FollowI know I’ve said this before, but being a smart-ass blogger who focuses on religion and the stupid things people say can be a very boom and bust proposition. For the last week or so, I’ve been casting about, looking for a suitable target at which to direct my snark and saying it’s been tough …
Category Archives: Holy Spirit
Pentecost Is Upon Us
Well, beloved, yet another Pentecost Sunday is upon us. For those of you poor, benighted, non-mainline souls who don’t know what I’m talking about, Pentecost is the Greek name for the Jewish Feast of Weeks which celebrates the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai. It is significant in the Christian world because it commemorates …
What Kind Of Christian Am I?
I’m a sucker for an online quiz. It really doesn’t matter what it’s about, if I see one, I’m taking it. So, Wednesday morning, I stumbled onto Beliefnet’s “What Kind Of Christian Are You?” I immediately went there. I mean, how could I not? It was quiz about Christianity! Talk about a perfect of wasted …
A Mystical Experience?
I have written more than once about my problems with the more mystical aspects of Christianity. Some of those issues spring from a mind that may be too analytical for my own good (questioning the virgin birth, miracles, speaking in tongues, etc.), but most of them are related to the absence of a “God” experience …
“Contemporary” Isn’t A Cuss Word
I am so sick of people laying part of the blame for the church’s decline at the feet of “the contemporary worship experience”. I’m talking about people like Steve McSwain, who said in his article Why Nobody Wants to Go to Church Anymore that “It’s been the trend in the last couple of decades for traditional, mainline …
Halloween Isn’t Scary Anymore
So, it’s Halloween again. This is Parker’s[1]my son favorite holiday, He really gets into it, decorating the house, coming up with ever-more elaborate costumes and watching Halloween-related movies (think more Corpse Bride and less Friday the 13th). I, however, am not such a fan. Why, you ask? Because a big part of the whole Halloween …
My Story Pt IV
Those of you who have stuck with the long slog through my life are in luck: today is the 4th and final installment in this tale. And, the pay-off for all your hard work is a relatively happy ending. So, let’s get to it. Yesterday, I ended with this tidbit: “At the time, my oldest …
My Story Pt. I
Several times since I started this blog, I’ve referenced some things in my childhood that were…, not good. Generally, they revolve around my family’s membership in a charismatic house church/cult. While I’ve alluded to this period of my life, I’ve never told you the whole story. That changes now. It’s not going to be easy …
Angels and Demons
Spend even a few minutes listening to an evangelical/fundamentalist sermon and it’s almost inevitable that you’ll hear about angels and/or demons. It is a topic our more conservative brothers and sisters are not afraid to embrace. I, on the other hand, usually get uncomfortable when it comes up. I don’t have a problem talking about …
It’s That Time Of Year…, Again
By “that time of year”, I mean The Wild Goose Festival is almost here. And, the closer it gets, the more I feel like Wile E. Coyote when he saw an a train bearing down on him. It’s not that I don’t like Wild Goose, it’s an amazing time. But, my preparation ritual for any trip …