A History of Spaces: Christianities and Skepticisms

I’m a little uncomfortable with the generalizations that apparently have to take place in discussions [about faith and unbelief].  Neither the atheist nor the Christian community is monolithic.   Michel Foucault once wrote that what had yet to be written was a history of spaces, and I think that the spaces specific to various atheisms and various Christianities is essential in clarifying what we mean when we talk about “Christian belief” (whatever that is) or even skepticism.

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Christians, Atheists, and Morality

From the Mailbag:

At [a forum] we’re arguing about this graphic and about (1) whether Christians really do believe that the Bible is the only source of morality; and (2) whether the graphic is fair as a representation.  Any thoughts?

RipChurch reflections on the Orthodox, Catholic, and Reformed traditions and their beliefs about what atheists can and cannot know.

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God Hurts Fags: Homosexuality and Catholicism

Part of the reason why it's uncomfortable for Christians to answer that question about whether homosexuality is sinful is because the logic of resistance to homosexuality doesn't have to be "hateful" to be "damaging." In the absence of any clear reason (apart from the Bible's thou-shalt-nots), what possible reason could one have for damaging homosexuals by insisting on their celibacy?

If you ask Christians why gossip is wrong, the answer is clear and forceful. Adultery? The logic is clear. Theft? Murder? Sloth? Anger? Malice? Christianity is beautifully clear.

Homosexuality?

Well....

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Questions Like Lights Glimmering On A Dark Night

That permission didn't come entirely freely.  The writer faltered because, she said, the question sounded stupid. 

At last she relented.  Judge for yourself whether the question is stupid.

You might want to read the question, and leave my response for another day.

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A Skeptic Glances at The March for Jesus

Millions March For MessiahWherever you have religion, as in medieval Europe, you have strong feeling. And wherever you have strong feeling you have to have some sort of pageantry or theatrical expression for that feeling. Drama both structures and clarifies feeling, and marches, parades, drama, or whatever seem to be a natural externalizing of inner states.

So I'm not sure why Christians would need a biblical precedent for saying, "Whoa, we're Christians, and that rocks" in large numbers.

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Luther & Reason: Quick And Dirty Reflections

But very, very broadly, this is what I think.

To the best of my knowledge and reading, Luther nowhere repudiates reason. But I believe he created an approach towards religious experience and the Bible that could not do anything but result in a division between the two.

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Questions About Orthodox Christianity From an Evangelical Charismatic

But I suspect what you’re describing is a hunger for a place where your heart finds a home that your head doesn’t have to constantly reject or filter or hold reservations about.

I wish with all my heart I could give you good news about that.

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Inspiration of Scripture and the Problem of Non-Virgins: A Conversation

Much of Protestant and Catholic tradition and practice rest on the idea of the "inspiration of scripture."

It's worth wondering what that phrase means.

First, then, here's an articulation of the problem from a friend's question: What does inspiration mean, and what meaning can it reasonably have given some of scripture's enormities?

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