A Primer on Religious Existentialism, Pt. 3: Hellenism and Hebraism
There’s a degree to which it’s legitimate to claim Judeo-Christian roots for almost all Western philosophies (including the scientism that seeks, in its more recent and ugly manifestations, to destroy…
Kings and Prophets: A Reflection on the Lectionary Readings for 4 July 2010
Revised Common Lectionary Page for 4 July 2010 (Sixth Sunday after Pentecost, Year C) 2 Kings 5:1-14 and Psalm 30 • Isaiah 66:10-14 and Psalm 66:1-9 • Galatians 6:(1-6), 7-16…
The Christian Humanist, Episode #22.1: Science
Our outro music this week comes from Michael Knott’s 1994 record Rocket and a Bomb. The song’s called “Jan the Weatherman.” Hey, “Jan” rhymes with “Dan,” and our special guest…
Three-Dimensional Responses to One-Dimensional Challenges: A Review of “God Is Dead” and I Don’t Feel So Good Myself
“God Is Dead” and I Don’t Feel So Good Myself”: Theological Engagements with the New Atheism Edited by Andrew David, Christopher J. Keller, and Jon Stanley 185 pp. Cascade Books.…
On Burying Fathers: A Reflection on the Lectionary Readings for 28 June 2010
Revised Common Lectionary Page for 28 June 2010 (Fifth Sunday after Pentecost, Year C) 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14 and Psalm 77:1-2, 11-20 • 1 Kings 19:15-16, 19-21 and Psalm 16…
Short Takes: Proof of Divine Intervention
I couldn’t help but thinking of the final climactic action of John Updike’s Couples when I read this story. Let’s be logically consistent. If Hurricane Katrina and John Piper’s tornado…
A Primer on Religious Existentialism, Pt. 2: My Kind of Atheist
It is not reasonable to expect everyone to share the same religious views, and since it can be difficult to see God’s hand in our violent and hate-filled universe, I…
No Better than My Ancestors: A Reflection on the Lectionary Readings for 20 June 2010
Vanderbilt Divinity School’s Revised Common Lectionary Page for 20 June 2010 (Fourth Sunday after Pentecost, Year C) 1 Kings 19:1-4, (5-7), 8-15a and Psalm 42 and 43 • Isaiah 65:1-9…
Theology is Difficult Work: A Review of Jesus Manifesto
Jesus Manifesto: Restoring the Supremacy and Sovereignty of Jesus Christ By Len Sweet and Frank Viola 201 pp. Thomas Nelson. $14.99 I sometimes wish that I’d gone into theology for…
Short Takes: Are You a Hipster Christian?
Our blog and podcast seem to attract readers and listeners from all over the theological and political spectrum, so I’m very interested in the results of this survey, from Brett…
A Proper Icon
Hello, all! I’m back from an epic four-week gallivant, during which I was blog incommunicado. Oh, the places I’ve been, and the things I’ve seen: the highest mountain in Alabama,…
A Primer on Religious Existentialism, Pt. 1: Introduction
When people find out that I self-identify as a Christian existentialist, they are sometimes surprised. And why shouldn’t they be? Existentialism as a philosophical movement is bound up in the…
Another Sorry Excuse for a Lectionary Post
I encourage folks to go to Vanderbilit’s Revised Common Lectionary page for next Sunday and read the texts, but a room full of third- and fourth-graders have already stolen my…
LOST: The Nature of the Smoke Monster
SPOILER DISCLAIMER: Out of respect for Hulu watchers, TiVo devotees, Netflix subscribers, and other folks who didn’t watch the Superbowl-length extravaganza on May 23, I’ve waited until now to start…
Side One, Track Two
The subject of this week’s All Songs Considered podcast (from NPR, and highly recommended to people who like pop and rock music) was Side One, Track One—the best songs that…