Category Archives: Herbert McCabe & Friends

“The story of Jesus is the projection of the trinitarian life of God on the rubbish dump that we have made of the world”

I want to argue that the doctrine of the incarnation is such that the story of Jesus is not just the story of God’s involvement with his creatures but that it is actually the ‘story’ of God. There is one … Continue reading

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If Atonement Ain’t Penal, Why the Cross?

Penal substitutionary atonement—whatever else might be said about this grotesque belief, it does provide a clear, simple-to-understand explanation of the events of Holy Week. On the cross the eternal Son endures the wrath of the Father for the sins of … Continue reading

Posted in Herbert McCabe & Friends, Theology | Tagged , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

The Prodigal Son and His Festival of Death

I daresay that the Parable of the Prodigal Son is the best-known of our Lord’s parables. And it may also be one of the most misunderstood—at least so thinks Robert Farrar Capon. A certain man had two sons. And the … Continue reading

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Is Evil Like a Hole in a Sock?

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The Free-Will Defense and the Impossible Worlds of Molinism

The free-will defense of evil and suffering is a failure—so Hugh McCann con­tends. This verdict sur­prises, given the opinion of so many phi­losophers that Alvin Plan­tin­ga’s argument succeeds resoundingly. But it succeeds, maintains McCann, only be­cause it aban­dons God’s provi­dential … Continue reading

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The Scandalous Prodigality of God’s Love for Sinners!

“It is very odd,” remarks Herbert McCabe, “that people should think that when we do good God will reward us and when we do evil he will punish us” (“Forgiveness,” Faith Within Reason, p. 155). It’s not surprising, of course, … Continue reading

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Herbert McCabe and the Unfathomable Mystery of Divine Forgiveness

Consider the following scenario: We sin and God gets angry. We repent and plead for mercy. God forgives. Crudely put, I admit. Eastern readers will likely protest that the scenario is alien to the Orthodox understanding of God; Protestants and … Continue reading

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Transmutation or Transubstantiation: Sergius Bulgakov and Herbert McCabe on the Holy Eucharist

That the Holy Orthodox Church confesses the Holy Gifts to be the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ no one can doubt. But satisfactory interpretations of the eucharistic mystery are difficult to find. Somewhat surprisingly, Eastern theologians have tended to … Continue reading

Posted in Herbert McCabe & Friends, Sacraments, Sergius Bulgakov | Tagged , , , , , , | 13 Comments