Some would talk and some wouldn't. Mr. James, however, would always have something to say. As I did my rounds, I knocked discreetly before entering. "I didn't do it!" he stated emphatically as soon as both of my feet were inside the door. "They think I did it. But I would NEVER do it. …
Month: March 2019
Great Urban Centers
I have suggested before the idea that the three wave model of Protestant Mission history is inadequate. There was a Pioneer trickle of missions from quite early (perhaps 1520 is a bit too early). Out of that trickle came the great waves. Each characteristic wave had its proto-pioneers--- in terms of translation, bivocational ministry, mission …
I Think We Are Confused about People of Other Faiths
Okay... at times I people say things that are strange. Nothing wrong with that. I say strange things at times. But some things really confuse me... and I think that my confusion stems from the presumption on my part that others are NOT confused. So here are a couple of things People will talk to …
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Oh Yeah, Listen First.
Teaching Interreligious Dialogue here in seminary, I decided to write my own book because I did not care much for the books that already exist in that topic. I was planning to give my latest group of students a "beta" version of the book to review. However, in a rare burst of energy I finished …
It is Not Courageous to Disagree about Theology… Or it Shouldn’t Be
A few days ago I got involved in a pretty mild disagreement on FB. It was on a Christian topic that I consider fairly minor, and one in which my view is rather middle-of-the-road and nuanced. Despite all of this, at the end of the discussion, the one who had started the conversation remarked positively …
Continue reading It is Not Courageous to Disagree about Theology… Or it Shouldn’t Be
Nostalgic Christianity and the Ambiguity of History
Over the years I have been fascinated by those Christians who regularly point back longingly to a time in history that they identify as ideal or idyllic--- especially from a Christian perspective. Some look back to the 1950s. Some look back to the early years of their own faith tradition (whatever period that may be) …
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Seven Universal Moral Rules
There is a very interesting article in the area of cultural anthropology that considered whether there is a set of moral standards that are supracultural. Afterall, it is rather important whether morality is simply a human/cultural construct or whether it is built into us. Some have even made the argument that a universal morality in …
Blogsite as My Electronic Doodlepad
I haven't posted recently. Mostly this is because I have been desperate to finish the book my wife and I are writing on Pastoral Counseling ("Dynamics in Pastoral Counseling"). Additionally, I have been supervising several students in their thesis work. I also have been on the board reviewing theses and prospectuses ("prospecti"?) of numerous students …
Unfriendly Media as God’s Instrument
For years it was happening to THEM. THEY were in the spotlight, not US. But things change... and it is about time. For years the Catholic Church has taken a lot of hits for cases of priests taking sexual advantage of parishioners... especially (but not exclusively) young ones. I must be honest that I have …
Scratching Where it NEVER Itches
My daughter is a nursing student at a hospital here in the Philippines. She was looking through some of the reading materials that were left lying around. One caught her attention enough to take a picture of every page. It was a "gospel tract." Fairly long one. I will put a few quotes here. In …