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Reclaimed: The Theology of Adoption

From First Thoughts

In 1864, Scottish theologian Robert Candlish gave a series of lectures in Edinburgh on the theology of the Fatherhood of God. As he ended those lectures, he said “I do so with the feeling that, however inadequately I have handled my great theme, I have at least thrown out some suggestive . . . . Continue Reading »

Why No Narnian Nativity?

From First Thoughts

I know the Chronicles of Narnia are not straightforward allegory, but I also know that the stone table of Aslan is the cross of Christ (depending on what the meaning of “is” is). And without any cramming or reductionism, astute readers can follow the imagination of C.S. Lewis as it maps . . . . Continue Reading »

YUBA Theology

From First Thoughts

Seems like there’s a whole lot of Newman talk going on around here lately. It’s like he’s been beatified or something! I can’t exactly get behind that, but I can add my admiration of Newman’s Christian intellect to the chorus.There’s something I read in Newman . . . . Continue Reading »

I Guess That’s Kind of My Pope There

From First Thoughts

I wasn’t able to follow all the news, never mind all the news-analysis and pundit chatter, about the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to the UK this past week. I knew it was happening, and had a sense of its historic character. I saw some headlines about the major events and reactions.Rolling . . . . Continue Reading »

More Gnostic Than Thou

From First Thoughts

This is an attempt to revisit the terms of a contemporary theological cliché. I don’t know who invented the argument that anybody lower than you on the sacramental realism scale is supposed to be called gnostic, but it’s an argument that has caught on. Any defection from high . . . . Continue Reading »

Donald Bloesch (1928-2010)

From First Thoughts

(Apologies for cross-posting from my home blog, Scriptorium Daily. I thought the passing of Bloesch ought to be noted over here for the audience at First Things’ Evangel blog as well.)Donald Bloesch, evangelical theologian, died this week. He was a unique figure in twentieth-century theology, . . . . Continue Reading »