Fides quaerens intellectum
“Faith seeking understanding”
I’ve had faith since I was 4 years old. It’s wavered, wobbled and taken its share of lumps, many of them self-inflicted, but know that I believe what my namesake wrote in his first letter to the church he founded in the Greek city of Corinth nearly 2,000 years ago:
I passed on to you as most important what I also received: Christ died for our sins in line with the scriptures, he was buried, and he rose on the third day in line with the scriptures. … If Christ hasn’t been raised, then your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins, and what’s more, those who have died in Christ are gone forever. If we have a hope in Christ only in this life, then we deserve to be pitied more than anyone else.
The rest of it is up for grabs.
My name is Paul. I’m the husband of an amazingly attractive, patient and understanding woman who is far more than I deserve, and we are the parents of three daughters, who are reshaping my very soul every minute I spend with them. I’m slowly working through a Master of Arts in history and theology at the university where I work (which is why I won’t be mentioning it by name).
I grew up more conservative than Rush Limbaugh; I’m now more liberal than Barack Obama. How big a shift you think that is likely depends on your own journey in this life. Mine has led me to rethink in fundamental ways everything I once thought I knew. This blog is a chronicle as I continue that reshaping. The faith is there, but I need understanding.
At some point, I discovered I didn’t like God very much, and I was pretty sure he didn’t like me. That’s not a good place to be, and it’s taken several painful years of picking up the pieces of my life to discover that God wants to take my natural interest in learning and writing and train it on the study of him. So here I am, in grad school, writing a blog I figured no one would care to read, juggling school and work and parenting and husbanding with this little pastime.
I’m a journalist by trade and education – a recovering journalist, I should say. So this is a blog for questioners. I desperately seek answers, knowing that I may never find them, but I keep asking just the same. It’s hard-wired into me at this point. If you stick around for any length of time, you’re likely to notice I’m currently asking questions about:
- Theodicy
- Sexuality
- Parenting
- The virgin birth
- The omnipotence of God
- Universalism
One of my worst habits is forming an opinion and defending it with all I’ve got. I’m trying to break it and recognize that a little humility does us all a lot of good when discussing questions of theology. I’ve been disoriented. I’m slowly becoming reoriented. But that’s no guarantee I’ve got it right.
So join me on this journey, won’t you? We can strengthen our faith and seek understanding together, as we await the day when all of our questions will be answered by the One to whom we’ve been clinging this whole time.
Would you ever be willing to chat via email? I know you are busy, just wanted to ask some questions.
thanks
Thank you for this article! It is extremely well written, clear, scriptural, covers a wealth of information in a concise manner without being heavy on terminology, and it isn’t sarcastic or filled with personal attacks to anyone. Blessings to you!
Couldn’t have said it better myself =) Great blog.
Just discovered your blog through LC KEENEY, The Ruthless Monk. So glad I did. 🙂
Hi Rebecca,
Thanks for visiting! Hope you come back often!
Oh, I’m so grateful to have found your blog! Incredible article on Romans…can I quote it for an exegetical paper I’m writing on 11:17-24? (I’d give you credit, of course!!!!!!) Well, regardless of your answer, thank you so much for your work here! Very, very, VERY helpful to me!
Nice to come across your blog.
I never do understand how or why one would continue to believe in the Christian god with such a learned understanding of many of the discrepancies from what is supposed to be the one-teaching-book… but here’s to hoping for a surprise !
Hi, Paul Great blog and can’t wait to explore it all. I’m going to share your article on the Exodus with my Living the Questions group at Wesley-Knox United Church here in London, Ontario. Hope that is OK. Opens up the whole business of historicity of the Bible and focusing on what is really important. Best, Harry
My friend, you are incredibly smart. I don’t actually know you, but from what I’ve read on this blog, I can say I have a lot of respect for you already.
I too am someone who likes to question many things. I too am someone who has grown up in a very conservative home. I too am on a journey of questioning and discerning. That is why I am so very grateful that I have found your blog. Reading your papers has been a breathe of fresh air.
Thank you. I will be returning here often.
I disagree with your article. The two archaeologist you mentioned chose to ignore the findings of the actual Red Sea crossing. A number of chariot wheels found have confirmed the dating to the correct Biblical time.