Theology Policemen…
Stephen Mattson is one of those people I follow regularly. He definitely gives me things to think about. The more I study about Christian history, the more I realize the truth of these words. Continue reading Theology Policemen…
Category: Religion & Spirituality
The Catholic Mass
During my recent visit with my brother down in North Carolina, I accompanied him to Easter Sunday Mass. It was the first time in over 50 years that I stepped inside a Catholic Church during its service. What I found totally surprised me. But first, a little personal history. I spent a good part of the first 25 years of my life as a Catholic. … Continue reading The Catholic Mass
Never Let Anything Supersede This
Christianity is ultimately about loving God and loving others. It should never be co-opted by a political movement, a religious institution, gaining power, obtaining control, spreading influence, enforcing laws, or becoming rich and famous. It’s about a loving relationship with God, and loving all humanity created in God’s divine image—never let anything supersede this — Stephen Mattson If you ask me, one of the worst … Continue reading Never Let Anything Supersede This
A Few Thoughts About Christianity – Stephen Mattson
I am not going to “preach” to you, but every Sunday going forward I am going to give you some thoughts from those wiser than me, about what it means to be a Christian. I promise I won’t add any more of my own words than is necessary to get the point across. Today’s post is a Facebook from Stephen Mattson Continue reading A Few Thoughts About Christianity – Stephen Mattson
Why Are Religious People So Afraid Of Humanists
During my years in a Lutheran Bible study group, I can’t tell you how many times the word “humanist” got snarls and sneers whenever it was mentioned. It was as if we were somehow inviting Satan among our midst. There was absolutely nothing even approaching good, said about those despised people. It wouldn’t be until later that I studied humanism to any degree, and discovered … Continue reading Why Are Religious People So Afraid Of Humanists
Faith Should Not Be A Static Thing
Faith should not be a static thing in today’s world, especially since there are so many who are using their version of God to try to shut off your mind to other possibilities. Many very intelligent people have come to view faith as something they don’t want to have any part of because so often it becomes an excuse for lack of thinking or it … Continue reading Faith Should Not Be A Static Thing
Today’s Golden Calf…
Politics is today’s “Golden Calf”! Continue reading Today’s Golden Calf…
Couldn’t Have Said It Better…
There are now over 40,000 different versions of Christianity around today. To this “Avowed follower of the teachings of Jesus”, Stephen Mattson’s version is perhaps my favorite. He concentrates on Jesus as a divine teacher who tells us how to live every day of our lives. Following those instructions is a 24/7 task, not just a couple of hours on Sunday. Continue reading Couldn’t Have Said It Better…
What Happened When I Finally Gave Up Church?
When I was very young, I was told that the church was a crucial thing in my life. But, at the same time, my parents seldom went there themselves. Instead, they dropped us off at the front door. I was, for a while, an altar boy in a Catholic Church. The first seven grades I was taught by Franciscan Nuns. Being part of church, I … Continue reading What Happened When I Finally Gave Up Church?
Mandated Morality & Insurrections
I see where the leadership of Iran, in response to all the protests by the young people, have announced they are abolishing the “Morality Police”. Those are the forces who roam the streets looking to punish those who are not living up to the Islamic rules, particularly the dress laws. I’m not sure which of the dress codes that Iran enforces, but I’m certain that … Continue reading Mandated Morality & Insurrections
The Perfect Holiday Message
What a very noble idea from John Pavolvitz (click to see more from him). It sounds kind of Native-American to me, but I don’t think he intended it to be. He is what I would look like on steroids, He is constantly questioning why the church is on a tragic path of destruction. I see from the latest statistics that U.S. Christians will soon be … Continue reading The Perfect Holiday Message
Getting Back To The Red Letters…
I don’t post at RedLetterLiving.net very often anymore, but I think that is going to change going forward. It surprises me how many views RLL get even after so many years in hiatus. RedLetterLiving started its four-year journey in 2008. That seems like ages ago considering how much has changed since then, especially in my view of Christianity, and the Biblical theology. But I am … Continue reading Getting Back To The Red Letters…
About Folklore…
Let’s talk a little today about folklore. As the definition here shows, it is something passed down through generations by word of mouth. Having some Native American blood in me, I have always been fascinated by that version of folklore. Things like We are not the owners of land, we are merely the caretakers for a brief period of time. I am particularly drawn to … Continue reading About Folklore…
Back To My Religious Roots?
I have let it be known here on RJsCorner that I am disappointed in most Christian Churches. So many of them are now dominated by those who act very contrary to their founder’s words. I know not every one of their members are in that camp, but the majority of them probably are. The last time I was in a church was in 2011. That … Continue reading Back To My Religious Roots?
Some Cling To Traditions…
Some cling to traditions as if it were life itself. I am not one of them. To me, traditions are too often used to cling to prejudice and a fanatical resistance to change, any change. I saw that on display in the Lutheran churches I once belonged to. They would often cite this bible verse or that, to justify their outdated and often prejudiced beliefs. … Continue reading Some Cling To Traditions…
Fire And Brimstone…
For this Sunday, I give you fire and brimstone. I don’t know what brimstone is, but I probably deserve a lot of it. I have made it clear here on RJsCorner that I am no longer religious, but I am an avid follower of the teachings of Jesus. I know I have fallen short of his words, but at least I think I do better … Continue reading Fire And Brimstone…
Just Catch Them Out Of The Air…
I have been a planner all of my life. For some reason, that has been a basic part of who I am. Maybe it is the fact that I like to think I have the answers to my life, but sometimes you just have to catch them out of the air. Some people call that praying to God. To others, it is something altogether different. … Continue reading Just Catch Them Out Of The Air…
The Pursuit of Happiness #4: According to Aristotle
I have been casually studying of Aristotle for many years, and have recently started another book about him. He was definitely a dreamer/thinker that I could never even imagine being. It is amazing to me how so many of his thoughts still apply today. Since he is one of my heroes, it just seemed natural that I look to him as to what he said … Continue reading The Pursuit of Happiness #4: According to Aristotle
He Never Told Me To Love My Religion
Just a quick message for this Sunday. For those of us who follow the teachings of Jesus know that religion and spirituality can mean to very different things. When religion gets in the way of the messages of Jesus it’s time to find a new religion or maybe even none at all. And of course, Everyone on this earth is our neighbor Continue reading He Never Told Me To Love My Religion
Tree of the knowledge
This post originated on my blog at RedLetterLiving, but I think it will get the broader attention here that it deserves. Anyone who has read many of my words over at RedLetterLiving knows that I don’t have a very positive attitude of much of what is found in the Old Testament. That part of the Bible is about Jewish history and the myths associated with … Continue reading Tree of the knowledge
The Trump/Evangelical Alliance…
For this Sunday’s post I want to talk about one of my primary forward-looking objectives for my blog RedLetterLiving. I have done everything I can to not use #CO3’s (Oval Office occupant) name or image on any of my blogs. But, but since he will soon slink back to gutter he came from I put his name on the graphic above. I truly believe that … Continue reading The Trump/Evangelical Alliance…
In Celebration of Twelve Years
I started RedLetterLiving twelve years ago yesterday to try to answer the basic question of how strongly Christian churches follow the teachings of Jesus. That part of my spiritual journey lasted six years. It was during that period that I went from a passive Sunday morning observer to actively growing my spirituality. I grew a lot during those years and since. What I found during … Continue reading In Celebration of Twelve Years
Mixing Religion and Politics
“Mixing religion and politics is like mixing ice cream and manure. It doesn’t do much to the manure but it sure does ruin the ice cream” Unknown – This Sunday’s post is again stored over at my RedLetterLiving blog. Chick Here to see it. Continue reading Mixing Religion and Politics
The 10 Commandments – Revisited
For this Sunday’s post I am again sending you to my blog at RedLetterLiving. Click HERE to go there. Continue reading The 10 Commandments – Revisited
Humanism And Jesus
I have decided to do an extended study of Humanism at the recently resurrected RedLetterLiving blog. Click HERE to see the first post. Continue reading Humanism And Jesus
A “Follower Of Jesus” Apology for MAGA Christians.
I want to use the post as my official apology to the world for MAGA Christians. I know that won’t mean much but it matters to me to apologize for this ugly group. Continue reading A “Follower Of Jesus” Apology for MAGA Christians.
Evangelicals Ask “Are You Saved?”
One of the most basic tenets in the Evangelical Community is the idea that everyone must be “saved” in order to get to heaven. I struggled with this concept for years before I came across the book If Grace Is True by Philip Gulley. He finally convinced me that that belief, at least as Evangelicals see it, is simply man-made. For this Sunday’s post I … Continue reading Evangelicals Ask “Are You Saved?”
To My Evangelical Friends…
For this Sunday’s post I am re-directing you to my RedLetterLiving site on this topic Continue reading To My Evangelical Friends…
If God Is Love — Finishing It Up.
This is the third Sunday post here at RJsCorner where I am re-visiting some posts I wrote over at RedLetterLiving about this book by Philip Gulley. It is one of a handful of books that fundamentally changed my spiritual life. I am visiting these posts again before starting up this blog that has been in hiatus for over six years now. Post 5: August 16, … Continue reading If God Is Love — Finishing It Up.
If God Is Love… Part 2
This is a continuation of my look back on my blog RedLetterLiving blog before I activate it again. This is part two of a series I wrote in June 2011 about the book “If God Is Love” by Philip Gulley. That book changed my mind about so many things. It kept me on the path to Jesus when so many others are destroying that legacy. … Continue reading If God Is Love… Part 2
The Fruit Of The Spirit
I know I usually put these posts out on Sunday, but since I already have the second part of three scheduled I am using it for today. I couldn’t have described the “fruit of the Spirit” any better than this. Quit connecting your political agenda to your spiritual one. As you will see in the coming years, maybe months, it ends up destroying both. Continue reading The Fruit Of The Spirit
If God Is Love
This is a continuation of my look back on my blog RedLetterLiving before I activate it again. It has pretty much been in hiatus for six years now but I think it is necessary to resurrect it in order to do what I can to counter the current White Evangelical view that is destroying the true messages of Christianity. In my mind they, they have … Continue reading If God Is Love
Why I Might Not Be a Christian.
I call myself a follower of Jesus, but sometimes I just don’t feel like I am a Christian, or at least a recent version of that description. That is what this post is all about.
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The Obsession With Toilet Paper?
What is it about toilet paper that has so many people obsessed with it. It is as if they think that will be the new money. 🤪 That, in a rather strange way, is what this post is all about.
Continue reading “The Obsession With Toilet Paper?”
Jesus Christ Superstar…
As I remember it many in the religious community at that time in 1970 thought Jesus Christ Superstar was sacrilegious. But it might just be the primary reason I returned to religion. That is what this post is all about.
Continue reading “Jesus Christ Superstar…”
MAGA And The Exvanglicals
Not all people who once proudly claimed to be Evangelicals are now MAGA cult members. It was refreshing to see that some have escaped and now label themselves Exvangelicals. I guess I could also wear that label as I was once an Evangelical myself. That is what this post is all about.
Continue reading “MAGA And The Exvanglicals”
RJ's Corner 