Complexity and Directness: A Response to Brian McLaren
Reviews and Interviews: A New Kind of Christianity Round-up I have to admit that I’m more star-struck than someone my age should be at the fact that a writer of…
Better to be Beaten
College teachers are often wont to crab about their students, and a frequent theme of such crabbing is the apparent lack of interest amongst students towards the business of learning…
Bible, Tradition, Theology part 1: The Nature of God
Once again I have Phil Rutledge to thank for an occasion to think not only about theology’s content but the ways in which I do theology. Responding to our recent…
Creation Doesn't Stop at Harvest: A Reflection on the Lectionary Readings for 14 March 2010
Revised Common Lectionary Page for 14 March 2010 (Year C, Fourth Sunday of Lent) Joshua 5:9-12 • Psalm 32 • 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 • Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 I love when the Lectionary readings…
More on Marriage
I keep thinking about marriage lately, especially as I’ve been reading about Søren Kierkegaard, who, depending on how you spin it, is either the institution’s greatest advocate or its greatest…
The Christian Humanist Podcast, Episode 14: Origin Stories
The music this week is Bruce Cockburn’s “Creation Dream,” from Dancing in the Dragon’s Jaws (1979). General Introduction – Reader feedback – What’s on the blog this week? The Genesis…
Why Getting Plato Right Does Matter: A Follow-up on my McLaren Review
Sometimes folks who normally impress me with their breadth of vision and maturity ways of existing in the world slip into frames of mind that I can only call adolescent.…
St. Chad the Pedestrian
So, another week, another feast for an Anglo-Saxon saint: February 2, the Feast of St. Chad. Don’t remember Chad? Oh, surely you recall those obnoxious little flecks of paper in…
The Verse Right Before: A Reflection on the Lectionary Texts for 7 March 2010
Revised Common Lectionary Page for 7 March 2010 (Third Sunday of Lent, Year C) Isaiah 55:1-9 • Psalm 63:1-8 • 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 • Luke 13:1-9 Two of this week’s readings feature some…
Just a Dumb Ol' Conservative Theist
So, as I lazily surfed the internet this morning, I pulled up ScienceDaily, my favorite one-stop-shopping site for scientific news of all sorts. (Yes, I do have scientific interests: technology,…
A Note on Marriage
Last week’s Christ the Center podcast (a show I almost always enjoy but always find something to get angry about) featured an extended interview with Michael Haykin, who has apparently…
The City that Kills Prophets: A Reflection on the Lectionary Readings for 28 February 2010
Revised Common Lectionary Readings for 28 February 2010 (Year C, Lent) Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18 • Psalm 27 • Philippians 3:17-4:1 • Luke 13:31-35 Abraham’s story is one that tempts me towards sloppy thinking…
Of Dragon-slaying and Human Dignity
I’ve always been a sucker for a good monster story. As a boy, I would browse through my parents’ books, especially the encyclopedias, and stop whenever I saw an illustration…
A New Kind of Christianity: A Review for The Ooze Viral Blogs
A New Kind of Christianity: Ten Questions That Are Transforming the Faith By Brian D. McLaren 320 pp. HarperOne. $24.99 When I praise Plato and defend my teaching Republic to…
Getting the Story Right: A Reflection on the Lectionary Readings for 21 February 2010
Revised Common Lectionary Readings for 21 February 2010 (Lent, Year C) Deuteronomy 26:1-11 • Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16 • Romans 10:8b-13 • Luke 4:1-13 I’m a bit ashamed to admit that, although I could…