As you may have guessed from perusing the blog, I’m a Christian. I was born and raised in a Christian home by Christian parents with Christian Grandparents, Aunts & Uncles, Cousins, and on down the family line. I majored in Religion and Philosophy in college and minored in Psychology. Then, I attended seminary where I earned a Master of Divinity degree. I’ve studied and learned a lot over the years… sometimes that’s good and other times, it’s bad.
Although I’m not currently serving in a church, I still spend a lot of my time thinking and writing about Christian theology — especially when I have a slow day at work. I like to think of myself as fairly Orthodox, fairly moderate, and fairly socially active. On some issues, I lean slightly to the left, and on others, I lean slightly to the right, but I try to never stray too far from the center. No doubt, some will find this wise and otherwise will think it cowardly. But either way, that’s the viewpoint that’s worked best for me, the viewpoint that’s enabled me to hold on to my faith in spite of the plethora of intellectual doubts that have been flung my way.
What you will find here is no less than a sampling of the ideas that run through my head on a daily basis. Some days, I get lost in theological musings while on others, I would rather be playing video games. During the NBA season, the Pistons are always lurking on the backburner, and they often find a way into my posts. But no matter the topic, my thoughts and words are always a work in progress. There are a few things I hold on to with a closed fist, but not many, so feel free to engage me in conversation if you think I’ve missed the mark somehow. I love good conversations about things that are important (or, at least important to me!).
If you’ve taken the time to read this, then you either have a lot of free time on your hands, or you’ve found something I’ve written to be worth reading. Either way, thanks for reading. And please post sometime. I’d love to hear what you have to say.
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Young Mr. Gulker,
I have only known one other individual with that surname — Virgil. And that was truly an honor.
You sound like your paths are similar.
May God be with you always.
-M K
M K, thanks for your comment. I, too, have heard the name Virgil Gulker. He is no doubt a great man.
How did you know him?
You inspire me…
Being a Christian is just a label. It does not mean much unless we live it.
America is a Christian nation. Are we?
The question really is if anyone is a real Christian, does he behave in a Christ-like manner?
This issue is totally another ball of wax to be discussed.
Don’t have anything to say right now. Just interested in talking to knowledgeable believers. Basically, the gist of my interest is why do you believe. Oh yeah. I guess I have to classify myself as an agnostic.
Welcome. I try to post a handful of times a week, or as much as my work schedule allows. Feel free to comment anytime; your perspective is welcomed.
Hey There, Mr. Gulker
Just stopping by to say “Hey”, and find out a little more about where you are coming from.
We’ve been yapping over at Unreasonable Faith, and I wanted to say I respect the tone you take in discussions there.
It is getting harder and harder for me to find faithful believers who actually challenge me to think, and to probe my own beliefs. Congratulations on being one.
I, too, was born and raised in a Christian home by Christian parents with Christian Grandparents, Aunts & Uncles, Cousins, and on down the family line.
All of that makes questioning that faith even more difficult, and painful, but I have found it worth it to live in harmony with observable reality.
Welcome!
Thanks for expressing your respect. I do my best to communicate in the same manner over the anonymity of the internet as I do in person, i.e., respectfully. Far too often, discussions between atheists, agnostics, and religious folks degenerate to the ad hominem level. I appreciate your resistance to that, as well as that of many of the UF commenters. Let’s hope that we can continue that tone in the future.
Anyway, welcome. Feel free to chime in when I do post, usually a couple times per week.
Now if I could just post as often here as I do at UF…then I’d have an exciting blog, too!
I caught one of your comments on Unreasonable Faith and decided to come over for a visit. I’m looking forward to reading your stuff. There are lots of similarities between yours and my backgrounds. Come visit my blog sometime.
Shalom,
Clergy Guy
brgulker,
Your blog seems to be an interesting place for the discussion of important topics.
Might I ask … How on earth you became associated with the cast of characters that exist at a different web site we are both familiar with where a certain moderator [and what seems to be a rather small band of cohorts] conducts his affairs in a decidely less-than Christian manner?
As I thought from reading your cogent comments in that location … whether or not I agree with all of them is irrelevant … you, sir, are a highly intelligent person and it’s a pleasure to have made your acquaintance via the ethernet.
Just checking around your blog (not because I have a lot of time to do so, but because I was curious and worked it in this morning!). It seems that you and I might have more in common that originally thought, had we not “met” over an area of disagreement (liturgical expressions). May your writings on God things be effectual in His purposes and in human hearts. BTW, I love the “Is Your Bible Too Liberal” thing. Brian Casey, blcasey.wordpress.com
Thanks for the kind words!