Dove flying in Lisbon, Portugal

Why Do We Even Bother with Religion?

Religion. Why do we even bother? So much evil has been perpetrated in the name of religion. Humans have an amazing capability of ascribing to God all their worst impulses. In the Middle East, peace is just a dream as Palestinians and Jews alike use

Dove flying in Lisbon, Portugal

Inclusivity and Religion

Inclusivity and religion, in this day and age, are often diametrically opposed ideas. Creeds and belief systems of every sort and type compete for the souls of humankind, and often the competition results in building high fences and excluding those of other creeds. It’s almost

People at concert

Putting on the Mind of Christ

I know from my own experience that, I as well as many other people, have been deceived in the understanding of what was required for salvation. I came from a Church of Christ belief of hell, fire and brimstone and that God was an angry,

People at concert

By Our Love

I have noticed that many people who are Christians seem preoccupied with making sure that everyone knows. You know what I’m talking about: “Christian” music; “Christian” schools, “Christian” bookstores, and the like. The person who, upon first meeting, emphatically states, “I am a Christian” as

People at concert

What Does It Mean To Believe?

In the gospel of John there is a shift, as I see it, from how the word belief is understood and used as compared with the synoptic gospels of Mark, Matthew, and Luke. These two contrasting uses of the word belief are: 1) Belief in

People at concert

Believing Is Seeing

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. — John 3:16 This is still the best of all the Christian credos ever written. It cuts away customs and

People at concert

Believing Is a State of Mind

What does it mean to believe? “Whosoever believeth in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.” I always took issue with the position that believing in Jesus, accepting him as your personal savior, which I assume means acknowledging that he is who he says

People at concert

Is Faith Enough?

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” — Ephesians 2:8-9 The above two verses of Scripture make it crystal clear that our faith in Christ