Category: Theology
Belief vs. Knowledge in Tax Reform
Dr. Ben Carson, a candidate for the Republican nomination for U.S. President, spoke to students at Christian-based Liberty University on November 11th, the day after the fourth national Republican pre... Read More
The War on What, Exactly: “Christmas”, Starbucks, Doctor Who, and Ombre-Is-The-New-Red
Every early-November, a lovely woman I used to work with would come in to the office, hands cupped joyously—reverently almost—around a tall vanilla latte in a bright red container, serene smile on... Read More
How to win a religious debate: A step by step guide
On October 27th, dozens of students and academics filed into Sanders theatre at Harvard to hear psychologist Steven Pinker and law professor David Skeel. The event promised to be a moderated discussio... Read More
Dangerous Division – Torah and Nature in Pirqei Avot
There’s a famous mishna in the ethical tractate called Pirqei Avot (Chapters on Fundamentals), which says the following: Rabbi Ya’aqov said: One who is reviewing their Torah study while w... Read More
One of These Jews Is Not Like the Others: A Progressive Jew at an Orthodox Yom Kippur
It was raining at dusk. I decided not to ride my bike to the progressive Yom Kippur service on the Boston University campus. If I rode my bike, I would get too thirsty coming home and I wouldn’t ke... Read More
First Fruits: A Theology of Privilege
Temple service once included the practice of bringing bikkurim to the temple—the first fruits that grow from the land of Israel, the land that the Holy One promised our ancestors. These bikkurim are... Read More
Natural Theology from a Former Atheist: A Book Review of Anthony Flew’s “There is a God” Part II
Theological Analysis and Impact In part one of my book review of “There is a God” I argued that Flew’s theological deism is questionable, if not suspect. The theological impact of this b... Read More
Working T’shuvah – What is Forgiveness?
I grew up in a non-religious family, and then became Christian as a teenager, and then converted again to Judaism as an adult. I learned as a teen that forgiveness is freely and completely given. It i... Read More