I recently read a very interesting book, Society Without God by Phil Zuckerman. Zuckerman is an American sociologist whose book studies the spiritual (or aspiritual) outlook of Nordic Europeans—specifically Danes and Swedes—and how the decline in their religious concerns is reflected in the state of their society. Zuckerman conducted his research mostly in Denmark primarily [...]

I read this article today questioning the effectiveness and importance of organized religion.  It’s a perennial question, but I see it being asked more and more (like in Anne’s post about Anne Rice).  One of my favorite authors, Diana Butler Bass, is working on a new book about people who say they are “spiritual, but [...]

I didn’t go to church today.  I knew it we were having communion today.  My church does communion quarterly.  I was raised in a church that had monthly communion, although they would have never referred to it as anything as The Lord’s Supper. I think my uncomfortableness with communion goes back to my childhood.  I [...]

I realize I’ve been sharing other people’s thoughts more than my own lately, but that’s the beauty of the internets, eh?  Anyway, I liked McLaren’s response to this question on his blog. http://brianmclaren.net/archives/blog/q-r-evangelism-and-evangelists.html#more Social Bookmarking

A few weeks ago, I wrote a somewhat emotionally reactive post about (hyper-) Calvinism and the seeming militant commitment to it by its adherents.  I didn’t mention it then, but the words were in response to a book I had just read, Young, Restless, Reformed: A Journalist’s Journey with the New Calvinists.  Though I finished [...]

I am not a Calvinist.  I don’t like systematic theology.  I don’t enjoy endless debate about the character and sovereign nature of God.  These things are neither fruitful nor soul-nourishing to me.  However, I also don’t like being insulted as “theologically light” simply for not agreeing with a particular interpretation of Scripture.  As if had [...]

It seems to me that an awful lot of people are talking, but not enough people are asking questions.  One person who I can always count on to ask great questions is my good friend, Anne, as you can see from her many thought-provoking posts here on PMIAB.  I have found another wonderful inquirer in [...]

Here’s some big news today–especially for the three of us as we have all been Southern Baptist at some point, though I am now Episcopalian.  Jimmy Carter has declared he’s leaving the Southern Baptist Convention after 60 years of membership, because of the SBC’s treatment of women and stance on wives being submissive to their [...]

Rosemary’s recent writings on the ongoing debates in the Episcopal Church reminded me of an excellent book I read a few years ago–a biography of Bishop Gene Robinson.  My review… Going to Heaven: The Life and Election of Bishop Gene Robinson Elizabeth Adams Soft Skull Press, 2006 On November 2, 2003, Gene Robinson garnered national [...]