Parchment & Pen Blog

This is an email from one of the P&P readers. I asked him if I could share this with you to try to get some help and encouragement. Michael, I read your “Leaving Christianity” article with great interest. I am 44 years old, and for most of my adult life I have vacillated among steps [...]

I use the word atheist to be provocative. Agnostic might be a better word. I have an acquaintance who is a closet agnostic, not wanting to disrupt his family and friends. He attends church, sings the hymns, takes communion, but is not at all sure that God exists. He has become settled in this state [...]

Here is the situation that was concluded from the last post: We are born with a propensity, bent, inclination to sin. Because of this, we sin—it is our nature. Yet when we do act according to our nature and sin, we are held guilty by God and ultimately condemned to eternal punishment. Not only this, but we are already condemned [...]

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May 24, 2008: The Center for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts has sent a team to Albania for the second year in a row. Four of us are here in Tirana as I write this. The National Archive opened wide its doors to us today. We began in earnest, setting up the cameras to [...]

The concept of Original Sin has long been a vital part of Christian Orthodoxy, yet is being challenged and redefined by many in the Church today. Some are beginning to question the validity of the traditional Evangelical understanding of the doctrine asking questions of its legitimacy in its current understanding. Most particularly, the doctrine of imputation is [...]

I have heard this since I was a very young Christian. It seemed somewhat reasonable as it was explained to me by pastors in sermons and by Christians as they explained the seriousness of sin. The claim goes something like this: All sin is so bad that even the smallest of sins deserves eternal punishment [...]

I just returned from a weekend in beautiful San Juan Capistrano, California. I spoke at The Case for the Real Jesus conference, which was centered on Lee Strobel’s recent book by the same title. Reclaiming the Mind Ministries colleague Dan Wallace was there, and we enjoyed some great late-evening dinnertime conversation together. Dan spoke on [...]

Dear Atheist, Having discussed the God questions with you for quite some time, it would seem that we have come to an impasse in our conclusions concerning the evidence that the universe provides. I, on one hand, have argued that the intricacies of the universe from cosmology and biology compel any honest observer to the conclusion that [...]

This is a new local church networking site for those of you who are interested in starting The Theology Program in your area. We have thousands of churches already. This should benefit those who are already offering TTP and those who are exploring the option.

Want your own blog? Many of you have responded and become part of the Reclaiming the Mind blog community. Because of the interest, we have updated a few things, giving more explanation of what this involves. Get your blog now and join the ring. Featured blogs in the RMM blog ring: A Dangerous Idea Submerging Influence [...]

I am working on a manuscript designed to recognize John Calvin’s 500th birthday coming up July 10, 2009. Its a historical and contemporary study of opinions on this most influential man. As a Reformed Christian, I owe a lot to Old JC, but the honest truth is: I have a love-hate relationship with the man. [...]