Christmas for Cynics
I've never been entirely comfortable with Christmas theologically. It's a bit saccharine for my tastes. I prefer the parables and the passion narratives for their twists and unexpected inversions. And…
Boom! We’re back: and please don’t say it.
No, I'm not the most technically savvy person in the world, and no I can't explain to you what exactly happened to our site these last few months. Something happened…
Father’s Day Mountains and Church Molehills
OK, this isn't easy to admit and it is of course not something I'm particularly proud of, but I suspect that it is not uncommon among my fellow fathers. I…
Reflections on the “Alien”
Last week I watched the new release Thor (2011), and this morning I awoke reflecting upon the "alien." Over the years I have grown more and more frustrated with how,…
A Christian Patriot
What does it mean to be a Christian in America? These last few weeks, with presidential campaigns in full gear, this has become an unavoidable question. This important ethical question…
COMING OUT – Liberal and Evangelical
Feeling Different In seminary, I knew I was different, but I didn't have a name for what I was. I was the product of an unusual union of Christian traditions,…
When Narrative Identities Clash: Liberals versus Evangelicals
Culture Wars, Seminary Styles, Congregational Politics If there is one thing North American Christians at the beginning of the twenty-first century think they understand, it is the divide between liberal…
The Parable of the Monkeys in the Vineyard
Just a quick report to all of my LE friends on some of my thoughts following this year's American Academy of Religion meeting in Atlanta. I'll share more in the…
How can Liberals “MAKE” our kids go to church
I used to run into this question all the time as a youth minister. Put simply, bribing teenagers with pizza only works until they're old enough to drive and buy…
The New Atheist Churches: Three readings
The Phenomenon No, it's not a contradiction in terms. Church for Atheists is a growing movement, primarily in the Anglo world, but with the potential to spread rapidly especially in…