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February 2020

February 11, 2020

Spiritual Punctuation

In my life-long spiritual journey, the decade of my twenties was the charismatic decade. No,...

February 08, 2020

The Gospel at Gun-Point

In the religious world of my youth and adolescence, Billy Graham was a rock star....

February 06, 2020

No Sacred Cows: An Exchange Between an Atheist and a Person of Faith

One of the many things that make teaching a rewarding vocation is receiving unsolicited testimonials...

February 04, 2020

Profiles in Cowardice: Moving forward after the impeachment trial

Unless a miracle occurs, the impeachment trial of Donald John Trump will end today, with...

February 02, 2020

Idolatry and Abortion

I wrote the essay that follows several months ago; on the advice of some trusted...

January 2020

January 30, 2020

Best of 2019 #1: I am a Liberal Because I am a Christian

Last April, I decided to write an essay exploring something that I have been saying...

January 28, 2020

When to Care, and When Not to Care

The only way I can get through the tedium of working out on an aerobic...

January 26, 2020

Staying Sane During the Impeachment Trial

The other day somebody wrote on Twitter that “President Trump is the best president in...

January 23, 2020

Best of 2019 #2: Noah and his Children–Bad News for White Evangelical Christians

Last November, I used a Michael Gerson essay as a jumping off point for a...

January 21, 2020

As the Impeachment Trial Begins, Don’t Forget to Think–Even When It’s Hard

Today, the Senate impeachment trial of President Donald J. Trump begins in earnest. As we...

January 20, 2020

Some thoughts on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: Are we better than this?

On this Martin Luther King Jr. Day, I am reminded of a few days I...

January 19, 2020

American Airlines 4395, Bombing Raids Over Germany, and a Spark of the Divine

Perhaps a novel whose main character is the squadron leader for World War II bombing...

January 16, 2020

Best of 2019 #3: When Christianity Becomes an Angry and Fearful Faith

Last June, I used essays by Michael Gerson and Marilynne Robinson to explore what happens...

January 14, 2020

Life Lessons Learned from “The Muppet Show”

I have a good friend and colleague in the philosophy department who has twin daughters....

January 12, 2020

What Really Happened that Day at the Jordan River?

The season of Epiphany, squeezed in between the Christmas season and Lent, is the annual...

January 09, 2020

The Best of 2019 #4: The Dangers of Tribal Christianity

Last May, I wrote about the often-made claim from evangelical Christians that they are the...

January 07, 2020

The Best of 2020 # 5: Leaving Jesusland . . . For Good

For the next several Thursdays, I will be reposting my top blog posts of 2020,...

January 06, 2020

An Epiphany in Real Time

Yesterday was the Feast of the Epiphany, the first day of the liturgical season that...

January 04, 2020

On the Art of Discussion: How to Avoid Being an Ass

In final preparation for the spring semester that will begin in ten days, I am...

January 03, 2020

Dreaming and Doing

On New Year’s Day, I wrote that my New Year’s resolution this year is to...

January 03, 2020

Best of 2019 #5: Is Donald Trump the “Chosen One”?

On this third day of the New Year, I am grateful for many things--including the...

December 2019

December 31, 2019

The Best and the Worst: My New Year’s Hope for 2020

There are eight to ten movies that Jeanne and I watch religiously during the Christmas...

December 31, 2019

Letting God Creep In

About halfway through his lengthy essay, Schjeldahl notes his agreement with one of Weil’s...

December 29, 2019

A Family on the Run, and Dead Babies in the Streets

This Christmas season seems more dissonant than most, with violence across the globe, an impeachment...

December 26, 2019

Dammit, It’s the Incarnation!

Last year around this time, I posted an essay that turned out to be more...

December 23, 2019

Why the Details of Jesus’ Birth Don’t Matter

A couple of years ago, I was asked to take on a temporary administrative position...

December 21, 2019

A Really Awesome Stepfather with a Questionable Pedigree

In my religious tradition, we didn’t do saints. But we did do Christmas pageants—big time....

December 19, 2019

I Will Bring You Home

Baptist preacher’s kids get to do some very odd things. I memorized large portions of...

December 18, 2019

Some Thoughts about Impeachment Day–from 400+ years ago

Next semester I will be teaching an honors colloquium on Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592), one...

December 17, 2019

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph in Cages: Why Faith is Always Political

When Claremont (California) United Methodist Church unveiled its annual outdoor Nativity last week, it caused...

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