Archive for Religious
Does the Parable of the Talents Prove That Jesus Loved Commerce?
In the comments to my blog post reconciling Austro-libertarianism with Christianity, “Austrian Banker” argued that Jesus didn’t condone the charging of interest. (AB’s point was that modern Austrian economists should find this awkward.) In response, Matt J wrote: As for Jesus’ teaching specifically, in Matthew 25, verses 14-30 are where Jesus gives his ‘Parable of [...]
Read moreAustro-Libertarianism & Christianity
I have many new readers because I plugged the blog at the recent Mises University. So first, let me explain my policy: I blog on secular matters 6 days a week, but on Sundays I only post on religious themes. I am a born-again Christian and do not shy away from this, but I also [...]
Read moreThe Father’s Commands Are for Your Own Good
For a while now, it often happens that when I give my 5-year-old a bath, he ends up getting shampoo in his eyes. He knows enough to close his eyes when I start putting the (“tear free”) shampoo in his hair, but lately he does this counterproductive thing where he pulls his legs up and [...]
Read moreA Weak (But Common) Argument Against Christian Pacifism
[UPDATE below.] Today the pastor of a church I have been attending recently went off on a bit of a tangent to explain why he thought Christianity did not imply pacifism. I happen to think it does, but I want to be clear that in this post, I am NOT making a case. All I’m [...]
Read moreGod and Truth
One of the things I love about Christianity is the identification of Jesus with truth itself. For example, the gospel of John opens like this: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning. 3Through him all things were made; [...]
Read moreThe Way to Salvation
One of the watershed moments in my spiritual development occurred during the counseling sessions from the pastor who was going to marry my (then) fiancee and me. He was the pastor of the church I was attending while at NYU, and I had asked him if he would marry us. He said yes but always [...]
Read moreHe’s a Crafty Devil
My favorite line from The Usual Suspects is when Verbal explains about Keyser Soze, aka “the Devil”: He is supposed to be Turkish. Some say his father was German. Nobody believed he was real. Nobody ever saw him or knew anybody that ever worked directly for him, but to hear Kobayashi tell it, anybody could [...]
Read moreAnalysis of the Lord’s Prayer, Part II
A few weeks ago I began analyzing the Lord’s prayer. Today I continue: “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Here is what I take away from this part, at least lately: There is a definite sense in which the things that happen on earth are not in [...]
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