Basic Concepts of Biblical Religion

Concepts taken for granted cause trouble later if they are forgotten. Biblical religion is world-affirming and historical.That means finding some positive constructionfor the pains of life, and finding themeaning of life in history. The Exodus isthe backbone of the Bible: it holds togetherthe Old Testament, and it is the modelfor the New Testament. Biblical religionis covenantal: it is a choice, notsomething that could be proven.As with Aquinas, acts of God do not interfere with nature, but transcendence builds on nature. Atthis point, it is possible to say alittle about God; more belongs intheology, not in philosophicalpresuppositions.     Andrew Porter holds doctorates in computational physics and philosophical theology, and has taught for the Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences in the Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, CA.