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Category Archives: Theology
The Beauty of Contrast
As someone who greatly enjoys cooking, I have always wished I was one of those who-needs-instructions-let’s-just-throw-some-stuff-in-a-pot-and-see-what-happens kind of gal. Sadly, there is not an impulsive culinary bone in my body and I rarely stray from the recipe. One of the … Continue reading
A Former Atheist’s Near Death Experience
I’ve become increasingly interested in near death experiences, and the ones that interest me most are those involving atheists. Here is one of the more well-known accounts by a former atheist, Howard Storm, who was an art professor at Northern … Continue reading
Posted in Philosophy, Theology
Tagged atheism, Howard Storm, My Descent into Death, near death experience
4 Comments
God Judges Animals?
Amy and I have practiced what we call a “cruelty-free diet” for more than a decade. We do this out of a conviction that it’s the least we can do to avoid moral complicity with the factory farming system in our … Continue reading
Green Grass and Rocky Deserts
A few years back, I did a Bible study on the life of Moses. Throughout the study, I struggled with a bit of snobbery against the Israelites who seemed like the most pathetic band of “stiff-necked” people ever collected. God … Continue reading
Hell and the Undermining of Heavenly Happiness
Lately, I’ve been pondering some of Thomas Talbott’s arguments against the traditional doctrine of hell (in his 1990 Faith and Philosophy essay “The Doctrine of Everlasting Punishment”). He makes many interesting points, both in criticism of eternal conscious torment and … Continue reading
Posted in Philosophy, Theology
Tagged conditional immortalism, eternal conscious torment, heaven, hell
7 Comments
A Lifetime of Lent
Approximately three days into the Lenten season this year, I began my sad dance with legalism. Like troops circling the enemy, I have poked around my commitment’s defenses to see where there might be a weak point. I have chosen … Continue reading
Death by Easy Craft
Our five-year-old daughter Maggie is, to my great delight, a very independent self-entertainer. She can easily create and populate her own little worlds with all sorts of imaginative characters. (Before you become too envious, the creation of these “little” worlds … Continue reading
Belief, Doubt, and Behavior (Part Two)
In my previous post I noted the connection between behavior and belief and how doubts about God are often rooted in disobedience. But how exactly does this work? Why should one’s moral conduct, whether good or bad, have intellectual ramifications? … Continue reading
Belief, Doubt, and Behavior (Part One)
Over the years I have had discussions with many college students who struggle with doubts about their Christian beliefs or who say they feel their faith is “slipping away.” Some of them seek me out in hopes that I can provide some reassurance or … Continue reading
The Aesthetics of Christmas
As another Christmas rolls around, Amy and I have been struck again by the sheer beauty of the story. The God of the universe condescends to take on human flesh and even humbles himself to the point of joining a rather pedestrian … Continue reading
Posted in Theology
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