Previously: The Meaning of Life Through Death What’s the Point of the Bible? (2/2) What’s the Point of the Bible: Causing Anagnorisis in the Reader (CONCLUSION) What’s the Point of the Bible: What is Faith?  It’s not What you Think Breaking the Demonic Spell: A Twofold Interpretation of Sin in Christian Origins Holiday Post Series: … Conclusion: Salvation in Paul’s Letter to the Romans

I’m continuing with this study of Paul’s letter to the Romans. We noted previously that though the pagans did not have the letter of the Law, they followed the Law because the spirit of the Law was written on their hearts.  It was this spirit of the Law Jesus and Paul were interested in, because … (Romans 3) The Modes of Salvation in Romans

A recurring theme in the Old Testament is about the inherent flaws or sinful inclinations of the human heart: Genesis 6:5 states: “The Lord saw that the wickedness of humans was great in the earth and that every inclination of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually.” Genesis 8:21 notes: “And when the … (Part 1 on Romans 2): The Models of Salvation in Romans

I’ve been thinking a lot about the idea of demon possession and people being forced to sin against their wills, not just Sin as transgression, but having a demonic sinful disposition toward life. I will look at Romans for this next time, but I want to start here with the idea that there are two … (Part 2) Divine/Demonic Possession and the Heart of Christianity

Check out Freethinker Podcast host Edouard Tahmizian’s shy-of-an-hour discussion with Richard Carrier about the metaphysical impossibility of libertarian free will. Our actions are aimed at fulfilling our desires; but where did our desires come from? Did we choose our desires, or simply discover that we had them? As Carrier notes, if you reason from premises … Is There Free Will? Edouard Tahmizian Interviews Richard Carrier on Freethinker Podcast

Jesus’ exorcism of the Gerasene Demoniac, wiki BACKGROUND: Greek had several terms that could describe a person undergoing divine or demonic possession, though the concepts often overlapped since spirits (daimones) were not always strictly categorized as benevolent or malevolent in pre-Christian contexts. Divine possession typically implied inspiration, ecstasy, or being filled with a god’s presence … Holiday Post Series: Divine/Demonic Possession and the Heart of Christianity

I noted previously that in Romans Paul has a dualistic interpretation of sin dealt with by Christ’s cross. On the one hand, we have substitutionary atonement to pay the fine for man’s transgressions. This balances the books, but what if someone keeps sinning? What is needed is a change/growth of moral disposition. Paul reckoned God … Breaking the Demonic Spell: A Twofold Interpretation of Sin in Christian Origins

In the bible faith is not primarily a set of beliefs.  We are told Demons too believe but are not saved.  Rather, it is a special kind of trust.  Jesus says faith can move mountains, which highlighted The Absurd because would Jesus not then move a mountain himself to drive the point home? The paragon … (CONCLUSION) What’s the Point of the Bible: What is Faith?  It’s not What you Think

Last time I talked about the twofold purpose of the New Testament and Christ’s death (i) as payment for our sin fine/penalty, and (ii) seeing yourself in those guilty of God’s beloved (agapetos) messenger Christ’s wrongful death, which breaks the spell that the evil powerful entity Sin has you under so as to open your … (2/2) What’s the Point of the Bible: Causing Anagnorisis in the Reader

I talked previously about a two-fold understanding of salvation from sin in Paul’s letter to the Romans, one of a substitutionary atonement paying a penalty for your transgressions to avert God’s wrath, and by contrast a moral influence cross where seeing ourselves in those who killed God’s especially beloved Jesus breaks the spell the powerful … What’s the Point of the Bible?