A Doubting Believer’s Dilemma (An open letter to the Christian establishment) What’s the secret of believing in something when evidence supporting that belief is missing? Irrationality? No, would say the Church, it is faith. Faith is confidence or trust in someone or something that isn’t based upon proof. Is such “confidence or trust” in the Church’s teaching warranted? Yes, says the Church. Why, asks both believers and skeptics? Because the…
A Christian Strategy
A strategy to what end? “The problem is the relentless aggression of liberalism, driven by an internal mechanism that causes ever more radical demands for political conformism, particularly targeting the church. The solution is an equally radical form of strategic flexibility on the part of the Church, which must stand detached from all subsidiary political commitments, willing to enter into flexible alliances of conveniences with any of the parties, institutions,…
Believe, That You May Understand
Few would argue with the claim that modernity has not been kind to the Western Christian Church. But, the Church would claim, it’s not their fault. It, the Church professes, is right; it has the truth. Everyone else is wrong, or at least misguided by the allure of “scientific rationalism”. Perhaps they have a point, but most would be pretty skeptical about it. That’s just the problem, claims the Church:…
Something of Value
In my last blog I said what we individual and collectively think about God—the strength or weakness of our faith—is based upon the pillars supporting belief in the idea, i.e., the Bible and Church teachings. If either, or both, of these are becoming less credible in the context of what we know and understand today (Modernity), the “idea” formed from these sources weakens. Faith is impaired. Personal religious doubt…
From the author: why this book?
From the author: why this book? Because, quite frankly, it seems almost self-evident that modern religious laypeople quietly harboring doubt, and those openly skeptical as well as those who have already backed away from today’s Church (the so called “nones”) deserve a fresh perspective on what many contend is a declining (Christian) Church and its depiction of divinity; the book in the author’s view offers this, in its somewhat…
Excerpts from God Versus the Idea of God
“It’s acceptable today to express skepticism—just why I’m not sure—but not outright disbelief. I’ve hunkered down behind the cloak of skepticism for years. Now seems the time to shed it. While taking this overt action may invite criticism, even ostracism, fortunately today no longer burning at the stake (Hallelujah!).” “If an infinite and perfect God (by definition) exists outside of time (history)—always has, does and always will—while finite mankind exists…
Sovereignty as the Law of the Land: What Good is it?
Sovereignty of the people is still the law of the land, but it has become somewhat of an illusion. I hate to cry wolf, but the continuing failure of ideological politics and the resulting disappointment of ideological government is a reality that really deserves greater recognition by those ultimately responsible for it, the American voter. Perpetuating our present political alternatives seems only likely to prolong our dissatisfaction and to frustrate…
An Open Letter to the American Public at Large
It seems somewhat pointless to highlight, yet again, specific political maladies let alone all such ills affecting our society. They are manifold. But the system which engenders them is designed to protect itself in spite of great disillusionment of those the system is supposed to benefit, and in spite of a systemic mode of self-correction—the vote. What of public opinion demonstrating this public disillusionment? Gallup points out that public…
Syria – Oops, Not Again?
I write championing an Independent political option. So, how do political Independents feel about the US getting further involved in the Syrian conflict? If, as projected, Independents represent the full spectrum of moderate American political feelings, then we are mostly against further involvement. But, at what price? Gallup has (mostly) been told, “. . . the events in Syria are none of the United States’ business, that the U.S….
Good Cop, Bad Cop: Who Can We Believe?
”For our ideas to win [out] we have to govern. And if we don’t win [elections], we don’t govern. I’m going to do everything I can to win.” Wow, now that’s insight! This is the not-much-new-here gospel according to New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. Mr. Christie confided to the Republican National Committee (RNC), in a private address in Boston recently, that GOP candidates should “hew to conservative economic themes and…
