Does the Old Testament portray Adam’s disobedience in the garden of Eden as the cause of universal human sinfulness and guilt? No it doesn’t. Not even remotely.
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“Maybe You’re Just Not Listening” (My Mom . . . or God.)
In The Sin of Certainty, I tell a brief story about the time I was in middle school and made myself a sandwich. After I was done, I tied up the bag and tossed it onto the counter a few feet away. My mom, who had grown up in Europe during World War II (the Big One, […]
3 Ways to See the Bible “as an Adult” (But Let Me Explain Before You Jump down My Throat)
I know the title of this post might sound offensive, but don’t give in to that feeling. I’m probably not even talking to you. The title channels something I read by C. S. Lewis somewhere in the past (that I really don’t feel like looking up right now) and that I also heard from Jon. D. Levenson while […]
Is the Christian Faith, Strictly Speaking, Biblical?
Strictly speaking, no. Not even unstrictly speaking. All this Jesus business doesn’t simply “follow” what the Bible (namely, the Old Testament) “says.” It transforms that sacred text. Actually, if I can lay my cards out on the table right at the beginning, the Christian faith is at its roots a Jewish one. It is one […]
The (Not So) Radical Idea of Jesus’s Death Atoning for the Sins of Others
Ever wonder what it means for Jesus to die “for” others? Yeah, me too. I get how someone can take a bullet for his buddy, or pleading with the kidnappers to“take me instead.” I’m talking about Jesus and the cross, which is more than just Jesus filling in for someone else. According to the New […]
Does Your Faith “Cave In” to Culture? I Hope So.
Every once in a while people disagree with me. I know. Shocking. What kind of a sick, twisted world do we live in, anyway? I hear the following from time to time, and so might you: “Instead of following the Bible, you’re just caving into culture.” I often hear this, for example, when evolution is […]
If You Want Your Faith to Survive, It Had Better Adapt
The title of this post might not win me many friends, but that’s OK since I don’t actually have any actual friends. Plus, I’m right. Christians talk about how God is—unlike us—constant and doesn’t change. And I think this is a wonderful thought that I don’t have any serious quibbles about (though some theologians do, […]
“I Wonder What God Thinks of the Bible.” A Play in One Act.
Actors: One or more Jewish scribes living during the Babylonian Exile or sometime thereafter. God Jewish scribe(s): Oh Lord, we’ve had it pretty rough lately, what with the exile and all. We thought it would be a great idea if we had super clear instructions on what you want from us so we can avoid […]
10 Books that Made Me Rethink the Bible, and So Can You
This is not my 10 “best” books list, nor am I suggesting these are “must reads” for everyone (though they are all great books), but they may help you rethink the Bible. These are books that crossed my path 20-25 years ago, mainly while in graduate school, that influenced my thinking in new and heretofore largely unexplored directions, and so […]
“How Can I Trust the Bible?” (You Might Be Asking)
“You’re sort of presenting a new paradigm for thinking about the Bible a new way a new path forward. And I sort of get it. And it explains some things. But here’s the problem that I have. How can I trust the Bible?” And I think that’s a great question to ask, as it actually […]
