Randal Rauser

Home of progressively evangelical, generously orthodox, rigorously analytic, revolutionary Christian thinking (that's what I'm aiming for anyway)

You're not as crazy as I think

Why it isn’t helpful to use progressive vs. conservative as boundary markers

by

Yesterday, I was asked the following question on Twitter: “as someone who identifies as a [Christian] progressive, how would you define ‘progressive Christianity’ if [I may] ask?” I thought this question to be worth answering in an article. So here goes. Let’s begin with a caveat: the reader should set aside any evaluative assumptions. This is […]

Why the problem of evil is the ultimate theist/atheist standoff

by

In this article, we are going to take a hard look at the problem of evil. We begin with an excerpt from my book You’re not as Crazy as I Think. I then offer some additional thoughts. On April 15, 1989, Ramon Salcido took his three daughters—Teresa, age two; Carmina, age three; and Sofia, age four—out […]

What can we learn from the Covington Boys Controversy?

by

Like many people, I was outraged at what *appeared* to be the overt disrespect and racism from the “Covington Boys” toward Vietnam vet Nathan Phillips. I described my visceral reaction in the article, “A Word on Behalf of the Idiots.” In that article, I assumed the moral culpability of the young men and then offered a […]

The Ways of Atheist Indoctrination

by

Many atheists are keen to identify indoctrination within Christian (or other religious) communities. Not surprisingly, however, they typically fail to recognize the extent that indoctrination can occur among atheists. In this article, I am going to take a look at indoctrination in the contemporary resurgence of atheism known as “the new atheism.”[1] I can already hear […]

I Believe on the Third Day He Rose Again . . . but what about those who don’t?

by

This article is an excerpt from my 2011 book You’re not as Crazy as I Think. The book includes four chapters dedicated to understanding various groups that are commonly misunderstood by evangelicals and this excerpt is drawn from the chapter titled “Not all liberal Christians are heretics.” In the passage, I attempt to understand the individual […]

72. You’re not as Crazy as I Think

by

Have you ever noticed how many crazy people there are out there? I’m not talking about folks who sport wild hair and a sandwich board that declares “The end is near”. I’m talking about those people who, for some inexplicable reason, fail to share your views on religion or politics or sports or the weather or … you name it. […]

Randal talks on The Bob Dutko Show

by

I have done approximately 50 radio and podcast interviews over the last five years. During that time I’ve been on The Bob Dutko Show (103.5 WMUZ, Detroit, Michigan) five times which, by my counting, is more than any other program. (I believe The Drew Marshall Show comes in second.) If you visit the show’s website you […]

Is belief in God irrational? My soon-to-be-released debate with Chris Hallquist

by

Back in the middle of September I received an email from Justin Schieber. (Yes, that Justin Schieber, aka the teen pop sensation of the Reasonable Doubts Podcast!) Justin was writing to invite me to debate Chris Hallquist who blogs as The Uncredible Hallq. In emulation of Schieber’s Reasonable Doubts debate with Max Andrews  the format would be […]

Mocking Christians who believe in talking snakes? A response to The Atheist Missionary

by

Last week I wrote “Laughing at Fundamentalists” in critique of those who would propose to mock certain groups. (Of course to mock a group it is best to label them first and “Fundamentalist” is as good a label as any.) In response I received the following comment from The Atheist Missionary: “I’ve always taken the position […]

Thoughts on Evolution: A response to Stephen J. Bedard

by

Yesterday blogger Stephen J. Bedard at the “Hope’s Reason” blog posted a review of my book You’re not as Crazy as I Think. Bedard enjoyed the book and gave it a very positive review. (And he notes in the review that The Atheist Missionary, a regular reader at my blog, had recommended the book. As a […]