The Theodicy Question

By Dr. Jim Ferguson I plan to see the movie Noah despite the warnings of some fundamentalists.  I believe my faith can handle a story not told by the King James Bible.  I mean no disrespect to the fundamentalist perspective, which originated in the late 19th century,...

Paradigm Shifts

By Dr. Jim Ferguson “The questions never change, just the answers.”  Sometimes I don’t remember if I’ve written something, read it somewhere, or just thought it.  Perhaps my stories and life  have merged into one composite.  You need to pray for my wife, Becky,...

Choices

By Dr. Jim Ferguson The notion of choice is a fundamental principle with me.  It stems from the doctrine of “free will.”  Ancient philosophers stated that freedom of conscience is really the only thing that cannot be controlled or taken from someone.  The central...

The Window on Disease

By Dr. Jim Ferguson The chief professor of medicine during my internal medicine residency held that all disease was the result of some infectious process.  Jesus used hyperbole (exaggerated speech) to get people’s attention, and I suspect my professor was doing the...

Driv’n Mr. Jim

By Dr. Jim Ferguson The world is very complicated, and I can see why some folks just surrender or retreat.  I’m proud of my mother who has not given up, and not only lives independently, but does email and even follows her family and friends on Face Book.  It takes...

Metaphysics

By Dr. Jim Ferguson Eleanor Roosevelt once observed that intellectuals function in the realm of ideas, whereas average folks concentrate on events of the day and the rest focus on people.  Life magazine once challenged our minds, but was replaced by Newsweek.  Popular...