Analytic Theology

It used to be standard procedure to eat your enemies after you’ve killed them. A variety of reasons have been adduced for this, including: (1) to obtain some attribute they possess, such as bravery or knowledge; (2) for moral edification; (3) it’s a religious ritual; (4) you’re hungry and it’s a good source of protein; [...]

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The “Old Testament” (“Tanakh” is a much better term, because it avoids a pejorative comparison with the “New Testament”) most likely was written between the 10th century BCE and the 6th century BCE. The events it purports to relate, of course, occurred much earlier. “[W]ithin that varied Hebrew literature spanning a millennium which we laconically [...]

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When I was in fourth grade, we used to play a little game, which went something like this: would you rather die in the heat of the desert, or be submerged in snow and ice? Pretty macabre, n’est-ce pas? The former probably was the result of reading too much Beau Geste; I suppose the latter [...]

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Dogmatic Christian theology instructs us that by giving his life, and suffering on the cross, Jesus expiated all of the world’s sin and guilt. But there is something very unusual about his sacrifice. Which is: (a) nobody in the New Testament requested it! You will search the New Testament in vain for someone who comes [...]

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The New Life Church’s Board of Overseers recently dismissed Ted Haggard, a prominent author and national evangelical Christian leader, for “sexually immoral conduct.” Haggard wrote: “I am a sinner. I have fallen.” New Life’s interim senior pastor, Ross Parsley, told church members: “Pastor Ted is living in a greater measure of repentance and forgiveness today [...]

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