“Original sin became one of the cornerstones of Christian orthodoxy — but not before decades of dispute”
Augustine’s tortured recognition that involuntary arousal was an inescapable presence—not only in conjugal lovemaking...
Tag Archives: Christianity
“What liberals find objectionable is a politicized vision of authentic faith that amounts to a simple set of core beliefs…”
What liberal “elites” — believers and nonbelievers — find objectionable is not religion, but...
“Universalist ideas were central to Jewish authors living in the Second Temple period…”
Universalist ideas were central to Jewish authors living in the Second Temple period, and...
“… in the Second Temple period, Judaism was a petri dish of ideas that nurtured a pluralism which invited all people to worship the Jewish God”
We tend to think of the consecutive developments of Greek philosophy, normative Judaism, and...
“What makes the Second Temple period so unique is that much of its literature sees no need for hard distinctions between religious communities”
Many Jews in the Second Temple period believed that Israel shares a special relationship...
“Scholars who have argued that early Christians were influenced by Stoic thought miss a key link…”
Scholars who have argued that early Christians were influenced by Stoic thought miss a...
“Universalism has nothing to do with welcoming converts into one’s faith community…”
Universalism has nothing to do with welcoming converts into one’s faith community, which actually...
“This deinstitutionalization of the faith has occurred alongside its politicization”
This deinstitutionalization of the faith has occurred alongside its politicization. It’s hard to believe...
“The various literatures relevant to Judaism and Christianity are so bulky and so diverse and so complex that no one person can master them all and the secondary scholarship in full thoroughness”
The various literatures relevant to Judaism and Christianity are so bulky and so diverse...
“It seems that love of the political enemy prompted Christianity to identify with those who had condemned and killed Jesus”
It seems that love of the political enemy prompted Christianity to identify with those...