Category Archives: Christianity

Just Making Sandcastles?

Posted on November 19, 2019 by rjs5

If there is a single question that has stood the test of time it is the problem of pain. How could a loving God allow so much inherent pain and suffering? The question has stood the test of time because … Continue reading →

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Doesn’t Christianity Condone Slavery?

Posted on October 29, 2019 by rjs5

This is the next question raised in Rebecca McLaughlin’s recent book Confronting Christianity: 12 Hard Questions for the World’s Largest Religion. On this question, I take a slightly different tack from that taken by Rebecca. To start to explore this … Continue reading →

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How Can You?

Posted on October 24, 2019 by rjs5

Merriam-Webster defines a miracle as “an extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention in human affairs.“ How can a modern, educated Western adult believe in miracles? More personally, How can a scientist believe in miracles? Isn’t believing scientist something of an oxymoron? … Continue reading →

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Miracles?

Posted on October 15, 2019 by rjs5

In Stephen Jay Gould’s short book Rocks of Ages: Science and Religion in the Fullness of Life he outlines the concept of non-overlapping magisteria (NOMA), an important concept in the discussion of science and Christian faith. On one level, the … Continue reading →

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Do Christians Hate Us?

Posted on October 1, 2019 by rjs5

How can you be a Christian? In my experience there are three big subtexts to this question these days, science, women, and sexuality. Other questions are important as well … but these are the showstoppers. How can you be a … Continue reading →

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Hasn’t Science Disproved Christianity?

Posted on September 17, 2019 by rjs5

This is the next question in Rebecca McLaughlin’s new book Confronting Christianity: 12 Hard Questions for the World’s Largest Religion. Anyone who has read my posts over the years will know that my answer to this question is a resounding … Continue reading →

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Religion -> Violence?

Posted on September 5, 2019 by rjs5

After a long hiatus, I return to look at Rebecca McLaughlin’s book Confronting Christianity. Bertrand Russell (Has Religion Made Useful Contributions to Civilization? in Why I am Not a Christian), and more recently Christopher Hitchens (God Is Not Great: How … Continue reading →

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Moving Forward

Posted on August 8, 2019 by rjs5

In John 18:36 Jesus responds to Pilate’s questioning “are you the king of the Jews?” saying “My kingdom is not from this world. … But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.”(NRSV) Many English translations have of of … Continue reading →

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Acts, Diversity – and Comments

Posted on July 30, 2019 by rjs5

This is the final post in a short series on the book of Acts, was written by a Christian colleague (JAG) who teaches in the School of Social Work. Both his professional expertise and his personal experience as a second … Continue reading →

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Acts, Diversity – and Macro Practice

Posted on July 23, 2019 by rjs5

This is the fourth post in a short series on the book of Acts, was written by a Christian colleague (JAG) who teaches in the School of Social Work. Both his professional expertise and his personal experience as a second … Continue reading →

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