There are strong reasons to believe humans have genuine but limited free will.  I believe this, in part, because I experience freedom every day. In a previous post (click here), I listed 9 reasons it makes sense to affirm that humans have genuine but limited free will. In this post, I address perhaps the most […]

I’m not surprised some people are blaming God. Maybe “crediting” God is more accurate. I’m reading social media posts saying the Coronavirus (Covid 19) is God’s will. Our current suffering is part of some predetermined divine plan. One post put it this way: “Sorry to break up the big panic, but the Coronavirus will not […]

Wm. Paul Young’s best-selling book, The Shack, tackles questions about God, love, and evil. Young weaves positive themes to offer helpful answers. The book (and movie) continues to spark helpful conversations. (Click the video photo for my theological review). The Plot The plot of Young’s fictional story revolves around the abduction and murder of young […]

Civilization today is increasingly shaped by machines and technology. While machines can be helpful, their benefits can tempt us to think we, other creatures, and the world are machines. And we can be tempted to think technology is our savior. I’ve recently been thinking about civilization writ large. The ecological crisis, my engagement with Institute […]

The New Testament phrases basilea theou and basilea ouranos — the kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven — play central roles in how Jesus thought about God’s activity in society. I think these words might best be understood today as pointing to a civilization oriented around love. English-speakers often translate the first ancient […]

The news is devastating. Our planet is on a crash course with wide-scale death and degradation. The poorest of people and the most vulnerable of species are getting hit the hardest. It isn’t a pretty picture! Does God care? If God cares about all creation, why doesn’t God stop the devastation? Why doesn’t God fix […]

The 2018 Parliament of the World’s Religions in Toronto was a positive experience for me! I spent much of my time working with the Institute for Ecological Civilization (EcoCiv), for which I am a senior partner. The Institute organized a major track exploring issues of religion and justice. My colleagues and I worked for more than a year […]

The 2018 Parliament of the World’s Religions will be held November 1-7, in Toronto. I’m especially excited about the Parliament theme: “The Promise of Inclusion, the Power of Love: Pursuing Global Understand, Reconciliation, and Change.” With such a grand title, it’s not surprising representatives from diverse religions will convene to explore a diverse set of […]

On a cold February evening, I pulled up to my fiancé Cheryl’s apartment with plans to take her to dinner. As Cheryl got into the car, I turned and slowly shared with her something I had only recently admitted to myself. “I just can’t believe in God anymore,” I said. Cheryl and I were both […]

I was recently asked by Reading Religion to review an intriguing book called A Philosophy of Christian Materialism. I’m sharing my review here, because the book, while technical, prompts insights and new reflection. Overview In this contribution to the Routledge Contemporary Continental Philosophy of Religion series, three authors construct a philosophy of Christian materialism that […]