Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

  • The Need for Liberal Protestantism

    I’m writing a response to Ben Crosby’s latest blog post., Renewal Not Toleration. As an Episcopal priest he appeals to both Anglican history and the canons of the Episcopal Church. As a United Church of Christ pastor I have only an inkling of such things. But as he writes ” I hope that what I have…

  • The Future of Approaching Justice

    I met Chris Henrichsen at Pride in Casper in his run for congress to represent Wyoming 9 years ago. I’m just now hearing of his passing but what I remember is his love for his family and his brilliant political mind that was rooted in pluralism, progressive politics, religious faith, always drawing from the work…

  • In Remembrance of Chris Henrichsen

    Chris Henrichsen (top right), who passed away suddenly this morning at the age of 45, was many things. A student of political theory, a democratic socialist, and a passionate defender of the legacy of John Rawls. An old-school fan of Minor Threat, Bad Brains, and other early 1980s hardcore punk acts (especially those with roots…

  • Remembering Chris Henrichsen

    Chris Henrichsen was my friend. I met him online, years ago, as a participant on Russell Arben Fox‘s “Fox and Friends” (heh) email list, where we still banter Big Ideas uselessly back and forth. He left the list years ago and established his own place, Approaching Justice, where he invited me to write. It’s a…

  • Two Religions?

    This will act as a kind of book review of George Yancey’s new book One Faith No Longer, the Transformation of Christianity in Red and Blue America. It is kind of review because I don’t intend to address most claims in the book. I simply want to highlight those claims that interest me as a…

  • In Praise of Pastoral Care

    William H. Willimon and Stanley Hauerwas in a conversation piece on the Dangers of Pastoral Care do not simply offer some warnings about the limits of pastoral care, they appear to call the whole enterprise into question. The dangers are worth raising. Most pastors are not trained counselors, if there is a mental health crises they need to…

  • Freeing Jesus: A Review

    Freeing Jesus:  Rediscovering Jesus as Friend, Teacher, Savior, Lord, Way, and PresenceDiana Butler Bass In Freeing Jesus, Diana Butler Bass discusses six ways of approaching Jesus, six ways that Christians have spoken of Jesus, and most importantly six ways Christians have experienced of Jesus or as she calls it the Jesus of experience. In particular,…

  • Pride Month and Father’s Day

    June is recognized as Pride Month. Around the country. A time where LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) festivals, parades, and events are held to commemorate the 1969 riots at the Stonewall Inn, a LGBT bar in New York City.  It has evolved to be a whole month of celebrations and I’ve noticed events being…

  • Pride Month and the Triune God

    As we enter the month of Pride month and leave behind Trinity Sunday, I wanted to explore both as we go into the season of ordinary time. A time that a parishioner once told me, is the time that God often uses to redeem us. LGBT Pride Month occurs in the United States to commemorate the…

  • God on the Autism Spectrum

    A revision of an article I wrote some time ago. My interest in Aspergers and Autism developed in seminary when I was taking Clinical Pastoral Education. I was asked if I was on the Autism spectrum by a chaplain I was working with,. I vaguely was aware of the term so I read up everything…

  • Remembering MLK on this Easter

    I’m reminded that on this day in 1968 Martin Luther King was assassinated and it’s been something I’ve been sitting with over this Holy Week. The excerpt you heard, often titled I Have Been to the Mountain Top, is his last public address given on April 3rd, 1968 in support of the Memphis sanitation workers…

  • Holy Week Reflections

    The Apostles Creed says Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. The Nicene Creed says for us and for our salvation he came down from heaven; and was made human. He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate;…

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