I am less concerned about whether there is a Hell or not, than I am about the supposedly agreed upon criteria for going – or not going – there. Most people that I know with – or without – faith presume that there are at least two solid truths about eternity; first, if there is a heaven,  they...

What have they done to the earth What have they done to our fair sister Ravaged and plundered and ripped her and bit her Stuck her with knives in the side of the dawn And tied her with fences and dragged her down! The Doors The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets…and...

During the time of Jesus, the Romans crucified people by the thousands. Virtually every major intersection in most large cities had rows of crosses with bodies in various stages of decay. Bodies were left exposed for vultures and any other scavengers. To put it mildly, these public spectacles of brutal...

With a title like “UnChristian”, one has to wonder about the starting point – and intention – of a full blown study and exposition of the state of the contemporary church. First published in 2007, UnChristian continues to stir controversy and unsettles too comfortable cultural...

“I’m not black, but there’s a whole lot of times I wish I could say I’m not white.” Frank Zappa The history and progress of civil rights in America has never been easy, and many times it has been downright ugly and dispiriting.  But sometimes, yes, sometimes, glory breaks...

In mainland China, at least in 1999, they didn’t celebrate – or even acknowledge – Christmas. The brutal winters fit that line from “The lion, the witch and the wardrobe” where Narnia is described as “always winter and never Christmas.” I was teaching English for a major university...

With each election, we see “We the people” in action. Once again, “the people have spoken” and American voters have done what we do best; we changed our minds. We may not know what we want politically – but we know what we don’t want. At least until the next distraction. Politicians...

I recently heard an interview with an anthropologist whose area of study was the native people in far northern Canada. He had studied their stories and legends and worked directly with them for many years. This is one of those arctic (and sub-arctic) people groups who live a purely subsistence lifestyle....

“Allah is not God.” I’m sure you’ve heard this term. You may have even used it a few times.  But what does it mean? What do we really mean when such a catchy slogan jumps out? In any grown-up conversation we should start with the basics; what is the literal agreed upon, dictionary...

I love the USA.  I love everything about it.  I love the Constitution (and ALL of the amendments) and the Declaration of Independence.  I love the Founding Fathers – those who “pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.”  I love my country as a parent loves a child...