This book presents a scholarly investigation into the historical Jesus, diverging from church interpretations. It reviews significant biblical scholarship evolution from the Enlightenment through the 20th century. Schweitzer challenges prevailing notions, positing Jesus held core apocalyptic beliefs. His arguments represent a pivotal moment in historical Jesus studies, influencing academic perspectives for decades.
Category: Theology
What is the Nature of the Supernatural? Of God?
I believe in the “supernatural”. I put “supernatural” in quotes because what I believe in in terms of the supernatural is something beyond our current understanding of the universe. There are certain things in science which we haven’t yet figured out, such as how to unify the theories of general and special relativity (roughly gravity
Is God Behind Sickness and Suffering?
A common belief about God (aka theology) is that God is in control. Everything which happens in the world is either directly done by God or is at least allowed by God. Many take this as a comfort because they believe in a good God and find it encouraging to think that everything which happens
Sex in Conservative Evangelical Christianity
Here’s a deep thought to ponder: Jesus said there will not be marriage at the resurrection, but the Bible never says there won’t be sex in “heaven”. I imagine this thought may tweak a lot of evangelical minds. In evangelical thought, sex is so tied to marriage that I expect many might struggle to consider
The Fear of Fundamentalism
In this article I continue with the theme of fear, describing how I see it in fundamentalism. Before I go further, the type of fundamentalism I have in mind is that within the Christian realm. In my mind, I see conservative evangelicalism, especially the best known branch of Southern Baptists, as being very closely related
“The Cosmic Dance” and Open Theism
“The Cosmic Dance: What Science Can Teach Us about the Nature of Time, Life, God & Humpty Dumpty” is a new book written by Greg Boyd along with help from a number of his friends. This book is somewhat unique in that he attempts to tackle a deep subject through a graphic novel (comic book)
Jesus in Orlando: Compassion or Condemnation?
I wonder how many Christian will struggle to feel compassion for the victims of the shooting in Orlando since it took place in a gay bar?1,2 There are many Christians in the U.S. who believe that it’s most important for Christians to take a stand against sin, to point out and condemn these wrongs. (Never
Jesus’ Death and Resurrection – What to Know
This week we approach the celebration of Jesus’ death and resurrection. These event are truly central to the Christian faith and, assuming they are true as I do, central to the story of human history. So I think it’s quite worthwhile to look at some of the significance of these events. Forsaken? While on the
Jesus’ Radical Teaching on Provision
Many Christians have the idea based on scripture that God promises to provide for us. I have a sense that this is true, but not in the way we thought. It seems that we have the idea that God will provide everything and keep us from trouble in this life, unconditionally. But something inspired me
The Problem of Evil, Part 5 – Love Not Micromanagement
In my previous post, I explain why the “magical” view of God is ruled out by his unchanging nature which fixes reality within certain parameters. In this article, I share how one of God’s specific characteristics rules out him micromanaging the world. One of if not the most primary characteristic of God is love. I