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Tuesday, April 1, 2025

Nick Gier

Nick Gier lives in Moscow, Idaho. He holds a doctorate in philosophical theology from the Claremont Graduate University. His major professors were James M. Robinson, New Testament scholar and editor of the Gnostic Gospels, and John B. Cobb, the world’s foremost process theologian. He taught in the philosophy department at the University of Idaho for 31 years. He was coordinator of religious studies from 1980-2003. He has written five books and over 70 articles and book chapters. Read his articles on religion at nfgier.com/religion. He's enjoyed two sabbaticals and one research leave in India for a total of 22 months in that country. He can be reached at ngier006@gmail.com.

The Gospel of Weak Belief (But Strong Faith)

Today I will be preaching the Gospel of Weak Belief. Don’t worry, I’m not going to start a new church. Besides, I don’t think too many people would come. 

The Bible as Social Justice Theology

Just as GOP attempts to restrict voting might also affect Republicans, its plans to ban social justice curricula must, I argue, include the Bible. From the Exodus to Jesus’ outreach to the poor, the foreigner, and the outcast — Jesus’ “least of these” — the Bible is a powerful lesson in liberation theology.

Christ and the Buddha: Similar Missions in Hell

I will be combining both under the topic of saving the souls in hell and the religious instinct (almost entirely suppressed in Christianity but common in Asia) towards the concept of universal salvation.

George Washington Was Not a Trinitarian Christian

Thanks to Glenn Beck’s fawning promotion, an obscure self-published book on George Washington’s religion has become a best seller on amazon.com.

Abraham Lincoln, Christianity, and Liberal Religion

I was inspired to write this piece when I heard on the radio that Teddy Roosevelt had called Thomas Paine “a dirty little atheist.” I have continued my research by extending it to our 16th president.

The Christmas Story and Other Redeeming Myths

At the risk of being a Grinch who ruins Christmas, I would like to go behind the Christmas Story and relate what scholars know about the biblical texts involved. I hope that the result will be a more enlightened perspective on the role of such stories in the common life of humankind.

Virgin and Child: The Christmas Story according to Islam

Most Christians do not know that Muslims hold Mary and Jesus in utmost esteem.

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