Faith Issues and Theology

Faith Issues and Theology

Have you ever had questions about your faith but were afraid to ask? I know I would have a hard time telling my pastor what I really believe. Do you wonder how God could be all-powerful and yet not stop more suffering, such as family violence and natural disaster?  I have spent a lot of time processing faith issues and conundrums in therapy and in graduate school, issues such as the problem of evil, the nature of scripture, and the essentials of Christianity.  What are the five most essential teachings of Christianity?  Is one verse of scripture more important than another?  Where does reason fit into theology?  What about church tradition?  What about our personal experience of God?  If you grew up on an island without any books or scriptures, would you still know God?

I have earned a Master of Divinity degree as well as a Ph.D. in Theology and Personality.  My own personal faith story, even the adult part of it, has developed over a period of ten or twenty years, through reading, discernment, prayer, contemplation, and conversation.  In addition, I spent three years as a pastor of churches in Kentucky and in California. Through these experiences, I have resolved many of my faith crises and worked through many of the stages of faith.  I may well have been where you are now.

I have been exposed to many different viewpoints on God and to many different versions of theology. I am very open-minded and strive to be completely non-judgmental.  I hope to help you resolve some of your faith crises so that you can worship more vibrantly and be in an unfettered relationship with God. We can explore how the Bible interfaces with reason, personal experience of the divine, culture, and church/religious tradition.  Come to the mercy seat.