We’ve all seen the bumper sticker which reads, “The Bible says it; I believe it; and that settles it!” And many of us have been “blessed” by Christians who constantly remind us, “The Bible says. . .” This article addresses both claims. A more truthful and humble way of rewording… Continue reading
(In part one of this series we looked at the prophetic criticism of Israel’s national religion which viewed God as the defender and justifier of a blasphemous and idolatrous arrangement. The priests served the king and not God. They propped up the royal regime by claiming that YHWH was on… Continue reading
As citizens of a supposed democracy, we may think we are exempt from the mistake of confusing God with country. We have no anointed kings (although #45 would love to assume such a title). But we do have a system where many of the same dynamics are at work which characterized kingdoms and empires. As Shakespeare said, “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet” (or in this case as rotten). Kings and emperors have been replaced by oligarchs, corporations, and ruthless politicians. Continue reading
Read the Scripture Sometime around 760-750 BCE a man from the kingdom of Judah was called by God to become a prophet. This call marked the beginning of Israelite Classical Prophecy, one of the most amazing and influential religious movements in the history of the world. The prophet was a… Continue reading
All three of the Synoptic Gospels contain the story of the man who came to Jesus asking what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus reminded the man that he already knew the commandments of Judaism: “Do not kill. Do not commit adultery. Do not steal. Do not bear… Continue reading
In Tenacious Solidarity: Biblical Provocations on Race, Religion, Climate, and the Economy, biblical scholar Walter Brueggemann offers this definition of totalism: By “totalism” I mean a system of signs and symbols that make a claim of validity that is all-encompassing, that will allow no challenge or competition, and that will… Continue reading
“I pray God to rid me of God (Meister Eckhart 1260-1329) Having surpassed by five years my allotted “three score and ten” on this earth, I am still puzzled by so much in Christianity. Let me get some of these puzzlements and frustrations off my chest. The problem in a… Continue reading
