This website exists for everyone who has questions about the Christian religion, whether they have a personal faith or not, and provides answers presenting different theological points of view.

Please ask your question using the comment form on this post – your comment will not be published, but it’s the easiest way for you to submit a question.

New answers to questions will appear below this section (scroll down the page). (more…)

“I was preparing a session on self-harm for our youth group and my husband and I had tried desperately to find something in the Bible that we could use to present God’s view on self-harm. We didn’t have much luck. I googled ‘self-harm in the bible’ and freelance theology was the first site that came up. It was absolutely spot on, just what we needed. It gave us the bible reference we were looking for and explained it in such a simple way that we could pass it straight on to our young people without having to reword it. I will definitely be going back to freelance theology when I’m planning our next sessions.”
- Ruth, United Kingdom

Read the article Ruth found so helpful here:Self-harm in the Bible.

Occasionally some of the positive comments from readers get posted on here, plus there are one or two other things worth mentioning about how people use the site…
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You can now hear the latest info about freelance theology on Facebook in the freelance theology group. You can also discuss posts, see what other people think and so on.

Click here to go to the group.

It’s two years since freelance theology was launched. Along the way, questions have been asked by people from across the world, from Australia to Zimbabwe, Brazil to Singapore. Sometime within the next few months, I’m hoping to launch a new-look freelance theology, with more interactive options. In the meantime, there’s a backlog of questions to work through. If I haven’t answered yours yet, then please continue to be patient!

Occasionally, I’ve posted some of the positive comments sent to me by readers. I’d like to thank everyone who has written me a question and those who’ve just written! As it’s a special anniversary, I’ve included some of the comments below. Remember, if you have anything you want to ask, or say about freelance theology, then you can email me any time.

With best wishes

Jon the freelance theologian

Dear Jon, I came across you in Third Way (November 2005), looked up your site, and was really impressed by your answers. I have no idea how you manage to get through the amount and breadth of stuff on your site. Thanks.

Hi!
THANKS for your wonderful blog… I’ve spent the last hours reading and reading… great stuff. Thanks for your contribution to the rest of us

I really enjoy reading your site; however, I must admit that although I was raised a Christian (Lutheran, Missouri Synod specifically) I am now basically agnostic. I have an idea for your site – a feature called, “Answer the Agnostic”. I think it would stimulate some lively debate, and I think your site has the intellectual rigor to make this interesting.
[Jon replies: It's a possibility. Do any other readers have suggestions?]

Hi Jon. Glad for the information you gave. I passed my exams and will keep in touch soon as I am going to hopefully advance.

Hi Jon,
Very impressed with your reply on Zionism.
The most recent posting – Jesus destroying the power of sin and death – another interesting subject and reply.

Question from SS, could be UK or USA

I’ve been interested to read your site for a few days, and would have liked to follow up on a few things. I wondered if you had considered adding comments to your site, or whether you had decided against it for various reasons (e.g. – increased time demands).

As some of the topics (e.g. Islam, homosexuality etc) can provoke an impassioned response among people, it is more appropriate to encourage further questions or comments by email. These are occasionally published on freelance theology as ‘dialogues’. This is the best way to maintain the impartiality of the site, as commentators could post offensive, obscure or irrelevant comments that would undermine the ethos behind freelance theology.

If you would like to comment about anything you read on freelance theology, then please feel free to email. All emails are acknowledged and almost all questions are answered, although some answers may take some time!

It’s always encouraging when people write and say nice things about freelance theology and occasionally some of them are recorded for posterity.

From CP: Thanks for your update. I like the site a lot, and forwarded it to a couple of friends.

From CF: Thank you Jon. You are a first class theologian.

From MM: today was my first visit [to freelance theology], and having intended only to scan read one question and response, I have spent at least an hour reading all the questions and answers posted. Having been brought up the Anglican church, I have been reading the Apostolic Creed for many years; until today, I had never understood (or questioned!) why Jesus is ‘eternally begotten of the Father’. Thank you for teaching me something new and providing me with an essential detail about the Trinitarian and Eternal nature of God.

If you would like to comment on anything you have read on freelance theology, then please write in! Compliments are always welcome!

On May 31 freelance theology recorded its 1000th hit. This is a real positive achievement given that freelance theology has only been online since the beginning of 2004. Thank you for visiting and special thanks to all those who have submitted questions or comments, like the ones below!

[For answers to recent questions scroll beyond the following comments!]

Comments from freelance theology readers

“Just wanted to say I think your site is great. There has been an online debate email thing going on with the Christian network of psychologists regarding homosexuality, some of them were coming up with some pretty convincing arguments and I was a little confused. I rocked up to your site and there it was, ‘my friend is gay’. I had never considered the fact that being gay makes no evolutionary sense. Very good for all the psychologists arguing it is genetically predisposed. Keep up the good work, I’ll be back – with friends!” – SLM, United Kingdom

“Good article on Noah – I think its absolutely right to take the emphasis away from the issues of whether it could have happened exactly like that and on to what God is trying to tell us through the story. It was interesting that you focused on the 150 days and how Noah must have felt that God had forgotten him. When I think of Noah, I always focus on how much faith he must have had to build the ark in the first place and stick to his guns when everyone laughed at him. It’s good to see another perspective!” – JW, United Kingdom

Don’t forget you can ask your question or comment on any answer given by emailing freelance theology!

I received the following kind words in an email from JW, United Kingdom: Managed to find the time to take a look at the site, and I was impressed – it’s good that people have a place to take their tough questions, where they have a chance of getting something other than a trite answer! You obviously put a lot of thought and research into your responses.

At the risk of seeming immodest, I thought I’d post some of the nice things people have said about freelance theology:

Dear Jon, I’ve just come across your site and find it really interesting. – PR

Hi Jon, I like your website, I fancy it could be quite a useful reference tool, particularly for new Christians and those who struggle to overcome niggling questions, as well as for Christians when they’re asked awkward questions by their friends! – GT

I liked what you wrote in answer to my question on Stewardship. I’m chewing on it a bit. – CM

Dear JM
I just read the answer to my question, no one has explained it that clearly before, I should have just asked you ages ago!!! – FC

Have you got a comment about freelance theology? Say what you like and, as long as it makes sense and doesn’t contain too many curse words, I’ll list your comment in a future section. Or you can just ask a question. What’s bugging you? What piece of ‘Christianese’ jargon are you trying to decipher? What question does your minister always try and avoid answering? Send it to freelance theology using the ‘mail me’ button.