Resilient Faith

A Few Thoughts on Faith and Historical Criticism

Reading Scripture, Resilient Faith / By

Recently, I wrote an article for Logia’s blog entitled, “How Historical Criticism Challenged My Faith . . . Then Strengthened It.” Commonly, when graduate students from evangelical backgrounds continue their studies in theology and the Bible, they encounter truths they didn’t know before, facts that can be unsettling at first. In the article, I share my own journey (as much as one can in a short blog post). If you or anyone you know has […]

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Reading Scripture, Resilient Faith

What Is Your Picture of God?

Resilient Faith / By

Who is God? What do you imagine this Divine Being is like? Your picture of God is likely shaped by a variety of factors, including what you were taught in your faith community, the way clergy modeled themselves, your relationship with parents, or significant life events. These can intersect with each other. For example, you might have learned to view God as a father based on Scriptures that use this metaphor. This in turn is

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Resilient Faith

Can a Loving God Send People to Hell?

Resilient Faith / By

“You Asked” is a blog series that answers questions people have submitted to Karen via e-mail or asked in person that relates to the faith life or Scripture. Question: “I wonder if you could provide some of your thoughts on how one should interpret eternal punishment in the Bible? . . . Like many others, I cannot imagine how a loving God would like to see those who have failed to repent to end up

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Resilient Faith

When Death Comes Too Soon

Resilient Faith / By

During Lent this year, death hovered near. My friend Bill, a beloved pastor in the community, underwent chemo for an unexpected brain tumor. The spouse of someone I provide spiritual care for was suddenly hospitalized. And well-known Christian writer, Rachel Held Evans was placed in a medically induced coma after the flu took a dangerous turn. On Holy Saturday I mentioned each of them in a tweet and pleaded, “This Holy Saturday I am crying

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Resilient Faith

Doubt: When You’re Not Sure What You Believe

Resilient Faith / By

Several years ago, I was walking down the street on an ordinary day when suddenly a thought inserted itself out of the blue: What if there is no God? Given that I was not pondering the subject at the time, the intruding thought felt strangely self-animating. But rather than disturbing me, I felt relieved. My body began to relax and an exhilarating sense of freedom washed over me. I was surprised by my reaction. Why

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Resilient Faith

World So Full

Resilient Faith / By

I recently came across a song called “World So Full” by Jon Dee Graham. It is covered below by Gloria Showalter who writes, “My major is Peace, Justice, and Conflict Studies, which means that many of my classes deal with some of the worst stuff in the world. My four years here at Goshen College have been challenging as I look at the pain of the world in my academic study, and in my own

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Resilient Faith

Never Heard of Spiritual Direction?

Resilient Faith / By

If you have never heard of Spiritual Direction before, you are not alone. Not too many years ago, I was in the same boat. I first learned about the practice through a woman at my church who had been trained by the Mercy Center in Burlingame, California. When I began to meet with Bonnie all I knew was I needed to talk to someone about my doubts, fears, and hopes for the future. I felt

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Resilient Faith
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