Welcome to another post on theology. I want to take a moment to discuss a topic that is rife with tension, so much in fact that most pastors really don’t want to discuss it at all. It’s not safe, not controllable, or predictable. So, they would rather forget its exists entirely.
I’m, of course, talking about religious experience or direct spiritual experience – those moments in your life that you look back on where you’ve experienced something that at least appears in some way supernatural, maybe something quite dramatic and world shattering, or maybe something much less so, more subdued, but definitely not within the realm of normalcy or what is common to men. I’m talking about the things of the mystics, the wild desert monastics who starved themselves and had visions and dreamed dreams.
One of the major problems with this subject is it is the mainstay of both the fanatic and the heretic. After all, how else could one justify twisting the Scripture unless they had a direct revelation for their God on high? Consider Christ’s response at those who protest at being cast aside, “Did we not prophecy in your name? Did we not do miracles in your name?”
The question really boils down to: is there a place in Christianity for direct spiritual experience? Is there any validity to it? Is it biblical?
Are the calamities witnessed week end and week out at charismatic meetings genuine? If no, why do so many seek after the ecstatic manifestations? If yes, why do they ring so hollow to so many people within the faith?
Let’s jump into the debate and find out if there is room in Christianity for Experiential Spirituality….
Audio File Download: Episode 002
In this episode I wanted to talk in detail about my experiences in graduate school in general and in seminary in particular. Actually, I’m going to cover my entire college and university experience, to be honest. All totaled, I’ve spent 7 years in post-secondary education, and would have to say about 75% of it was a complete and utter waste of time. Higher education is either a gross extravagance and a wholly unnecessary expense, or it is a complete financial and emotional burden and an utter scam perpetrated by those in government and the for-profit corporate engine that is higher education in the United States.
I would have to be honest and say I have learned nothing at the university or seminary level. Nothing. I used to say I only learned one thing in high school and that was how to type, but that can now be had by simply playing typing games online.
But, I’m getting ahead of myself. This podcast episode will cover what degrees I’ve completed, what kind of schools I went to, what kind of delivery they used, what problems I encountered in each, and what kind of ROI I received from each degree. Spoiler, it’s not really a great overall picture, but then again, it could be a whole lot worse.
So, let’s jump in and see what higher education was like for me now that I’m finally finished once and for all.….
The next course I selected as part of my Unschooled Master of Theology program was the KI course, Book of Daniel, and I have just finished the Discussion Questions assignment.
As a reminder, you can read all of my course assignments for the uThM here.
So, let’s get started….
Episode # 076 – In the Meadow – Chapter 6e
Audio File Download: Chapter 6e
Dawn McKensie just wanted to live a new life with the man of her dreams along the banks of the Skagit River. But, after stumbling into a mysterious meadow while on an innocent morning hike in nearby woods, Dawn begins seeing young girls – bloody, disfigured, terrified – all calling out to her, all trying to warn her to….
R U N !
Join Isaac in this incredibly heart-breaking, supernatural, serial killer, paranormal thriller, and find out if Dawn can survive the hot white fury of the vengeful spirits that are In the Meadow.
Episode # 074 – In the Meadow – Chapter 6c
Audio File Download: Chapter 6c
Dawn McKensie just wanted to live a new life with the man of her dreams along the banks of the Skagit River. But, after stumbling into a mysterious meadow while on an innocent morning hike in nearby woods, Dawn begins seeing young girls – bloody, disfigured, terrified – all calling out to her, all trying to warn her to….
R U N !
Join Isaac in this incredibly heart-breaking, supernatural, serial killer, paranormal thriller, and find out if Dawn can survive the hot white fury of the vengeful spirits that are In the Meadow.
Episode # 073 – In the Meadow – Chapter 6b
Audio File Download: Chapter 6b
Dawn McKensie just wanted to live a new life with the man of her dreams along the banks of the Skagit River. But, after stumbling into a mysterious meadow while on an innocent morning hike in nearby woods, Dawn begins seeing young girls – bloody, disfigured, terrified – all calling out to her, all trying to warn her to….
R U N !
Join Isaac in this incredibly heart-breaking, supernatural, serial killer, paranormal thriller, and find out if Dawn can survive the hot white fury of the vengeful spirits that are In the Meadow.
Episode # 061 – In the Meadow – Chapter 3d
Audio File Download: Chapter 3d
Dawn McKensie just wanted to live a new life with the man of her dreams along the banks of the Skagit River. But, after stumbling into a mysterious meadow while on an innocent morning hike in nearby woods, Dawn begins seeing young girls – bloody, disfigured, terrified – all calling out to her, all trying to warn her to….
R U N !
Join Isaac in this incredibly heart-breaking, supernatural, serial killer, paranormal thriller, and find out if Dawn can survive the hot white fury of the vengeful spirits that are In the Meadow.
Episode # 056 – In the Meadow – Chapter 2d
Audio File Download: Chapter 2d
Dawn McKensie just wanted to live a new life with the man of her dreams along the banks of the Skagit River. But, after stumbling into a mysterious meadow while on an innocent morning hike in nearby woods, Dawn begins seeing young girls – bloody, disfigured, terrified – all calling out to her, all trying to warn her to….
R U N !
Join Isaac in this incredibly heart-breaking, supernatural, serial killer, paranormal thriller, and find out if Dawn can survive the hot white fury of the vengeful spirits that are In the Meadow.
Episode # 050 – In the Meadow – Chapter 1b
Audio File Download: Chapter 1b
Dawn McKensie just wanted to live a new life with the man of her dreams along the banks of the Skagit River. But, after stumbling into a mysterious meadow while on an innocent morning hike in nearby woods, Dawn begins seeing young girls – bloody, disfigured, terrified – all calling out to her, all trying to warn her to….
R U N !
Join Isaac in this incredibly heart-breaking, supernatural, serial killer, paranormal thriller, and find out if Dawn can survive the hot white fury of the vengeful spirits that are In the Meadow.
Episode # 048 – In the Meadow – Prologue
Beginning:
Prologue:
Audio File Download: Beginning | Prologue
Dawn McKensie just wanted to live a new life with the man of her dreams along the banks of the Skagit River. But, after stumbling into a mysterious meadow while on an innocent morning hike in nearby woods, Dawn begins seeing young girls – bloody, disfigured, terrified – all calling out to her, all trying to warn her to….
R U N !
Join Isaac in this incredibly heart-breaking, supernatural, serial killer, paranormal thriller, and find out if Dawn can survive the hot white fury of the vengeful spirits that are In the Meadow.
So, I’ve made a few changes to my weekly Research Journal, now that I’ve taken on the uThM degree plan. You can read more about it here.
To start with, the format is a little different, focusing more on my studies, though this might change, depending on the future of my Eden Project. More on that later. I’ll also be adding an official Tally each week for the Metrics page.
You can read all of my journal entries here.
Let’s get started….
Welcome to a check-in of my Unschooled Master of Theology in Biblical Studies degree. This post is just to let you know what I’m up to.