Monthly Archives: February 2012

Break for Lent

Posted on February 21, 2012 by Alastair Roberts

I will be off Twitter and blogging for the duration of Lent. I hope that you all have a good Lenten season. I look forward to seeing you all at Easter time, hopefully with the first draft of a book … Continue reading →

Posted in What I'm Doing | Leave a comment

How to be a Popular Blogger (by someone who isn’t)

Posted on February 18, 2012 by Alastair Roberts

Rachel Held Evans, one of the best conversation-starting bloggers out there, has posted on the subject of blog traffic and how to become a popular blogger. This is a subject that has interested me for some time, and I thought … Continue reading →

Posted in The Blogosphere | 8 Comments

A Better Gospel

Posted on February 18, 2012 by Alastair Roberts

In the comments following my previous post on the problems with a particular form of the evangelical gospel presentation, I was asked how I would go about presenting the gospel, and how I would capture some of the core gospel … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Theological | 39 Comments

What’s Wrong With The Evangelical Gospel?

Posted on February 17, 2012 by Alastair Roberts

Someone in my Twitter feed linked the video above earlier this evening. Watching it, I was struck by two things. First, by how baldly and bluntly it presents the underlying narrative of the gospel message that is standard for many … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 29 Comments

Eschatologically Weighted Ontology and the Fall

Posted on February 16, 2012 by Alastair Roberts

Maximus writes this section in a metaphysical idiom, but his argument helps fill out the importance of recognizing the eschatological aspiration that was inherent in Adam’s situation.  If Adam was fulfilled, perfected from the outset, then we are almost inevitably … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, OT, Theological | 2 Comments

Finding Joy in the Vapour

Posted on February 15, 2012 by Alastair Roberts

“Vapour of vapours,” says the Preacher; “vapour of vapours, all is vapour.” Perhaps there are few more potent and fecund metaphors for human life, activity, and thought than that of vapour, breath, or mist. Life is like groping through a … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Ecclesiastes, OT | 2 Comments

An Unromantic Thought for St Valentine’s Day

Posted on February 13, 2012 by Alastair Roberts

Although I may be untypical in this regard, as a single person, I have generally been very thankful for the fact that I do not have to participate in the yearly celebration of St Valentine’s Day (if and when I … Continue reading →

Posted in Society | 6 Comments

Theology of Clothing Book Plans

Posted on February 10, 2012 by Alastair Roberts

I have decided for Lent this year to take a break from blogging and regular online activity to write the first draft of a book. I presented three suggestions for topics to a friend, who decided on the topic of … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Theological | 22 Comments

Is YHWH a War Criminal?

Posted on February 9, 2012 by Alastair Roberts

The question of divine goodness and justice in light of the deep problems raised by the biblical commands concerning the slaughter of the Canaanites seems to be the hot topic right now. Philip Jenkins writes on the subject of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Joshua, OT, Theological | 26 Comments

Twitter Bible Study

Posted on February 8, 2012 by Alastair Roberts

I have just started a Bible study on Twitter with a few friends (my Twitter handle is @zugzwanged). We are having a tweeting conversation around 1 Samuel, using the hashtag #tbs1sam, going through one chapter each day. Today (8th February) we are … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Samuel, Bible, OT | Leave a comment