Perhaps the most well-known biblical quotation is from the Gospel According to John, chapter 3, verse 16. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” With these words, the New Testament clearly states that Jesus is the source of salvation, a proposition that is core to the Christian faith regardless of denomination or sect.However, while the Church universally has affirmed Jesus as the means of salvation, historically Christianity has proposed various and contradictory understandings of the process of salvation.Therefore these are the questions I and probably you ask regarding our salvation.How does Jesus save us?From what are we saved?And most perplexing, why did Jesus have to suffer and die?Today’s topic will review historical and biblical research conducted by academic scholars that will challenge many popular assumptions and beliefs regarding salvation. My intent is not to convince anyone that what they believe is wrong, but to critically explore the diversity of beliefs within the global Church, and for each of us to determine for ourselves what we value and how we should conduct ourselves in the sacred interactions we call life.

Diverse people and cultures challenge our understanding of history. Statues of historical leaders of the United States that have been deemed offensive are being removed, buildings long named after public figures are being renamed after more “appropriate” dignitaries, local and national holiday celebrations are being recast to represent other cultures, and school lessons are teaching new historical “truths”. Why are we changing our understanding of our history?Is our current understanding of the past so wrong that it needs to be corrected?With all the challenges to the historical record, how do I know what to believe about the past events that make me who I am today?These are the questions I and probably you ask with hesitation, for any change in our understanding of history changes who we are and threatens our self-identity. Today’s topic reviews historical research conducted by academic scholars that will challenge many popular assumptions and beliefs. My intent is not to convince anyone that what they believe is wrong, but to critically explore an understanding of our history, and for each of us to determine for ourselves what we value and how we should conduct ourselves in the sacred interactions we call life.

The Christian faith as traditionally understood is under attack. Scientific discoveries and theories regarding the evolution of life and the cosmos contradict traditional Christian doctrines. Archeologists continue to uncover ancient religious manuscripts that challenge what we thought we knew of early Christianity and why we believe the doctrines that we do. Drums, keyboards, and coffee bars are today essential components of corporate worship for many and are replacing pipe organs. And rampant sexual misconduct by priests and pastors dramatically degrade the faithful’s confidence in the apostolic authority of the Church and the teaching it espouses.With scientific discoveries contradicting the Church’s historical teachings, how do I know what is true and what is not?With the discoveries of ancient manuscripts that reveal a different Christianity than what I was taught, what should I believe about the historical traditions of the Church that make me who I am today?Are the traditional teachings and practices of the Church so wrong that we need to change them?Could the history of Christianity and the religious traditions I embrace also be subject to reinterpretation and change? These are the questions I and probably you ask with hesitation, for any change in our understanding of theology changes who we are and threatens our self-identity. Today’s topic will offer social, historical, and biblical research conducted by academic scholars that will challenge many popular assumptions and beliefs. The purpose of this discussion is not to convince anyone that the ideas presented here are right and theirs are wrong, but to encourage everyone to question, to doubt, to challenge, and to learn for themselves what they believe and how they should conduct themselves in this sacred space called life.

What does it mean to have faith?Does faith mean accepting things as true that have little to no evidence? Is faith based on what we profess to know or how we live? Can I have doubts and questions and still have faith?These are the questions I and probably you ask with hesitation, for any change in our understanding of history and theology changes who we are and threatens our self-identity. Today’s topic will offer historical and biblical research conducted by academic scholars that will challenge many popular Christian assumptions and beliefs. The purpose of this discussion is not to convince anyone that the ideas presented here are right and theirs are wrong, but to encourage everyone to question, doubt, challenge, and determine for themselves what they believe and how they should conduct themselves in this sacred space called life.