Category: Philosophical Thoughts

I have much to say on this topic and how the church has lost its way in the world today.

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Universal Salvation… If Grace Is True

RJ Walters

Universal Salvation is not believed by many current Christian denominations but I became convinced to make it my worldview primarily by the book cited below. The following series of posts which will subsequently be compiled as an In-Depth report here on RJsCorner came from my other blog RedLetterLiving.net. I’ve never experienced a God of wrath. I’ve heard such a God preached. I’ve read of such a God. I’ve encountered wrathful people who claimed to be acting on God’s behalf. I’ve even allowed such sentiments to tarnish my view of God. Yet, in the midst of all these distortions, I never … Continue reading Universal Salvation… If Grace Is True

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A Changing God…A God Who Loves Us All

RJ Walters

I am certainly one of those whose idea of God has changed drastically during my lifetime. I started out as a kid in a Catholic school in the 1950s who was taught that only Catholics would go to heaven. It is certainly not that God is changing but instead it is my idea of what God is. I have gone from the beliefs of “Only Catholics” to one of Universal Salvation. I deem this change as progress, others more fundamental (stuck in their ways) will say it is heresy. Looking at the ages, the concept of God has changed radically. … Continue reading A Changing God…A God Who Loves Us All

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When we Christians shun our responsibilities….

RJ Walters

Jesus clearly told us to be our brother’s keeper but somewhere along the way we Christians unapologetically shunned that responsibility. During the first three centuries, Christians were very much their brother’s keeper. They often pooled their resources so that those neediest were taken care of. They not only cared for their own there is even documented evidence showing that they took care of those not even Christians.  But, of course, this is what Jesus did so they were just following his lead. The vast majority of Christian congregations today spend about 95% of what they gather on themselves or their … Continue reading When we Christians shun our responsibilities….

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What About The Soul??

RJ Walters

With this post I am going to go deeply into philosophy and speculate on just what is life. I couldn’t decide if this post belongs in the “That’s Life” category or “Crayon Marks” so I put it in both.  :) Man has spent ages trying to figure out what happens after we end our life on earth.  For Christians, Jesus tells us that our spirit leaves our body and goes to what we decided to call heaven. He tells us that marriages don’t count in heaven and we will live in one of the rooms in his mansion.  I kind … Continue reading What About The Soul??

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If Grace Is True

RJ Walters

After many years of resistance and finally accepting God’s love I find it strange to believe that so many believe he is going to damn the vast majority of those he loves to an eternal anguish.  We spend less than a century on this earth in one degree of happiness or another and then billions, if not trillions of centuries in total misery and anguish. That is just not the God that I have come to know. I grew up in a very sheltered life in a small midwest town. There were no visible minorities there and there certainly were … Continue reading If Grace Is True

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Pope Francis.. Not Afraid To Speak Out..

RJ Walters

To me the foundation of my spirituality lies in the words of Jesus in Matthew 25, particularly verse 40: ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Pope Francis almost wants me to return to my religious roots in Catholicism. He says inconvenient truths that so many other religious leader shy away from or completely disregard.  Verse 40 as cited above is the most often quoted verse in Matthew. Seldom are the verses before or after used as a pretext to that sentence. In those verses Jesus basically … Continue reading Pope Francis.. Not Afraid To Speak Out..

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The best God joke ever … Revisited

RJ Walters

This is a revisit of a post I wrote here in 2012. It still applies today. Once I saw this guy on a bridge about to jump. I said, “Dont do it!”  He said, “Nobody loves me.”  I said, “God loves you. Do you believe in God?”  He said, “Yes.”  I said, “Are you a Christian or a Jew?”  He said, “A Christian.”  I said, “Me, too! Protestant or Catholic?”  He said, “Protestant.”  I said, “Me, too! What franchise?”  He said, “Baptist.” I said, “Me, too! Northern Baptist or Southern Baptist?”  He said, “Northern Baptist.” I said, “Me, too! Northern Conservative … Continue reading The best God joke ever … Revisited

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People of Faith For Resistance..

RJ Walters

There seems to be many opportunities cropping up on this first day of a new administration for resistance to draconian change they intend for our democracy in the upcoming years. I am particularly happy to see Christians in this mode. No, not all Christians are among the 81% of Evangelicals who pushed the current administration in office.  In reality they are a small percentage of that community. One of those orgs on the forefront of resistance is Sojourners.  Here are some words in a recent email from them. The GOP plans for a juggernaut of action very quickly to gut many … Continue reading People of Faith For Resistance..

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Our Collective Futures…

RJ Walters

   I will be the first to admit that the last eight years have not been America’s best. We were far too entangled in partisan warfare to really accomplish what is needed to keeping America the envy of the world.  And then there was the election of an extreme egocentric narcissist to be our future leader. As many are saying now the USA seems to always take two steps forward and one step back. We are definitely n the “back” part in the coming years. Attached is a letter from President Obama just two days before he leaves the helm … Continue reading Our Collective Futures…

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To Those Who Need It The Most…..

RJ Walters

Today I thought I would talk to you about my struggle with the inconsistency of the Bible. Philip Gulley who has written several books on this topic is a well know Christian author of the Quaker persuasion. He is one of my favorite authors of any genre. Let’s start this topic with a quote from one of his books. For what good is grace—this unconditional love of God—if it is not extended to those who deserve it the least but need it the most? God is love. Holiness and justice are not competing commitments. God has not chosen to turn his … Continue reading To Those Who Need It The Most…..

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The Stone Ceiling of Religions

RJ Walters

There are a lot of things about today’s religious establishments that hinder their outreach to the 21st century population. The glass, or maybe stone ceiling is one of them. Faith leaders grappling with women’s inclusion in religious leadership roles are in danger of the same pitfall. By focusing exclusively on “what is traditional” for their religion rather than asking the crucial question: “What change is necessary for religion to thrive?” they risk alienating 50 per cent of their flock. They also deprive the entire community of the talent, skills and enthusiasm that women would otherwise contribute.Insisting that men continue to … Continue reading The Stone Ceiling of Religions

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In the Name of Jesus, Stop Executions

RJ Walters

I am thoroughly pro-life in all its forms.  Yes, abortion kills a living being but so does war and executions. Pro-life means believing in the sanctity of life before and after birth. Jesus made that pretty clear in his teachings and I intend to follow him in that and most all other regards. Some folks will argue that the death penalty is necessary for the most heinous crimes, the “worst of the worst.” But it is increasingly clear that when it comes to executions in America, we are not killing the worst of the worst. We are killing the poorest of … Continue reading In the Name of Jesus, Stop Executions

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Teach theology, not religion

RJ Walters

The quotes below come from input from Irish high school students when asked about having religious studies in their school system. The wisdom of these kids’ words are way beyond their years. By giving all children the opportunity to learn about the beliefs and values of diverse groups in society, the government would be providing for their education in some of the liberal democratic values on which the State itself is based. They include openness to a range of views along with inclusive and respectful citizenship. MANUS CHARLETON Perhaps, as religion is one of the greatest causes of conflict in … Continue reading Teach theology, not religion

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Why Not A Trampoline??

RJ Walters

When George Bush  in 2000 said he was a “compassionate conservative”, my first thought was there is no such thing. But then after some thoughtful meditation I had to take back those words. I must admit that compassion, at least beyond a minimum level, seems to be pretty far away from most in the GOP. They seem to be much more concerned about the top 1% than the bottom 20%. Its been a while since I collected the quote below but I’m pretty sure it came from Jim Wallis at Sojourners just before he retired from that organization. When my … Continue reading Why Not A Trampoline??

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Letters To The Editor…

RJ Walters

I occasionally write a letter to the editor of our small town newspaper. They allow me to put my two cents into the topic at hand. But since our town is so small I am often reluctant to chime in on some sensitive issues for fear of being labeled by my neighbors.  Anonymity is not an option in small town living. When I ran across this “letter to the editor” from Buffalo NY it got my attention.  To me the author spells out the relationship between government and religion  as concisely as possible: Like the Bible, the writings of the nation’s Founding … Continue reading Letters To The Editor…

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When Leaving Religion Costs You Everything…

RJ Walters

When I read the words in the source article below they rang very true to me. Even though I was not a minister like he was I too felt the cost of being forced  out of a church community for having  different/unacceptable beliefs. I dared, among other things to say the earth was more than 6,000 years old. After 36 years in the Evangelical Charismatic movement in Tennessee, Dave left his faith. “For me,” he says, “it all started with a critical examination of the Bible and how it came to be…when I quit making excuses for the inconsistencies and … Continue reading When Leaving Religion Costs You Everything…

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Memorial Day Is Not On the Church’s Calendar

RJ Walters

I have been holding off on this post so as not to offend some people’s views of that holiday. My friends at Red Letter Christians have spurred me in thoughts once again. This time it is about Memorial Day. I have always found it strange that we as a nation celebrate our wars. Some even seem obsessed with them. To me war is the failure to accomplish our goals in a Christ-like manner of peace. “Bound together by Christ, not nationality” is a real but seemingly pretty naive thinking in today’s world but that is my reality. I know I am … Continue reading Memorial Day Is Not On the Church’s Calendar

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Wicked Theology

RJ Walters

When I came across this post a while back it got my immediate attention as the topic is probably one of the primary reasons that more and more people are declaring themselves spiritual but not religious.  There is just too much baggage attached to too many of our religious institutions today.  Too many twist the words  of Jesus to match their current view of the world. It is kind of surprising that the author of the words above is a Baptists professor. Flat- Bible advocates, of which many Baptists are a part, believe that every word in the Bible comes directly … Continue reading Wicked Theology

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‘Of course’ ISIS is driven by Islam…

RJ Walters

I know that it may not be politically correct to say that ISIS is driven by Islam but the truth is the truth.. ISIS and all their offshoots take a part of the Koran and use it as an excuse for their extremism the same way that the KKK does with the Christian Bible. Spiritual beliefs are a big part of human nature. Almost everyone has a basic need to know who created them and what is the “right” way to live on this earth. I chose the teachings of Jesus Christ as my spiritual foundation.  I take the red … Continue reading ‘Of course’ ISIS is driven by Islam…

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In The Beginning…. And Then…

RJ Walters

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. He created the birds of the air and the fish of the sea and the beasts of the land.  And then he created man,  and it was down hill from there on out…. Forgive me that this is not an exact quote from any bible but for the purpose of this post you get the idea where I am going. The very first family that God made ended up with a murderer. One brother killing another. That wasn’t a very good start to humanity. It seems that the seven deadly … Continue reading In The Beginning…. And Then…