The disconnect with Christians on sexuality, Part I

What’s really missing in society is the ability for people who disagree to understand and empathize with each other. We vilify. We see this happening not only at the interpersonal level but at the corporate, political and international levels, as well. We identify an enemy and we attack, frankly because it’s the easiest thing to […]

Sex and what it means to be human

You don’t have to venture far to move from St. Augustine’s views on sex to his understanding of human nature. Both are tied into how he perceives the Fall, and there are problems in his thought that drastically impacted Christianity hundreds of years later. As helpful as Augustine’s questions and observations are regarding sex, they […]

Sex, passion and lust

When it comes to sex, St. Augustine was one of the first feminists. No, really. There are various interpretations of Augustine’s writings, as one might expect from someone who was so prolific. There is also a bit of trouble translating his Latin. The following is a summary of what I consider to be an excellent […]

Sexcapades with St. Augustine

Oh, baby. Awwwwww, yeaaaahhhhhh, you know that’s right. We’re talkin’ ’bout sex, ’cause you know that’s what you’re thinkin’ about. Let’s talk about sex, baby, let’s talk about you and…Augustine? Oh, yeah, Augustine, girl (or boy, as it were). That sly dog. The Church Father who puts the “hip” in Hippo. Because, seriously, Augustine loved […]

The humbling and the emptying

Communication stinks, doesn’t it? How many problems are simply caused by either the inability of one person to accurately explain something to another or the other person’s inability to fully understand what the first person was trying to say? Or both? One of the frustrating things about words is that they are limited. We only […]

How to make sense of God

I have a lot of experience being angry with God. It often feels like He has frustrated me to no end. The relationship I’ve had with Him has left a lot to be desired. Where to begin? Assuming you even buy standard Christian theology, you start from the premise that “I’m not God,” which means much of […]

Lamentations

I am the man who has seen affliction by the rod of his wrath. He has driven me away and made me walk in darkness rather than light; indeed, he has turned his hand against me again and again, all day long… He has besieged me and surrounded me with bitterness and hardship. He has […]