Roger E. Olson's Blog, page 26

What Does “The Blood of Jesus” Mean?

What Does “The Blood of Jesus” Mean? Recently there has been some public criticism of Christian “talk” about “the blood,” the “blood of Jesus,” especially. Of course, there’s nothing new about that. Even many Christians shy away, or more, from talking or singing about the blood of Jesus. Famous and influential Protestant preacher Harry Emerson […]

The Meaning of Christianity: Liberty and Tolerance

The Meaning of Christianity: Liberty and Tolerance Under discussion here are two small portions of The Meaning of Christianity (by Glenn Tinder) in Chapter Three. They are “Liberty and Community” and “Tolerance” (pp. 116-133). In a nutshell, Tinder argues, surprisingly perhaps (to some) that true Christianity, as opposed to much historical, empirical “Christianity,” promotes liberty […]

What Is a “Resurrection Body?”

What Is a “Resurrection Body?” We are not a week away (past) Easter Sunday. And I am musing (not pontificating) about the meaning of “resurrection body.” Christian belief that the tomb of Christ was empty, emptied by God, and that Christ’s body was changed, not left to rot or merely resuscitated, calls for explanation. However, […]

Should Homosexuality Be Criminal? About Uganda

Should Homosexuality Be Criminal? About Uganda According to many news reports a court in Uganda has upheld that nation’s harsh criminal penalties for homosexuality, including capital punishment for “aggravated homosexuality” (whatever that means). Now the laws will go to Uganda’s Supreme Court for review. Observers expect that court will uphold most, of not all, of […]

Is “Evil” Science Fiction?

Is “Evil” Science Fiction? I have watched several episodes of a new television show called “Evil.” It’s based on a Spanish TV show called “The Envoys.” Both are about a team of investigators hired by the Catholic Church to investigate claimed miracles and demon possessions. Early on I detected that the maker of the show […]

Are All Saved People Christians? Are All Christians Saved

Are All Saved People Christians? Are All Christians Saved? I’ve written about these questions before, but I discern there may be a benefit in going over them again. Learning how to make subtle distinctions is a very important part of mental-intellectual acuity. Most conservative Christians I know assume that “Christian” and “saved” are synonyms. But […]

Empirical Christianity versus Real Christianity

Empirical Christianity versus Real Christianity I rarely devote a whole blog essay to answering one question asked by a blog friend. But in this case I have been thinking a lot about the question recently asked by one of my most faithful and, to me, most interesting interlocutors. In a recent blog post I mentioned […]

The Political Meaning of Christianity: Chapter Two

The Political Meaning of Christianity: Chapter Two: The Individual and Prophetic Hope and Chapter Three: The Question of Liberty (pp. 80-116) In the chapter section Tinder calls “The Individual and Prophetic Hope” he discusses the community and the individual with special attention to the church and the individual. However, he also comes to the paradox […]

O, That Again: Another Book about Evangelicalism

O, That Again: Another Book about Evangelicalism No, this time I’m not going to name the book or the author. If you’re paying close attention, you either know it now or will hear of it. The author has been all over social media and mainstream media (being interviewed)—touting her book about why she is leaving […]

What Good Education Does

What Good Education Does As most readers here will already know, I was (and am still to some extend) involved in post-high school education for many years. I entered college in 1970, seminary in 1975, university in 1978. I earned two master’s degrees and a doctoral degree and studied in Germany. I began my teaching […]