her reviews were both lauding or wicked, but always brilliantly written. A couple years ago, I stumbled upon what still stands as... Read more
I had the great pleasure of visiting The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology last week. It was my first time there, and I was very impressed — with everything from the beauty of the urban setting to the innovative ways that students learn. The fact that their very first class is in hermeneutics is a brilliant choice. I sat down for an interview with long-time friend and SST theology professor Dwight Friesen, in front of a group of students.... Read more
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