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Raymond Brown was considered controversial by some. On the one hand, he was a Catholic priest; on the other, a historical-critical scholar. His arguments on the Gospel of John, the virgin birth and the appearance tradition of Jesus would disturb some modern readers. Nevertheless, his scholarship is essential and insightful. It also shows that one
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Many retreated from regular society and chose a hermit’s lifestyle. These men were known as “The Desert Fathers”. Douglas-Burton Christie notes, “Many of the desert monks refused to participate in the growing establishment of the church under Constantine, choosing instead to live on the margins of society under the direct guidance of the Spirit and
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The topic of hell is a profoundly unsettling topic for many Christians and non-Christians. This issue alone is responsible for deconversion and the questioning of God’s grace. The images of Dante’s Inferno and medieval portraits make hell seem like a ghastly experience. However, not all Christians hold to the view that hell is a place
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Janine di Giovanni is a reporter, and her work has received praise from Amnesty International. She has covered conflicts in Sierra Leone, Chechnya and Bosnia. The Morning They Came for Us: Dispatches from Syria is a very readable, excellent account of the horrors of the Syrian War. Chapter I: Damascus-Thursday, June 28th 2012 This time
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Chapter 1- Empire Gospel and Culture Kamudzandu begins this chapter by discussing Shona culture and history. He writes that salt is a symbol of wealth and prosperity among the Shona. He then discusses David Livingstone and his missionary endeavors in Zimbabwe. The years 1890 and 1980 were characterized by a century of wars, uprisings, evangelism,
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My interest in Jainism started during a time when I couldn’t work due to a shoulder injury. Admitelly, I hadn’t studied eastern faiths in as much detail as Christianity and Islam at that point, three years ago. Jainism is a fascinating religious tradition, and I was intrigued by the concept of ahimsa or non-violence. The
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Paradise Lost and a Nostalgic Longing John Milton’s poem Paradise Lost continues to inspire the imagination of many in the current era. For modern readers it inspires a nostalgic longing for a time period that no longer exists. This time period is symbolic of the fall from Eden in the poem. Within the world of
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Life is what you make of it, right? This is a common saying that rings true for many people. In anthropology, different people give symbols different meanings in various historical contexts. The swastika used by the Nazi part is an example of this. Most are familiar with the usage of the swastika by the Nazis
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I remember first hearing the term “Global Christianity” from Phillip Jenkins, book The Next Christendom: The Coming of Global Christianity. It really fascinated me reading about how Christianity is practised in other parts of the world. These forms of Christianity are much different from what I was familiar with as a kid and from what
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I completed a graduate-level course on the biblical book of Esther when I was enrolled at Fuller Theological Seminary. I didn’t graduate, but nevertheless, this was one of my favorite courses while I was a student at Fuller. Interestingly, some Jews and Christians didn’t want to include Esther in the canon. One big reason was
Triggered to Thinking 