Parchment & Pen Blog

Taken from the Theological Word of the Day (TWOD) (to which you should all subscribe!) Let’s discuss. Do you all agree with the concept expressed by the analogia entis? Read first, then comment. (Lat. “analogy of being”) also, “analogy of imitation” or “analogy of participation” The belief that there exists an analogy or correspondence between [...]

After an always exhausting and worrisome trip over the ‘Pond,’ I arrived in London with three friends on August 16 (or, as the Brits say, 16 August). Exhausting? Yes, because I choose not to go to sleep the night before flights to Europe so that I can sleep on the plane. OK, maybe ‘choose’ is [...]

Don’t be enamored to quickly by “change.” Barak represents those in a long line of liberal socialists. His call for “change” is nothing of the sort. It may be a change from our current system, but what I mean is that it is nothing “new.” From an economic standpoint, he is calling for an internal [...]

Here are my basic thoughts about the Presidential debate: Both were functioning withing the common Rep and Dem framework. Dems want more of a socialist government (which is not wrong in and of itself). Rep want opportunity which prioritizes itself over the lower class. Mcain sounded like he knew what was going on because of [...]

With all the renewed conversation about the emerging church that is blanketing the web once again, I thought that I would enter the “conversation” in a somewhat atypical way. Some are proclaiming the death of the emerging church saying, “The emerging church is dead—at least in nomenclature, if not in spirit.” Others such as Scot [...]

Warning: an imbalanced and emotionally non-irenic post ahead. Don’t read as it may only cause disappointment among many of my more progressive friends. The latest Barna survey was published last night. Its intent was to evaluate the Evangelical position concerning the environment. In sum, it argues that Evangelicals are “going green.” You can find it [...]

Continuing our studies on why people leave the faith, I offer you George. Please read this and let’s discuss what is going on. I will add some questions at the conclusion. ___________________ “My story is as messy as life itself. I’m in the early processes of going public with my deconversion, but it also feels [...]

Article 2. Whether it can be demonstrated that God exists? Objection 1. It seems that the existence of God cannot be demonstrated. For it is an article of faith that God exists. But what is of faith cannot be demonstrated, because a demonstration produces scientific knowledge; whereas faith is of the unseen (Hebrews 11:1). Therefore [...]

Join Michael Patton and Lindsey Price as they discuss reason #4 on the Top Ten Reasons NOT to be a Christian series. #3 If I become a Christian, God will make me healthy and wealthy. During this lesson, Lindsey and I draw from the Bible and personal experience concluding that the health-wealth Gospel is not [...]

Theology Unplugged - Top Ten Reasons NOT to be a Christian - Because God Will Make Me Healthy and Wealthy [ 27:23 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

See updated version here. Protestantism is not perfect. No informed Protestant would claim such. Evangelicalism has major problems. This is nothing new. But Protestants have always thought the strengths of Protestantism outweigh the weaknesses. Otherwise, we would not be Protestant! While I often write about the weaknesses of our system, sometimes complaining about Evangelical shames, [...]

I heard recently that Sunday morning (church) is the most segregated hour in America. I was walking through the halls of my church yesterday and noticed that there were two black people. This caught my attention and, in a very real sense, I was ashamed. Why? Because it caught my attention. I don’t want to [...]