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What Is Biblical Literacy?
We complain about it, write about it, claim it’s important or even critical, design programs to create it, but what is it? I don’t mean that none of us know what we mean when we say “biblically literate” or “biblically illiterate,” but do we all mean the same thing? I don’t think we do, and…
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Fences: Mending or Rending
The following is a sermon I presented at the Unitarian-Universalist Church of Pensacola on September 11,2005 and originally posted here on September 13, 2005. I’m reposting it because when I went to look for it, I found that the original post had somehow been truncated, and also because there is a one word at a…
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Experiencing the (Baptism of the) Holy Spirit
This is a topic where I tend to make just about everyone uncomfortable. Long time readers may recall a previous discussion of speaking in tongues, and my own experience of it. Those who expect me to be intellectually oriented and rational are uncomfortable with mystical experiences, and many who are comfortable with the mystical experiences…
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The Osteens New Bible
This headline caught my attention: Osteens offer hope for today with new Bible. Obviously the headline doesn’t mean what one could construe it to mean; it’s a study Bible, not a rewritten Bible, but the headline still struck me as funny. I do have problems with single themed study Bibles, but that’s another post.
The Extras in your Bible Edition
David Ker is concerned about section titles in your Bible. And well he should be. I frequently talk about avoiding reading the “lower half” of your Bible when you study. What I mean by the “lower half” is the study notes that so many editions put at the bottom of the page. Now this is…
The Shocking Nature of Grace?
Grace is shocking, if you think about it, because by definition someone gets something unearned. But in Calvinism, it seems, grace becomes even more shocking. Adrian Warnock posts a quote from Jonathan Edwards that expresses predestination quite well. You are saved by grace, someone else isn’t. Edwards notes that “although all things are exactly equal…
Dan Wallace is Angry
… about the New York Post “chimp” cartoon. While he and I wouldn’t see eye to eye on many things (though his Greek Grammar beyond the Basics is brilliant!) I particularly appreciate this coming from him. I don’t regard printing this cartoon as responsible, but I want to make sure to note that I think…
The Value and Danger of Forensics
The value, of course, is that they provide us with more objective views than eyewitness testimony, for example. There’s a bit of a forensics craze running the country with shows like CSI making the idea of forensic evidence popular and fun. But such shows tend to distort the picture in various ways. To make an…
Psalm 50:3 in The Message
One of my criticisms of The Message is that it tends to blunt the force of many scriptures, making them more palatable than they are. Now don’t get the idea that I’m a critic of The Message in general. In fact, I think it makes a great contribution to the literature available for rapid reading…
2 Kings 2:1-12 (Transfiguration B)
I used this translation as the basis for a devotional today, 2/18/09, for my wife’s devotional list. Here is the translation with a few additional notes. Translation Notes 1This is what happened when YHWH took Elijah in the whirlwind up to heaven. Elijah and Elisha left Gilgal. 2Elijah said to Elisha, “Please…
Obama Administration Opposes Fairness Doctrine
… or so a spokesman told Fox News (HT: Taegan Goddard’s Political Wire). This is good news considering the number of people who are inclined to revive it. (The Fox News report even includes the claim that Congressman Henry Waxman is interested in an internet fairness doctrine, for which idea he is being quite justifiably…
Christian Carnival CCLXIV Posted
… at Thoughts and Confessions of a Girl Who Loves Jesus.
Christian Carnival CCLXIV Posted
… at Thoughts from a Girl Who Loves Jesus. I have also updated the archive.
Bible in Literature Quiz
Literary allusions. Quiz is here. HT: Alan Mann. I made 10/10, but a comment in the HT post may have helped. On the other hand, I haven’t read half of the literary works referenced–just the Biblical side!
Rachel Maddow Identifies the Religious Right
I was watching Rachel Maddow last night and she commented on the “rejection of religious right” candidates during the last election and gave examples: Alan Keyes and Mike Huckabee. Now there are a couple of problems with this, some of which could be identified by right wing opponents of Mike Huckabee who don’t think he’s…
John Hobbins Leaves Complegalitarian
Please don’t take the title here as some sort of rejoicing from either side. John gives his reasons here in a very thoughtful post. There are two reasons I want to respond with a full post. First, his reasons are worth reading and considering, even though ultimately I will continue to fall afoul of some…
When in Doubt, Check it Out
You know when you get those feelings, like boot camps will reduce juvenile crime, drug raids reduce drug use, or the comments are slowing down on your blog? Do as David Ker did, and find out if you’re right! (Note to David: I absolutely couldn’t resist posting this. I tried. Really!)
Free Speech Means Freedom NOT to Speak
There’s been a great deal of discussion amongst conservatives about the potential revival of the fairness doctrine, and some action on the left in hope of actually reviving it. I regard the fairness doctrine as a thoroughly reprehensible idea. I did not support it while it was still in existence and I hope it doesn’t…
A: Because obviously what Jesus would do is shoot them
Q: Why did the Arkansas house pass this bill?
Christian Carnival CCLXIII Posted
… at The Evangelical Ecologist.
I Wanted to Post Something about the Search for the Ark
… but the Internet Monk already did it and did it better. That’s Noah’s ark, by the way, not the Ark of the Covenant.
Commending Chuck Grassley
… for his response to Larry Flynt.
How to Keep Religion in the Public Square
Every so often there’s another outburst of complaints about how religion is being suppressed in this country, and how it no longer has its place in the public square. And there are the occasional really silly incidents that actually support such a claim. I note, for example, that our local public library here in Pensacola,…
Do Scientists Promote Darwinism?
Not according to Steve Matheson of Quintessence of Dust, who did some empirical research on the matter!
20 Things to Doubt
A few days ago, the Internet Monk was believing (and not believing) things, and today Moderate Christian Blogroll member SHARP IRON is doubting 20 things. Do you agree with his list?
What I Want in a Stimulus Package
It is interesting to see what is regarded as spending for stimulus, and how this is debated. I’m afraid I don’t give the Democrats too many points for putting it together, and the Republicans really haven’t done all that much about tearing it apart. Since I’ve complained about it a bit, I thought I’d give…
The Opening of ID Season
Intelligent Design, that is, in the Florida Legislature. Early details on the Florida Citizens for Science Blog.