Comments on JASON BOYETT: O Me of Little Faith: Ask Me Questions

Jason -- I just had to come back here and read the...

2010-02-02T15:07:55.480-06:00

Jason -- I just had to come back here and read the posts I missed, and in doing so, I found your post on homosexuality. I just want to stand up and applaud your words and your honesty! I'm not gay, but I've had many gay friends over the years, and your stand on this is the one I've come to also. All sin is equal, but we (Christians) have singled out the gay population as the Numero

Jason wrote: That's all the speculating I'll do. ...

2010-02-02T08:13:46.633-06:00

Jason wrote: That's all the speculating I'll do. I refuse to limit the extent of God's grace or the breadth of salvation.

You rock.

@Fastthumbs 1) Does Heaven allow free will of any...

2010-02-02T06:42:51.908-06:00

@Fastthumbs

1) Does Heaven allow free will of any sort even the choice of sinning? If one can not sin, then where's the freewill? If one can sin, does this mean that soul is kicked out when any sort of sin occurs?

First, almost anything I say about heaven is conjecture, because other than a few gauzy details, the Bible doesn't say much about it. And I'm not the

@travis: How do you apply inerrancy to old testam...

2010-02-02T00:00:33.968-06:00

@travis:

How do you apply inerrancy to old testament? Would you say that stuff like the garden of Eden, Noah's ark and the tower of Babel were probably only mythical? If so where do you draw the line between what is myth and what is actual fact?

Honestly, Travis, I don't know. For one thing, I'm pretty sure the ancients didn't view their stories and texts

OK, after these questions from Travis and Fastthum...

2010-02-01T23:45:05.142-06:00

OK, after these questions from Travis and Fastthumbs, I've got to shut the thread down. You can continue to discuss any of the questions here -- and there have been some great ones -- but I can't commit to answering them all. It's been fun...but time-consuming. Thanks everyone.

Hi Jason, Earilier you discussed your views on He...

2010-02-01T23:22:54.181-06:00

Hi Jason,

Earilier you discussed your views on Hell. Now lets move on to Heaven. I'm curious to your responses:

1) Does Heaven allow free will of any sort even the choice of sinning? If one can not sin, then where's the freewill? If one can sin, does this mean that soul is kicked out when any sort of sin occurs?

2) How can someone enjoy Heaven,

Definitely not the worst blog post ever. I apprec...

2010-02-01T23:22:15.791-06:00

Definitely not the worst blog post ever.

I appreciate your explanation of Biblical inerrancy. How do you apply that to old testament? Would you say that stuff like the garden of Eden, Noah's ark and the tower of Babel were probably only mythical? If so where do you draw the line between what is myth and what is actual fact?

@Nathan: 1. What's your opinion on the developmen...

2010-02-01T20:51:08.153-06:00

@Nathan:

1. What's your opinion on the development of sexual orientation (biological, genetic, environmental)?

It's pretty clear to me that all three of those things contribute to sexual orientation in some fashion. I know it's a hot-button issue, but I think all of us can identify some kid from our past who, now that we can look back at history, seemed gay from

@Bryan Please give us a ballpark estimate of how ...

2010-02-01T20:21:52.316-06:00

@Bryan

Please give us a ballpark estimate of how many book ideas you have in your head right now that fall under each category:

the I REALLY THINK THIS COULD BE MY NEXT BOOK category

Zero. Honestly, I have no idea what my next book will be. None. I do have some ideas for the next Pocket Guides but am waiting to see if the series gets extended.

the THAT&

I hope I'm not coming to the party too late. . . I...

2010-02-01T20:05:06.796-06:00

I hope I'm not coming to the party too late. . . I have three questions:

1. What's your opinion on the development of sexual orientation (biological, genetic, environmental)?

2. Do you believe monogamous, gay relationships are an option for followers of Christ?

3. Does your view on homosexuality relate to your opinions regarding Biblical inerrancy (and if

(I'm on my phone so pardon me if Blogger already n...

2010-02-01T17:26:00.203-06:00

(I'm on my phone so pardon me if Blogger already now has threaded comments built-in...)

As for answering questions next time, if you don't want to go outside the Blogger system, check this out:
http://shamsmi.blogspot.com/2008/07/threaded-comments-in-blogger.html

Please give us a ballpark estimate of how many boo...

2010-02-01T17:05:19.297-06:00

Please give us a ballpark estimate of how many book ideas you have in your head right now that fall under each category:

the I REALLY THINK THIS COULD BE MY NEXT BOOK category

the THAT'S A BOOK I'D LIKE TO WRITE AND POSSIBLY WILL SOMEDAY category

the I WOULD LOVE TO WRITE THAT BOOK BUT I DOUBT IT WILL HAPPEN category

or maybe use actual

@Matt: In 2006, I pitched a book to Relevant that...

2010-02-01T16:35:39.900-06:00

@Matt:

In 2006, I pitched a book to Relevant that would involve me reading through the complete Bible in a year, in the King James, and writing about what I discovered as I went along. Sort of a "revisiting the Bible" thing.

Within a week of that pitch (which they turned down), I discovered that Slate's David Plotz had started a blog doing just that about the

Hey Jason, have you ever thought you had a totally...

2010-02-01T16:22:43.290-06:00

Hey Jason, have you ever thought you had a totally awesome idea for a book that just hit you like a bolt of lightning, and you know everyone will love it, only you discover that there's already been, like, three other similar books written? How do you come up with 'original' ideas?

@greyshadows Do you believe in hell? Yikes. That...

2010-02-01T15:58:39.822-06:00

@greyshadows

Do you believe in hell?

Yikes. That's a hard question for me to answer, so I'll go by the numbers.

1. If hell exists, then it doesn't matter whether I believe in it or not.

2. A lot of people think you're suspect if you even use the phrase "If hell exists."

3. Jesus very clearly believed in hell. As a

@brenton 1. Why doesn't your blogger avatar match...

2010-02-01T15:51:20.474-06:00

@brenton

1. Why doesn't your blogger avatar match your twitter avatar?

Because my belief in logical consistency does not apply to online social networking.

2. When I mentioned avatar in my previous question, did you immediately think of James Cameron's movie?

Yes. In fact, I thought of myself as a blue-skinned Na'vi, flying a whimsically

I've been thinking & struggling with this idea a l...

2010-02-01T15:47:35.975-06:00

I've been thinking & struggling with this idea a lot:
Do you believe in hell?

I have a few questions: 1. Why doesn't your blogg...

2010-02-01T15:47:04.693-06:00

I have a few questions:

1. Why doesn't your blogger avatar match your twitter avatar?

2. When I mentioned avatar in my previous question, did you immediately think of James Cameron's movie?

3. Will you ever write a "Pocket Guide to Words with Friends" book?

Wow. I feel like I'm stepping out of the closet he...

2010-02-01T15:04:28.107-06:00

Wow. I feel like I'm stepping out of the closet here on a lot of stuff. The immediacy of typing in these answers is giving you the unedited, off-the-cuff Jason.

Not sure whether that's good or bad. But it's fun!

:)

let's assume calvinism is true. would that mean ev...

2010-02-01T15:02:46.835-06:00

let's assume calvinism is true. would that mean even our sin is ordained/predestined? in other words if you struggle with a certain sin as a christian, does that mean God has predestined that?

See, that's where Calvinism gets tricky. Because, as a fan of logical consistency, I think you have to apply predestination either everywhere or nowhere. So if God predestined you to hell

let's assume calvinism is true. would that mean ev...

2010-02-01T14:53:47.897-06:00

let's assume calvinism is true. would that mean even our sin is ordained/predestined? in other words if you struggle with a certain sin as a christian, does that mean God has predestined that?

@caroline How did you get yourself into the disci...

2010-02-01T14:42:04.429-06:00

@caroline

How did you get yourself into the discipline of writing every day?

I would be a terrible self-help guru, because my answer to the above question is: you just do it.

If it needs to be done, you do it.

If you decide to do it, then you do it.

No rewards, tricks, or anything needed. Discipline means you do what needs to be done, and

All right, Jason. Here's one: How did you get you...

2010-02-01T14:15:52.564-06:00

All right, Jason. Here's one:

How did you get yourself into the discipline of writing every day? Do you pre-schedule a "writing" time? Is there a trick you use to help cement this discipline into your daily routine? Do you reward yourself with cookies or Facebook or a walk or just with a job well done?

I have a hard time with this. Though I love to write, I

what are your views on calvinism vs. arminianism (...

2010-02-01T14:13:12.766-06:00

what are your views on calvinism vs. arminianism (hope i spelled that right)? what side to you learn more towards?

Here's where I'm going to get into trouble, as it seems discussions on calvinism always bring out the hate!

I don't want to get into the specifics -- it's too complicated a doctrine -- so here's where I come down: There clearly are passages

@Tess: When you speak places, what do you talk ab...

2010-02-01T14:08:46.609-06:00

@Tess:

When you speak places, what do you talk about?

Whatever the place wants me to talk about. Anything in my books, if requested. In the coming year, I'd love to cover stuff from my upcoming book -- about dealing with spiritual doubt, living with doubt, understanding doubt and even embracing it as a necessary part of faith.

----

Also...I'd