Why Systematic Theologians Don’t Prioritize Love
In my recently published A Systematic Theology of Love, I say that, to my knowledge, this book is the first with that precise title. And few systematic theologians afford love preeminence in their work. Why is love not given prominence? I’ve not conducted an official survey to answer this question […]
Obstacles to Putting Love First
Many biblical scholars and theologians fail to affirm the priority of love. In this essay, I focus on the final of five reasons why many fail to make love a priority. I’ll simply list the first four before addressing the fifth. Get a copy of Pluriform Love to read the explanations I give to the […]
What is Love? Baby, Don’t Confuse Me… No More!
I think about love nearly every day. As a love scholar and professor, I talk about love so much some students call me “Dr. Love.” But when Valentine’s Day arrives each year, I can get annoyed. The language of love I hear can be confusing! Sex and Romance I hear the word “love” used in one of two […]
Love Research Needs a Definition
Research in science and religion captivates me. Adding the dimension of love to this research motivates me in powerful ways. Making sense of life requires exploring science and religion with help from philosophy. In fact, I can’t imagine answering well the big questions of life while ignoring any of […]
What Forgiveness Is
In my previous essay, I talked about what forgiveness is not. Now let me talk about what it is. As I write this, I’m aware that I can’t cover all topics related to forgiveness. And I’m aware that I speak primarily from my own experience, aided by my interpretation of the wisdom found in Scripture […]
Explaining Love to an Alien
Suppose an alien from Planet X leaned over the counter at Starbucks and asked, “What is this ‘love’ I hear spoken of on your planet?”
The Import of Defining Love
For the past decade or more, I have been thinking about the love, science, and theology interface. The questions about how these three major domains relate to one another are complex. And they require complex but understandable answers.
Agape Theology
I heard several references to the work of Anders Nygren at the recent Oxford University conference I attended, “The Evolution of Morality.” Nygren’s agape theology continues to influence more than seventy years after its publication.