Cult Prostitutes

In another essay[1] I wrote, “This form of religious worship [idolatrous worship (including its drunken sexual practices)] was still practiced openly in Corinth.”  But I failed to footnote it.  Though the idea was new to my conservative upbringing,[2] I thought I was...

Torture, Part 5

I don’t want to leave the impression that I am so perfected in love that I never fear punishment.[1]  I’m a creature of habit.  The possibility that God is punishing me for something is the first thing that comes to mind whenever it seems that things aren’t going my...

Fear – Numbers, Part 3

Now Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth, who were Reubenites, took men and rebelled against Moses, along with some of the Israelites, 250 leaders of the community, chosen from the...

Romans, Part 52

So how can I view, Abhor what is evil, cling to what is good,[1] and what follows as a definition of love rather than as rules?  I’ve constructed the following table to help. The Fruit of the Spirit Galatians 5:22, 23 (NET) Goodness (ἀγαθωσύνη) …for you were at one...

Condemnation or Judgment? – Part 6

I failed to come to a definitive conclusion whether the ones who have done what is evil (φαῦλα, a form of φαῦλος)[1] come out of their tombs to the resurrection resulting in[2] condemnation or judgment[3] (κρίσεως, a form of κρίσις).  My faith and my knowledge of God...

My Reasons and My Reason, Part 3

“I was really hoping that I could, um, move back in here for a while,” Linda probed her mother. “Here?” her mother asked. “Yeah.” “No, you know that’s not possible.” “Why not?” Linda asked. “How would it look for a married woman to move in with her parents apart...