I think the value of Jordan Peterson’s theological outlook is that it let’s you appreciate the Bible from a perspective outside Christianity. His position is essentially is that it is right and good and useful to live as if the Bible were true. That it is metaphorically true, or true in some transcendent sense, someContinue reading “The value and problems with psychological theism”
Tag Archives: Bible
A letter to a friend
Dear J, as someone who has struggled through history and philosophy and religion for years, as well as shouldering a significant burden of depression that seems to arise almost inevitably as result of raising one’s awareness to the reality of such things, there is always one place I have found comfort, and I commend itContinue reading “A letter to a friend”
An addendum to “meaning in life”
Life, of course, isn’t all about survival, any more than it is all about ambition or pleasure. But all of these are components of our lives. If there’s one peoole that we can learn something about finding meaning in the midst of uncertainly of survival from, it’s the Jews. It’s amazing that they are stillContinue reading “An addendum to “meaning in life””
Why the Bible uses stories instead of lectures
One challenge the writers of the Bible faced was the fact that there were no books. Written records were rare and took a lot of effort to produce, and there were a lot of different people in different places and situations the message needed to be able to reach. So the question is, how doContinue reading “Why the Bible uses stories instead of lectures”
The Jewish odyssey: historical, archetypal, or both?
The description of God in the Bible always seems to run just ahead of the mode of being at the time. So that looking back from each rung upon which his followers reach, they see how what came before makes sense in the greater context. The world slowly opens up. Their mode of being slowlyContinue reading “The Jewish odyssey: historical, archetypal, or both? “
The inadequacy of modern and postmodern Christs
The postmodernist Christ is completely unnecessary. He did not and cannot conquer death, because he was not truly unique or divine and did not rise. He was a divine story and rose in our hearts, but in reality he died, and he had no more real power than any other prophet or story in ourContinue reading “The inadequacy of modern and postmodern Christs”
Relational rather than absolute measures
The ancient measure of the cubit was not absolute but relational. Geometry and relation was more important than absolute values or integers. In large part because a system of absolute values was very difficult to maintain. The important thing was to keep people consistent within their situation. This might be useful to remember as anContinue reading “Relational rather than absolute measures”
Differing perspectives on life and suffering
In contrast to many modernist views, the viewpoint of the ancient world was that life, by its nature, was Dukha. Unhappiness, stress, pain, disappointment. That’s what life is, and the goal of religion and philosophy was to address it. The Judaic religions echoed this by asserting the “fallen” nature of the world. The world isContinue reading “Differing perspectives on life and suffering”
On atonement
It’s hard to say what my own position on atonement theory is, and I prefer not to share many specific details of what I think. But I’m going to take a stab at articulating it. I suppose I would be classified as a Christian evangelical. But I’m probably overly influenced by people like C.S. LewisContinue reading “On atonement”
On confession and absolution as a therapeutic technique
The confession of sin, followed by the acceptance of absolution, is a very sophisticated therapeutic technique. We face our shadow, affirm our inner monster (to use some Jungian terms), and we receive forgiveness (we affirm our inner light, our divinity). We gain knowledge but also gain the means to not be trapped by that knowledge.Continue reading “On confession and absolution as a therapeutic technique”
Making Nobody Happy 