When you are interiorly free you call others to freedom whether you know it or not…A free man or a free woman creates a space where others feel safe and want to dwell. Our world is so full of conditions, demands, requirements, and obligations that we often wonder what is expected of us. But when…
Category
Thoughts
Biblical Literalism a Modern Invention?
Origen (c.185–254) was an early Christian writer, scholar and theologian. He is probably most well known for his desire to fuse Greek Philosophy with Christianity and for his eccentric doctrine of “the fabulous preexistence of souls” and also for his allegoric view of the Bible. Despite some of his more radical views, he was never…
The Bible: Inspiration and Divine Invitation
“Why pluck one string when you can strum the guitar!” –Aaron Weis of mewithoutYou “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” (KJV) -2 Timothy 3:16 My friend Matthew Barlow and I recently had a conversation about Divine Inspiration and how people…
Where are we going? Can I drive? Some Thoughts on Pluralism
I read two blog posts recently written by Richard Beck (1, 2) in which he reviews and summarizes a book that sounds extremely interesting. It is a book entitled The Depth of the Riches: A Trinitarian Theology of Religious Ends by S. Mark Heim that deals with the issue of Religious Pluralism. I can say…
Trust me, this is why everyone needs “faith.”
My definition of “faith” (in a spiritual/religious sense), has been evolving for as long as I can remember. In some ways I hesitate to even speculate on a definition because this sort of implies permanence on a certain level. But nevertheless, I’m feeling particularly lead to reinterpret and flesh out how I think about the…
Oil, Sackcloth and Ashes
I am so grieved by the oil spill in the gulf that I honestly don’t know what to say. We should all cover ourselves in sackcloth and ashes and pray for forgiveness for what we’ve done to creation–our home.
I don’t explain–I explore
“I don’t explain—I explore” –Marshall McLuhan It’s true. I’m still thinking about the LOST finale after almost a week. The more I reflect on it and the more I hear other people reflect on the story of LOST, the more I’m convinced of how much it can help people approach a better understanding of the…
Embodying the Abstract: Damon Lindelof Is A Great Thinker
“…because the one thing we can all relate to is character. And the harder thing to relate to are these sort of highfalutin concepts. And when we find ourselves getting away from the “who,” that’s when we start getting into trouble.” This quote came from Daman Lindeloff, one of the co-creators of LOST. He was…
My Interpretation of the LOST Finale
I searched for the root meaning of the word “Religion” and found what I knew I would find: Might we consider ‘re’ + ‘ligare’ (Latin) so to imply that the essence and most noble purpose for any religion is “To reconnect”, such a reunion repairing the illusion of separation, of being torn from the whole,…
Reflections on GasLand Documentary
Last night I saw a “sneak peek” of the movie GassLand, a documentary film that explores the nature of Natural Gas Drilling. The director of the film, Josh Fox, stopped in Williamsport on his mini tour which is intended to promote the film and increase awareness of how Natural Gas drilling is done and how…