The Secular Frontier

(John Hick) And it is striking to note that the verses, as familiar as they are, do not represent Luke’s own understanding of the death of Jesus.  For it is a striking feature of Luke’s portrayal of Jesus death — this may sound strange at first — that he never, anywhere else, indicates that the death itself is what brings salvation from sin.  Nowhere in Luke’s entire two volume work (Luke and Acts), is Jesus’ death said to be “for you.”  And in fact, on the two occasions in which Luke’s source Mark indicates that it was by Jesus’ death that salvation came (Mark 10:45; 15:39), Luke changed the wording of the text (or eliminated it).  Luke, in other words, has a different understanding of the way Jesus death leads to salvation from Mark (and from Paul, and other early Christian writers). It is easy to see Luke’s own distinctive view by considering what he has to say in the book of Acts, where the apostles give a number of speeches in order to convert others to the faith.  Wh ... Read Article

EDITED 8/01/2023 6:39pm Atlantic Canada Time by John MacDonald https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CP9dg38cAI Well, I've finally come to the conclusion of my Scripture Studies Web Project! So let's think one last time with Goicoechea, here on the Passion and Resurrection in Mark. Previously: END OF TRANSITIONS Part 1 WITH PAUL: GOICOECHEA AND PHILIPPIANS TRANSITIONS PART 2, Goicoechea on Mark (Post 1/3) TRANSITIONS PART 2, Goicoechea on Mark (Post 2/3) My thesis is that the 2 key items for Mark are going to be the crucifixion/resurrection, and the apocalypse. Mark inherited 2 key problems. One is that the disciples attacked the arresting party. It's unlikely this was made up because Mark probably wouldn't invent the disciples being violent. This is a problem because if the disciples attacked, it wasn't on anyone's radar that Jesus was supposed to die and get resurrected. The second issue is the well known point since Paul that Jesus was, 40 years later, a failed apocalyptic prophe ... Read Article

Greetings True Scotfolk! Before we start with post 2/3 on Goicoechea's book on Mark, lets begin this post with 2 book cover affirmations that contain profound, mystical truths about human reality: All right, feeling important? Good. Let's be profound (it's literally impossible for a scot not to be profound, but those above book covers push it to a completely new level! Last Time: TRANSITIONS PART 2, Goicoechea on Mark (Post 1/3) Now, post 2/3 on Goicoecheas book on Mark and Jesus’ teaching on Agape (selfless love) as the Agapetos (beloved of God) We’re beginning to see that each of the synoptic writers is going to have a different solution to the rather conspicuous problem that it was well known, for instance from Paul, that the historical Jesus was an apocalyptic prophet who predicted the immanence of the general resurrection and the Kingdom of God, but the prophecy hadn’t come to fruition.  The rejoinder by opponents obviously would have been if Jesus was wrong on suc ... Read Article

As an atheist writer, I sometimes wonder about all the really down and out people that might be hurt by what I write. What about the homeless person, or the terminal cancer patient who really don't have any hope besides God? For mother's day I sent my grandmother a religious card and a devotional calendar. She has been a devout catholic all her life and that is the one true peace she has left as she nears the end of her life. Still, the path is clear, and we must soldier on. Surgite ("Push On"), as Isaac Brock (who my university was named after) said! ... Read Article

Hellow True Scotsmen! Never mind the “No True Scotsman” fallacy.  We all wear kilts here in a windstorm to drive the neighbors crazy, and play the bagpipes 24/7 because it’s the most annoying sound ever created. Here is our jam below, minus the part about handicapped people that goes too far even for us (True Scotsmen  are naturally more sensitive than Cafeteria Scotsmen): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrgpZ0fUixs My theme for my posts on Goicoechea’s book on Paul was my MacDonald scottish coat of arms and tartans.  For these 3 posts on Goicoechea and Mark, I’m keeping with this scottish theme and focusing on Scottish Terriers.  Why terriers?  Consider this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5bIW882OR8 Goicoechea’s Mark: Goicoechea in his postmodern ethics series of books looks at the New Terstament through the lens  of agape selfless love where you love the other more than yourself, such as the love of a parent or loving an enemy.  Right at the beginn ... Read Article

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkgkThdzX-8 Imagine (lyrics) by John Lennon Imagine there's no heavenIt's easy if you tryNo hell below usAbove us only skyImagine all the peopleLiving for today... Aha-ah... Imagine there's no countriesIt isn't hard to doNothing to kill or die forAnd no religion, tooImagine all the peopleLiving life in peace... You... You may say I'm a dreamerBut I'm not the only oneI hope someday you'll join usAnd the world will be as one Imagine no possessionsI wonder if you canNo need for greed or hungerA brotherhood of manImagine all the peopleSharing all the world... You... You may say I'm a dreamerBut I'm not the only oneI hope someday you'll join usAnd the world will live as one One of the great hit songs about secularism is John Lennon's "Imagine." "Imagine" is a song from his 1971 album of the same name. The best-selling single of his solo career, the lyrics encourage listeners to imagine a world of peace, without materialism, without borders separating nat ... Read Article

Previously: TRANSITIONS: Wrapping Up Scripture Studies Blogging (Part 1, Goicoechea and Paul 1) TRANSITIONS: Wrapping Up Scripture Studies Blogging (Part 1, Goicoechea and Paul SECTION 2) TRANSITIONS: Wrapping Up Scripture Studies Blogging (Part 1, Goicoechea and Paul SECTION 3) TRANSITIONS: Wrapping Up Scripture Studies Blogging (Part 1, Goicoechea and Paul SECTION 4) Transitions Part 1 Section 5, Goicoechea on Paul’s 1 Corinthians Transitions Part 1 Section 6, Goicoechea on Paul’s 2 Corinthians Transitions Part 1 Section 7, Goicoechea on Paul’s Galatians Transitions Part 1 Section 8, Goicoechea on Paul’s Romans Transitions Part 1 Section 9, Goicoechea on Paul’s Philemon Now, on to the end of part 1 of "transitions" and concluding thoughts on Goicoechea and Paul. Welcome True Scotsmen! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAlaVnDyzIA We’ve come to the end of my appropriation of Goicoechea’s treatment of Paul’s authentic letters with Philippians.  Let� ... Read Article

Psychologists know the addictive nature of social media like Facebook on the brain. It's addictive, just like gambling with a slot machine. You send a comment out into the twitterverse and wait in excited anticipation for a response. Besides this, it is constant overstimulation, which makes many people encounter boring everyday life like going through withdrawal. Please work hard to limit tablet time, especially in young children, because we are just beginning to understand the long term personal and social effects. ... Read Article

"The Scriptures tell us to redeem the time (see Ephesians 5:15-16). Time and life go hand in hand. Both are very precious. Often when I’m driving my car I’m tempted to put on some music that makes me feel good. Some secular music can do that. Instead, I tell Siri to pull up the Psalms on YouTube, and I listen to God‘s Word instead. That does more than make me feel good. It taps me into the eternal, and redeems precious time. (Ray Comfort)" Ray is an apologist who sometimes goes on a street corner and tries to convert people he meets. In this case, he interestingly talks about listening to something that "does more than make me feel good. It taps me into the eternal." Unfortunately, there is no such animal. Feeling contact with the numinous is very real, in that you are experiencing something, but it is a trick the mind is playing on itself by reaching out and finding itself, not contacting a divine Other. If we play a favorite gospel song over and over we note that it goes from presencing ... Read Article

Previously: TRANSITIONS: Wrapping Up Scripture Studies Blogging (Part 1, Goicoechea and Paul 1) TRANSITIONS: Wrapping Up Scripture Studies Blogging (Part 1, Goicoechea and Paul SECTION 2) TRANSITIONS: Wrapping Up Scripture Studies Blogging (Part 1, Goicoechea and Paul SECTION 3) TRANSITIONS: Wrapping Up Scripture Studies Blogging (Part 1, Goicoechea and Paul SECTION 4) Transitions Part 1 Section 5, Goicoechea on Paul’s 1 Corinthians Transitions Part 1 Section 6, Goicoechea on Paul’s 2 Corinthians Transitions Part 1 Section 7, Goicoechea on Paul’s Galatians Transitions Part 1 Section 8, Goicoechea on Paul’s Romans One topic I mentioned previously is Paul being seen as pro slavery, and in fact he has been historically proof-texted in that way by anti-abolitionists, citing he sent a runaway slave back to his master. I'd like to think about that here. Philemon is very short and can be read in a minute or two.  It’s about Paul sending the runaway (and possibly thief) sla ... Read Article

A big problem for the Christian right is there is a large demographic who might be susceptible to their message but don't want to go to church. The answer? Lure them in through other media, like movies. Here is a short clip about a Christian propaganda movie the purpose of which is to win souls for Jesus (in an entertaining way): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyTvVBsCB18 ... Read Article

What's up, Infidels? Come up to the lab/ And see what's on the slab! Previously: TRANSITIONS: Wrapping Up Scripture Studies Blogging (Part 1, Goicoechea and Paul 1) TRANSITIONS: Wrapping Up Scripture Studies Blogging (Part 1, Goicoechea and Paul SECTION 2) TRANSITIONS: Wrapping Up Scripture Studies Blogging (Part 1, Goicoechea and Paul SECTION 3) TRANSITIONS: Wrapping Up Scripture Studies Blogging (Part 1, Goicoechea and Paul SECTION 4) Transitions Part 1 Section 5, Goicoechea on Paul’s 1 Corinthians Transitions Part 1 Section 6, Goicoechea on Paul’s 2 Corinthians Transitions Part 1 Section 7, Goicoechea on Paul’s Galatians Part of the difficulty in establishing Jesus’ relation to the law is that there is a popular grace through faith vs works reading going around.  But, Jesus said he didn’t come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it (Matt 5:17).  The point of the law was to show you how sinful you are, so Jesus didn’t abolish the law but made it sup ... Read Article

Previously: TRANSITIONS: Wrapping Up Scripture Studies Blogging (Part 1, Goicoechea and Paul 1) TRANSITIONS: Wrapping Up Scripture Studies Blogging (Part 1, Goicoechea and Paul SECTION 2) TRANSITIONS: Wrapping Up Scripture Studies Blogging (Part 1, Goicoechea and Paul SECTION 3) TRANSITIONS: Wrapping Up Scripture Studies Blogging (Part 1, Goicoechea and Paul SECTION 4) Transitions Part 1 Section 5, Goicoechea on Paul’s 1 Corinthians Transitions Part 1 Section 6, Goicoechea on Paul’s 2 Corinthians And now, on to Goicoechea and Galatians: When something particularly egregious happens that is a symptom of systemic problems in society, like the Rodney King beating or Columbine shooting or the death of Socrates, it can be an occasion/catalyst for society to pause / hold a moratorium on itself.  The death of Jesus was another historical example of this, because what could cry for change more than the specially chosen one of God who demonstrated who he was through wisdom, signs, ... Read Article

As the lead in to election season heats up, I have been indicating the use of Photoshop to present Trump as a hero (eg a fireman. a soldier, etc). What's next? In biblical studies/classics there is something called haggadic midrash/mimesis such as when Matthew presents Jesus as imitating Moses - Jesus is the new and greater Moses. Some on the right are now doing this with Trump propaganda art, and so we have "Moses Trump" leading his people out of slavery and into the promised land: Interestingly, this kind of political propaganda is rooted in American history and so in the Capitol rotunda we have the Apotheosis (IE becoming God) of Washington: Above is The Apotheosis of Washington, as seen looking up from the Capitol rotunda, fresco painted by Greek-Italian artist Constantino Brumidi in 1865 and visible through the oculus of the dome in the rotunda of the United States Capitol Building. Above detail showing George Washington. An interesting question is why this imagery is bei ... Read Article

Happy Mother's Day Infidels! This is one of the few days of the year when it's good form to ease up on the secularism if your mother is a believer. The odds against you existing at all are beyond astronomical, so take this day to give thanks to the woman who is responsible for the one real miracle in your life: YOU! ... Read Article