Happy Halloween! Or Happy Reformation Day. Or Happy All Hallow’s Eve. Or maybe I should just wish you all a Happy(-ish) Monday. For many Christians, October 31 seems marked with uncertainty. Yes, we all enjoy seeing (and buying, but this isn’t the place for personal confessions) the gigantic bags of candy in the grocery store.Continue reading “Redeeming Halloween”
Tag Archives: Balance
The Divine Quest, East and West (Part III)
This post concludes a brief series of reflections on Jay Ford’s The Divine Quest, East and West. The Divine Quest: East and West provides an engaging, insightful, and balanced approach to considering the Ultimate in three (or four) major religious traditions. From the perspective of one most familiar with Christianity, I especially appreciated the wayContinue reading “The Divine Quest, East and West (Part III)”
On the Misuse of Christian Tradition: A Response
The proper relationship between the authority of Christian Scripture and authority of Christian Tradition avails itself to no easy answers. From a historical viewpoint, much of the early development of both remains hotly debated. From a theological perspective, centuries (and sometimes millennia) old debates continue to shape thinking and lead toward answers long before anyContinue reading “On the Misuse of Christian Tradition: A Response”
MHT: Assessing Historical Metanarratives (Part II)
This post is part of an ongoing series reflecting on the appropriate approach to and method for historical theology. The metanarrative that seems most appropriate as the general approach to the history of Christianity is that of development. An approach seeking authentic developments—those which retain the first principles of a tradition throughout their entire development—appearsContinue reading “MHT: Assessing Historical Metanarratives (Part II)”
What About People Who Died Before the Incarnation?
A while back, a friend wrote me and asked, “How do you justify [and explain] the people who died before Christ came [i.e., Abraham, Moses, David]?” This struck me as an important and insightful question. In our rush to talk about and theologize heaven and hell, we often pay little attention to people who wouldContinue reading “What About People Who Died Before the Incarnation?”
Readings from Martin Luther
Martin Luther Martin Luther remains one of the most influential men in Western History, as his attempts to reform the Roman Catholic Church sparked nearly 500 years of debate and division within Western Christianity. It has been said that more has been written about Luther than any other person aside from Jesus of Nazareth, asContinue reading “Readings from Martin Luther”
Pursuing Veritas 