Fritz a wonderful lesson – and esp. reading has a flow I found encompassing. If only …….. yes we can…
Weekly lessons in theology and public life • Since 2011
-
Lesson 6: Nature as Creation
Read MORE: Lesson 6: Nature as CreationLet’s look further at what the Bible says about nature, beginning with the creation stories. Most people have been so confused by the absurd Fundamentalist controversies that they are not even aware there are more than one. The longer and…
-
Lesson 5: What is Natural?
Read MORE: Lesson 5: What is Natural?Most of us act as if there is some kind of natural reason, even if we are not conscious of what we are doing. We find ourselves declaring, “Everyone knows…” , assuming what makes sense to us makes sense to…
-
Lesson 4: Evolution
Read MORE: Lesson 4: EvolutionI don’t seem to hear preachers or politicians talk about a seven-day creation of the universe in recent years. Instead, fundamentalists have turned to evolution. They insist the Genesis picture demands God creates fully-developed species, clearly separated from one another.…
-
Lesson 3: The Universe
Read MORE: Lesson 3: The UniverseSome think the vastness and seemingly indifference of the universe challenges Christian teachings about God’s concern for humanity and our infinitesimally tiny earth. They accuse us of imposing the meaning we want on the totally materialistic world. In fact, they…
-
Lesson 2: Beginning Insights
Read MORE: Lesson 2: Beginning InsightsIt’s helpful to remind ourselves that Nature can be defined from different perspectives (e.g. as universe, world, or creation). We can talk of the universe, my world, and God’s creation. Each use different language types. The scientific speaks of vast…
-
Lesson 1: Questions About Nature
Read MORE: Lesson 1: Questions About NatureProbably the greatest challenge to Christianity in our day is people’s absorption in their jobs, their play, and anything else that allows them to ignore meaningful conversation and profound thought. Close behind is the churches’ inadequacy in addressing troubling questions…
-
Lesson 11: A Community of Friends
Read MORE: Lesson 11: A Community of FriendsThe biggest and most significant response to this series has been Christians who report they felt excluded every time a pastor described the Church as a “family of families.” On the other hand, I also heard from pastors, who like…
-
Lesson 10: Early Christian Meals
Read MORE: Lesson 10: Early Christian MealsIn the last lesson, I suggested conversing over fine food and drink might be the best way to promote friendship in our day. In this one, I’d like to support the thought by showing how important this is for Christianity.…
-
Lesson 9: Promoting Friendship
Read MORE: Lesson 9: Promoting FriendshipSo how can we promote the important elements of traditional friendship? We obviously cannot force people to enlarge their circle of friends by preaching at them. Robert Putnam, famous for his book Bowling Alone, felt the answer was to develop…
-
Lesson 8: Self Denial
Read MORE: Lesson 8: Self DenialThe model for friendship is found in John 15: 12-17, right in the middle of Jesus’ words about love. He claims we are now friends, because he has shared all he knows with us. He then goes to say the…
Recent Comments
So forgiveness pre-requires understanding the mistakes of the past? here hear re this opposing this me-first, America-first, white-first, male-first approach>…
An extremely timely topic. Thanks, Fritz!