Gary Shogren's Blog
Ebook from KindlePaperback from Amazon Spanish ebook from KindleSpanish paperback from Amazon or from CLIE The 21st century, that digital arena where information and misinformation battle for our attention! To be sure, the internet can render up solid facts, for instance: “Who won Super Bowl XLVII in 2013?” But the very same medium also lures... Continue Reading →
I received this heartbreaking note: "I came across your website this morning while conducting research into Bible versions. This issue has become very distressing to me as a simple disciple of Jesus Christ as I don't know the original languages and I am being influenced by the King James Only position. I have read... Continue Reading →
I just visited our seminary in Costa Rica and gave an address on "Christian Leaders and LifelongLearning." I suggested that "reading" was one of the best tools for building up brain power. And that reading broadly, including books we disagree with, will help rescue us from our social media echo chambers. Just on the level... Continue Reading →
David Daniels is the spokesman for King-James-Only and Ruckmanism, in its purist form, as promulgated by Chick Publications.Fortunately, renowned textual scholar Elijah Hixson has written a detailed critical review of Daniels's strange conspiracy theory. I defer to his analysis. People who love God's inspired Word - and who elevate it above faulty human theorizing -... Continue Reading →
Isn’t it annoying when someone insists they know what you believe, and won’t take your word that you do not? A friend of mine who worked in a Muslim setting often heard, “You Christians believe in a trinity of Father, Son, and the Virgin Mary!” In this case, the Christian should have the first say,... Continue Reading →
I grew up with the King James Version, regularly use it and the New King James among others, and often teach and preach from the Reina Valera Revisada, all of which are based on the so-called Textus receptus. And I love and use them all; see my, “Me, a Hater of the Kdeiting James Version?... Continue Reading →
My interest in myths and legends has come to full flower this year, as I finish up my new book Mitos que los cristianos creen. Y comparten (“Myths that Christians believe. And pass along”) for CLIE in Barcelona. Here is the original Hubble story, and Pinterest is filled with pictures of the Celestial City. Heaven... Continue Reading →
The teaching known as Lashon Hakodesh (“the sacred language”) is multifaceted. It was originally a designation for Biblical Hebrew as such. But it later grew to have more implications that Hebrew is somehow a magical language. There are sub-legends that follow along with this: 1. That Hebrew is the language spoken in heaven. 2. That... Continue Reading →
A speech I gave in January 2023, to celebrate Seminario ESEPA's 40 anniversary; several of the former rectors spoke during the week. Graduation speeches are a mixed bag at best. But I did hear a fine one at my high school in 1977; one of his counsels for the graduates was: “Extend your education, both... Continue Reading →
For the first time ever in our blog’s 10-year history, we feature a series co-written by me, Gary Shogren; and our long-time friend, Tod Hannigan. Tod will do the heavy lifting on the philosophical end. This chapter is by Tod, who reports that, "Personally, the most difficult article I have written." “It was the best of... Continue Reading →
Open Our Eyes, Lord! 