Studies on the Fringe of Christianity
George was an older gentleman who lived in a southern state not too far away from me. He was retired and alone – his wife having died several years previously – and lived in a shotgun house1 which was sandwiched between the homes of two religious-minded people. One day, George confessed to me how he …
Over the years I’ve often been asked, by women, if I believed women should really be silent in religious instruction, as it says in the Bible. They were all seeking comment or advice in reference to 1 Corinthians 14:34-35, which states: “Women should be silent during the church meetings. It is not proper for them …
Specifically, the Ten Commandments,1 also known as the Decalogue, were given by God to the Israelites at Mount Sinai, after Moses led the people of Israel out of slavery from Egypt, about 1440 B.C. It was part of the covenant between them and Jehovah. Obeying this list of commandments was a heavy burden for the …
I have received some email asking for background material on The Outlaw Bible Student. I thank everyone that wrote and I sincerely appreciate your interest. This information is, actually, already onsite, however it is hidden in the site’s menu bar under “About OBS” and not easily recognized. So, I decided to post this information as …
Many Christian churches are moving toward acceptance and approval of gay, lesbian, and transgendered people into their congregations. Currently, in the United States, the United Church of Christ celebrates gay marriage, and some parts of the Anglican and Lutheran churches allow for the blessing of gay unions.1 Even some Quaker groups approve of same-sex marriages …
My wife and I recently went on a boat trip through some areas of Puget Sound in northwest Washington. It was one of those short cruises in the evening where dinner is served and you can see the islands during the remaining day light while going out, but dusk and darkness allows you to see …
When the question is asked about why did Jesus need to die, it is usually answered, “He died for our sins.” Few people ask for further explanation, but when some do they get such answers as: “So that we could be forgiven,” or “He gave his life for ours.” While those answers may be correct, …