A basic question in philosophy is, Òhow do we know what we think we know? Constructivists answer this question as follows: categories for constructing reality reside in the human mind, so reality cannot escape the mind's limitations. Human beings constantly assimilate new knowledge and experience. Constructivists apply the same logic to the question of truth. What we claim to be true is always provisional. New information and breakthroughs may supplant what we presently hold to be true. Ultimate or absolute truth is unknowable. In The Flipside of Godspeak, John Crosby applies the principles of philosophical and theological constructivism to theistic belief. The idea of God is a constructed idea.We come to think that we know there is a God because we have internalized stories, images, and historical accounts passed on to us by people with authority. In these pages, however, and without reference to an authoritarian deity, Crosby considers questions of ethics and morality. An ethic of eudaemonism or Òwell-being is posited to be based on the principles of equality, honesty, and responsibility to self and others. Implications of the meaning and purpose of human existence are considered from the existential perspective, that is, from the viewpoint that we oursleves invent, create, and construct meaning.
Godfoolery: Beyond Belief and Unbelief is for religious skeptics who, like the author, have trouble accepting canned answers and confessions and creeds. As such, this volume of essays can be read independently of each other. Questions dealing with creation ex nihilo, biblical criticism, the higher and lower criticism, tests of truth, tribalism and its relation to white supremacy, as well as death and its impact on the meaning of life.
Increasing numbers of disillusioned and thoughtful persons find they can no longer maintain a simplistic concept of theism, be it Christian, Jewish, or Islamic. But the shock that comes with loss of faith, and the challenges of learning to restructure oneOCOs life if one has been a believer, can seem overwhelming. Aftermath gives a sound foundation for building a meaningful life without god."
Crosby claims that much of the Bible is myth. Since some myth may be true, the next step is to label that part of myth adjudged to be untrue, such as folklore. But myth and folklore are not necessarily the same. Lore serves further as an interpretation, elucidation, embellishment, or spin upon the myth. This lore, in turn, may help clarify one's beliefs or it may enable one to see more clearly what is essential to one's faith or nonessential. Crosby follows the exegesis and biblical criticism norms of Albert Schweitzer's quest of the historical Jesus with emphasis on mythus pioneer David Friedrich Strauss. Theology meets biology and physiology in culmination with all biblical study. This takes place in the sapiens brain, the supreme source of all language and imagination via which we invent the reality in which we choose to dwell.
This is a book intended to help people think two or three times before getting married. The book challenges the separation of societal romanticism from love and sex. The basic question is, Are you in it for sex or are you in love? Is it commitment or is it lust? The heart of the matter is one’s expectations. What we can bring into the marriage and what we are willing to commit to it are always in central focus. Crosby treats many of the usual and unusual challenges that we encounter whenever we join forces with a partner. This second edition includes a new chapter on traditional defense mechanisms. Passive-aggressiveness, dependence, obsessive-compulsiveness, and paranoia are reviewed as barriers to solid marital communication.
Firstly, the objective of that research was to assess the actions of the Civil Rights and the Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc. (PNBC) movements. Based on 37 returns to a questionnaire of 39 reduced to 24 identified key criteria e-mailed to 158 persons across the country with forwarding permission, 92% of the respondents indicated that they either agreed or strongly agreed that the actions of the Civil Rights and PNBC movements were inspired of/by God. Additionally, this research identified some serious concerns and issues that each movement (mainly PNBC) has to address if each will continue to exist/survive. Secondly, the objective of that research was to document our history through our struggles, through our pains and gains, through our good times and bad times, through the ups and the downs; in other words, good, bad, or indifferent, it is what it is, our story (his-story, not their-story). Rev. Dr. Herbert D. Daughtry, Sr. constantly admonished us to make history, to interpret history, and to record history (or something to that effect and not necessarily in that order). When we do not do it ourselves in an accurate, precise, truthful, etc. manner, then others will tell their story, which (nine out of ten times) usually is not accurate, precise, truthful, etc. The old prophet acclaimed: "And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it." (Habakkuk 2:2) Thirdly (and lastly), the objective of that research was to share information that we do not want to be locked in our minds only to take it to the so-called grave. Many persons who were super-knowledgeable (as I define it) about so many things that could have blessed the world took that super-valuable information to the grave - what a tremendous lost!!! As an aside, the lost is on multiple levels. Level one, we lost them. Level two, we lost what they did not share with us while they were alive. Level three, we lost the value of that buried information. (That is, someone could have taken that information and transformed it to new information. For example, Dr. Gabriel A. Oyibo solved the Unified Field Theorem that Albert Einstein did not live long enough to solve. So many things evolved from solving that equation. Just think: what would have happened to those many things that evolved from solving that equation if Dr. Oyibo would not have solved that theorem? All those many things that evolved from solving that equation would not be in existence. Level four, those persons who took from those many things that evolved from solving that equation and incorporated that value into what they were doing. Etc. etc. etc. The number of these levels conceivably and theoretically approaches infinity. That is, there is no end to the theoretical lost when just one person does not bless the world with their knowledge, wisdom, and understanding.
Imagine opening a jewelry box. As you carefully raise the lid, the most beautiful music you have ever heard begins to play. Peering inside, you see precious gemstones surrounding a polished strand of pearls against a black velvet lining. This isnt just any jewelry box. Its your spiritual jewelry box. Pearls are the foundational piece placed in our spiritual jewelry box. When you dont know what to pray, dont know how to pray, and dont even want to pray, you can open your jewelry box and pull out Pearls. In the same way an oyster covers an irritant in its shell with a substance called nacre, producing a pearl, we can coat the issues in our lives with the nacre of prayer and also produce pearls. Pearls outlines five essentials for a richer prayer life, focusing on how Jesus words, it is better to give than to receive, relate to prayer. These words are often related to our money, our time, or our service. Pearls takes a step further and shows how giving to God through prayer in five areas enriches your prayer life and draws you into a closer relationship with Him. Pearls is about praying. It provides a fresh look at a subject that will never grow old.
Have you ever wished that you could have a more fulfilling prayer life? Do you ever get so busy in a day that it is difficult to find time to pray? If so, this book is written especially for you. Prayer is one of the greatest weapons we have in our arsenal to fight the devil and one of our least used. Too often we tend to try to rely on our own strength when facing trials and don’t call on the incredible power of God that is available to us. This book explores why we should pray, what may hinder our prayers and offers suggestions on how we should pray. It also cites of Biblical examples of people who took action without first praying to God or those who didn’t wait for an answer from God before jumping into situations. Intended for individual or group study, this book delves into prayer on a deeper level. May God bless those who study it with a more meaningful prayer life.
Let’s face it — most of us are looking for answers in all the wrong places. It’s hard not to be drawn in by headlines, advertisements, and the constant barrage of “expert” advice on everything from sex and relationships to fitness, fashion, and spiritual awakening. In our world today, though, sin is presented a lot more effectively than virtue. We are led to believe that the only way to improve ourselves and satisfy our deepest longings is through the prevailing perspective of our culture. But that perspective is a schizophrenic one, divorced from the source of truth. Kaiser Johnson — actor, athlete, and author — had the same burning questions we all have about life, love, sex, being a man, and doing the right thing. The more he searched, the more he realized the world’s answers just weren’t working. From his years spent listening to the lies of our culture, he has clearly identified 12 simple tricks to end up miserable and alone. He’s tried all of them, and they work! It turns out hookup culture, self-fulfillment, self-love, using and abusing friends and family, maintaining a frantically busy schedule, and always taking the easy way out are the perfect recipe for a wretched life. But Kaiser also discovered something else that he shares in the pages of this funny, honest book: Only God can fill the emptiness of our hearts and help us to discover a life that truly matters. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Kaiser Johnson is a Catholic husband and father. He works as an actor (Unplanned, Stranger Things), voiceover artist (Transformers: War for Cybertron, Call of Duty Cold War, Resident Evil Resistance) and author (Grit and Glory: Cross Training Your Body and Soul, and an upcoming pulp adventure series). To learn more and keep up to date on his work, visit and subscribe for free at Kaiser-Johnson.com or find him @kaiserjohnson on social media.
When a mysterious and charismatic woman insinuates herself into a fringe religious group, its dozen members wonder whether she is a lunatic, a con artist, or a messiah. Sophia quickly upends the routines and expectations of the group—the last Christians in the inhabited solar system—while Peter, their struggling leader, becomes increasingly obsessed with her. Before long, Peter finds himself following Sophia on a perilous interplanetary adventure which may cost both of them their lives.
