Overdue Heresies

"What, if anything, do I believe about God?"

The burgeoning of people who doubt many traditional Christian answers makes this question highly pertinent today. The short and very short essays of

Overdue Heresies aim to stimulate readers to reach, reaffirm, or rethink their own conclusions about God, Atheism, Jesus, Miracles, Sin, Salvation, and many other elements of the Christian tradition. They do not seek to persuade anyone of anything,; rather, they encourage readers to enjoy disagreeing. They say little about the Quaker Way, though many of them resemble the messages that readers might hear spoken out of the silence of a Quaker meeting.

The book is especially for: People who are spiritually inquisitive or question major parts of their church's doctrines. Atheists and other "Nones." Students seeking fodder for late-night bull sessions. Seekers of truth. The book asks many questions and questions many traditional answers. It is not for people who seek certainty or believe they have found it.

Author's Note xiii

Introduction xv

My Faith xv

The Quaker Way xvi

Writing the Book xviii

God 1

Creation 19

Science 32

Atheism 41

Religion 50

The Bible 61

Jews 66

Isaac 68

Jesus 70

Judas 82

Peter 83

Christianity 85

Faith 94

Miracles 101

People 107

Prayer 115

Suffering 121

Prophesy 124

Proselytizing 125

Sin 127

Soul 138

Forgiveness 142

Salvation 144

Hell 146

Afterlife 147

War 155

Practice 164

Appendix A 180

Appendix B 181

Appendix C 182

Endnotes 183

Acknowledgments 187

About the Author 188