Category Archives: Atheism

God-Stories vs. Godless Stories

Posted on April 14, 2011 by Derek Leman

I’m reading Patrick Rothfuss’s The Name of the Wind, a very well written novel in the fantasy genre (a genre I love and which I am writing in as you can see here). One his little side stories made me … Continue reading →

Posted in Atheism, Faith | 11 Comments

Teaching Faith to Youth

Posted on February 4, 2011 by Derek Leman

I’ve been doing a short series on Sabbath afternoons with the youth of our congregation talking about faith. I didn’t have any when I was a teenager and was not raised in any sort of religious environment. So I find, … Continue reading →

Posted in Abraham Joshua Heschel, Atheism, C.S. Lewis, Christian, Faith, Judaism, Judeo-Christian | 5 Comments

Is Faith Imagined?

Posted on January 25, 2011 by Derek Leman

Many people suspect so. And I don’t just mean the critics. Many people who believe wonder, “Am I just imagining this?” I used to hear as an objection to faith, “It’s wish-fulfillment. You wish there were such a thing as … Continue reading →

Posted in Abraham Joshua Heschel, Atheism, Faith, J-BOM, Philosophy | 3 Comments

Sci-Fi, God, the Universe, and Us

Posted on January 13, 2011 by Derek Leman

Science fiction was my religion once. Asimov was my prophet and Clark too, and my teacher was Sagan. That was before I came to Jesus and Judaism. Some of the radical amazement I used to feel for the vastness of … Continue reading →

Posted in Abraham Joshua Heschel, Atheism, Faith, Philosophy | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

God in Search of Man, #4

Posted on January 12, 2011 by Derek Leman

Justin Bond sort of got the jump on me over at Messiah Connection. I had discussed possibly resurrecting J-BOM (the Jewish Book of the Month). And 3.5 people responded enthusiastically! I’d said let’s make Heschel’s God in Search of Man … Continue reading →

Posted in Abraham Joshua Heschel, Atheism, Bible, Judaism, Philosophy | 2 Comments

God, Air, and Dragon Con

Posted on September 6, 2010 by Derek Leman

I spent most of my weekend at Dragon Con, the huge comics and sci-fi convention in Atlanta that is held every Labor Day. 30,000 plus people converge on Atlanta. Many wear faerie wings or Star Trek or a thousand other … Continue reading →

Posted in Atheism, Faith | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Faith Without a Reason? Pt 1

Posted on June 23, 2010 by Derek Leman

A popular Jewish blogger, whose blog I only recently started following, has a recurrent theme. In the midst of commentary on the news of the Jewish world and Israel mixed with some religious reflection and Torah commentary, this blogger enjoys … Continue reading →

Posted in Atheism, C.S. Lewis, Christian, Faith, Judaism, Philosophy | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

Is the Cross Laughable?

Posted on March 30, 2010 by Derek Leman

I became aware yesterday of a site that parodies Christian theology and faith in general: mrdeity.com. It’s all great fun, I guess, if you have no fear of God. And the fact that I made that last statement qualifies me … Continue reading →

Posted in Atheism, messianic, Messianic Jewish, Messianic Judaism, Scot McKnight, Theology | Tagged , | 6 Comments

Live Blogging: UMJC Rabbi’s Rereat

Posted on January 7, 2009 by Derek Leman

I am in Palm Springs, California. Out the back window of my hotel room is the San Jacinto mountain range. An 8,500′ peak rises, blocking the horizon. I may have the chance to take a tram up the mountain this … Continue reading →

Posted in Atheism, Christian, Half-Jewish, Interfaith, Judaism, Messianic Jewish, Travel Journal | 1 Comment

Jerusalem, Hidden and Enduring

Posted on December 20, 2008 by Derek Leman

Some people think it is easy for us who are believers. That is, we who believe in the Divine, it might appear to outsiders that our belief comes effortlessly and automatically. Maybe we’re just naive. But the silence of God … Continue reading →

Posted in Atheism, Faith, Messianic Jewish, Theology, Travel Journal | 1 Comment

Douglas Adams, Hitchhiker’s Guide, God

Posted on October 29, 2008 by Derek Leman

My posts are usually about the Bible, Messianic Judaism, Second Temple Jewish Literature, theology, Israel, and so on. And in some ways this is a theological topic. But I thought I would muse on some fiction reading I am doing … Continue reading →

Posted in Atheism, Messianic Jewish, Theology | Leave a comment

Academic Intolerance in Archaeology

Posted on February 27, 2008 by Derek Leman

A few days ago I posted a link to Ben Stein’s upcoming movie, Expelled (http://www.expelledthemovie.com/home.php). If you haven’t watched the trailer yet, I think you will thank me for pointing it out to you. The movie is due in theaters … Continue reading →

Posted in Archaeology, Atheism, Bible, Christian, Judaism, Messianic Jewish | Leave a comment

What’s So Bad About a Little Suppression of Free Speech?

Posted on February 25, 2008 by Derek Leman

Ben Stein is making a movie called Expelled. It’s due out in theaters April 19. You owe it to yourself to look at the trailer. I say it’s about time somebody with a little clout, money to produce something like … Continue reading →

Posted in Atheism, Bible, Messianic Jewish, Theology | 1 Comment

Rob Bell on Animals, Angels, and Atheism

Posted on April 12, 2007 by Derek Leman

There are two posts today, so don’t forget to scroll down and read “Rob Bell on Heaven and Hell.” I am reading Sex God, and finding it to be a moving read with much to say about how I live … Continue reading →

Posted in Atheism, Rob Bell, Theology | 6 Comments