It is a popular trope among progressives to argue that the word homosexual was not in any English translation of the Bible until 1946. I am not sure how long this argument has been making its way around progressive circles but it was thrust back into the spotlight based on a documentary that was done by Sharon Roggio. The documentary was based on Christian authors Kathy Baldock and Ed Oxford who were researching the Revised Standard Version translation. We will... Read more
Believe it or not, this is the fourth iteration of this article. I have gone back and forth as to whether or not to publish this. But as I have been reflecting on this experience, I feel more and more convinced that I must. I always thought to some extent I could imagine how horrible it must be to be a targeted minority in this country. Sure I have been pulled over before, so I can imagine what it must... Read more
As a philosopher, specifically metaphysics, I have been trained to view reality in terms of possibilities instead of certainty. I recognize this bias going into any thinking project. However, I also think this is a good way to view the world. This of course means that I am often cautious of any claims of certainty, even scientific claims but it also means it is difficult to land in any one place. For a secular philosopher, this might be okay,... Read more
Let me apologize at the outset. I admit the start of this article is a little self-serving but it adds important context for what I would like to say. Today is the anniversary of the release of my first book, UNenlightenment: A theological foundation for Deconstructing and Reconstructing the Christian Faith. The book was a 15-year project in the making. It was something that I wanted to publish more than anything because not only was there nothing else like it... Read more
You may or may not be familiar with the name Tim Ballard. Tim Ballard is a Christian whose story was immortalized on the big screen in the hit movie The Sound of Freedom, which as of this writing has grossed almost 235 million at the box office. The movie follows former government agent Tim Ballard as he starts an anti-trafficking organization and works to rescue those being trafficked. The name of the organization is Operation Underground Railroad and Ballard served... Read more
It seems like an extreme statement to state that evangelicalism will die. In general, I do my best to try and avoid such statements. However, in this particular case, I think this statement is not only accurate but justifiable. Additionally, not only do I believe that evangelicalism will never change I think it will ultimately die. Here is why. The Nature of the Problem Evangelicals universally acknowledge the Bible as the cornerstone of their faith. This biblio-centric worldview often encompasses... Read more
Eschatology, the rapture, and the end times are often met with eye-rolling by individuals like myself. Many progressives have experienced what can be termed as “rapture trauma” due to the constant preaching and emphasis on Christ’s imminent return. It is not just the words themselves that caused distress, but the way in which eschatology became a way of life within premillennial traditions. The pressure was not solely on belief, but on living with the constant anxiety that Christ could... Read more
Recently Saddleback Church was expelled from the SBC for employing a woman pastor within their ranks. The man himself, Rick Warren even came out of retirement to attend the SBC conference in order to debate the Pharisee’s leaders of the SBC about their archaic practices. It’s not entirely clear if Warren thought he would actually change their mind or if he just wanted the last word on the matter. Regardless, he did his best trying to make the case. Saddleback... Read more
It has been said that God has been punishing America because of its turn towards atheistic secularism. Throughout its history, this nation has been blessed by divine favor. However, since WWII, there has been a concerted effort by the evil one to convert the American people. It all began with Darwin’s influence in the public school systems, undermining the beauty of God’s creation story. As the old saying goes, you might have evolved from a monkey, but I was... Read more
In the realm of progressive thinking, issues with evangelicalism often stem from questions of authority and interpretation. That is, to what extent does the Bible speak for God and how do we as humans interpret such a book? Unfortunately, there is very little in terms of hermeneutics when it comes to progressive thinking. Part of the reason for this is that progressives are often suspicious of methods that constrain the reader in their interpretation. In my book UNenlightenment I propose... Read more
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