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

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…

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…

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

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?”

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.

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.

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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.

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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.

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