I would like to both acknowledge and dedicate this class to my friend Debora who has been instrumental in bringing this to life.   Last week I received a message from Alice. It was quite obvious from her message that she had experienced a moment of awe. When Moses asked God for His name, God…

Divinity refers to the quality or state of being divine or godlike. It can encompass broader concepts, not just the nature, powers, or essence of gods, but also abstract universal principles such as a “divine energy”. So a divinity may be a specific, personal being or just something that is beyond human or material, such…

Last week the question was: “Do you see this world, this life, as essentially good or as essentially evil?” Perhaps what we were missing from this discussion is that the designation of what is good and what is evil is relative. It is based on the observer. It comes from a human centric vision. When…

We often say, among ourselves, that this is a wicked world (except, of course, for the perfectly pious bit we occupy and have control over!) But is it true? I am going to assume a debating stance, arguing both for and against the motion that this is a wicked world, and then invite you all…

As most of you know, Dr. Weaver, Kiran, Michael and I are putting together a book on grace based largely on Dr. Weaver’s talks in class, but also informed by your contributions in our class discussions.  Inevitably, the book has a Christian theological bent. It is based largely on the Bible, because this is after…

The Bible is a complex and multifaceted text, reflecting the diverse socio-historical contexts and times in which its various books were written. In studying it, many have found a tension between, on the one hand, a seemingly judgmental God who operates on the principle of cause and rational effect—rewarding obedience and punishing disobedience; and, on…