Saint Francis of Assisi was born in 1181 AD and died 44 years later in 1226. St. Francis grew up in the lap of luxury. His father, a wealthy cloth merchant, indulged him. Francis, vain and charming, drank, partied, and caroused. His skills in archery and horsemanship fueled his desire to become a knight. He…
According to a New York Times article by Lauren Jackson, spirituality in America may be on the rise. The Pew Research Center found the share of United States adults who have a spiritual belief: On the other hand, Christianity appears to be declining. In 2007, 78% of U.S. adults identified as Christian. By 2024, that…
Fowler’s Stages of Faith: 1. Intuitive-projective faith–unable to compare ideas; simple belief 2. Mythical-literal faith–making mysticism literal 3. Synthetic-conventional faith–incorporating values 4. Individuative-reflective faith–critical thinking 5. Conjunctive faith–combining the mystical with critical thinking Walker’s Stages of Faith: 1. Instinctive faith–child-like faith 2. Literal faith–the Bible says it’s so 3. Humanistic (enlightened) faith– philosophy/psychology + Christianity 4. Rational…
The Bible’s Old Testament tells the story of God’s gift of free will and how humankind turned that free will into self-will. The narrative of this self-will rebellion unfolds throughout the books of the Old Testament. God’s plan that humankind would love him unconditionally unravels in the first 11 chapters of Genius. The first few…
The Bible’s Old Testament tells the story of God’s gift of free will and how humankind turned that free will into self-will. The narrative of this self-will rebellion unfolds throughout the books of the Old Testament. God’s rigorous response and unfailing compassion become clear as we read through this account. Genesis 1-11: The Primeval Story…
The Hebrew Bible, known as the Tanakh, is organized into three main sections: The Mishnah was created to preserve Jewish law and guide daily life. Rabbi Judah ha-Nasi, also known as Judah the Prince, compiled the Mishnah in Palestine around 200 CE. The Mishnah is divided into six primary sections: The Talmud, a commentary on the Mishnah,…