Index of Topics and Verses
The index of verses and Biblical Books starts at the bottom of this page, and I have put together an expanded glossary of religious terms. I have also added a tentative prophetic timeline.
Another page contains a list of all the essays on this website.
Academic Topics
Academic papers and conference presentations can be downloaded from the academia webpage, as well as the first two books A Programmer's Guide to the Mind and Higher Thought and Lower Motives.Topics
The following is a list of theological topics discussed on the website, the name of the essay in which the topic is discussed, and a link to the appropriate section of the essay. As one can see from perusing this list, I have attempted to cover a wide range of topics in a reasonably rigorous manner:
Note: A Programmer's Guide to the Mind was written in 1997, Higher Thought and Lower Motives in 2001, and Biblical Christianity in 2010. I have included references to these three books because they cover a number of basic topics in considerable detail. However, some of the explanations in these books are dated, and I have avoided linking to topics in these books that are explained better in more recent writings.
The 144,000 and the Enlightenment, Revelation Revisited
Abomination of Desolation, Matthew 24, 1 John, Matthew 24, Daniel, Daniel
Abraham, Hebrews
Absolute truth, Bill Bright
Absolute truth and the Bible, Josh McDowell
Absolute truth and the destruction of the Temple, Matthew 24, 1 John, John 4
Absolute truth and emotionalism, Gerald McDermott
Absolute truth and Newtonian thinking, James Loder, Physics, Physics
Absolute truth and theology, Robert McCauley, 1 Peter
Absolute truth: attempts to reestablish, Luke 11
Absolute truth of Ellen White, The Great Controversy
Absolute truth versus exemplars, John 5
Absolute truth versus authority The Great Controversy
Absolute truth versus universal truth, 2 Corinthians 1
Aeneas of Lydda, Acts 9
Affections and mental networks, Gerald McDermott
Ahmadiyya Islam, Islam
Alexandria and the birth of science, Open Theism, Kabbalah, John, Daniel
Alien abilities and feelings, Alien Plan
Aliens and science, Physics
Alien mysticism, Alien Plan, Carla Rueckert, Acts 7
Aliens and sex, Alien Plan
Alien types, Alien Plan
American capitalism, von Mises
American Christian crisis of faith, Evangelicalism
American Christian fundamentalism, Bill Gothard
American Orthodox Christianity, Orthodox Christianity
The Amish, Anabaptism
Anabaptism and postmodernism, Anabaptism
Anabaptism and sexuality, Anabaptism
Anabaptism from a cognitive perspective, Anabaptism
Ananias and Sapphira, Acts 5
Ananias and Saul, Acts 9
An alien view of personal transformation? Carla Rueckert
Analogy and a concept of God, NT Wright
Angels and humanity, 2 Peter, Jude
Angels and names, Lorin Friesen
Angels and salvation, Lorin Friesen
Angels and spirits, Spirit
Angels, sex, and the Nephilim, Lorin Friesen, Acts
Anger and contempt, Dallas Willard
Doctrine of Annihilation, The Great Controversy
Anointing of the Woman, Matthew 26
Antinomianism, The Great Controversy
Apologetics, Ravi Zacharias
Apostolic succession, Matthew Kelly
Apostleship, Corinthians
The Ascension, Acts 1
Doctrines of atonement, Dallas Willard, 2 Corinthians 5Atonement and incarnation, Dooyeweerd
Atonement and penal substitution, Bill Bright, Josh McDowell
Atonement and universal rebirth, Emanuel Swedenborg
Azusa street revival, Pentecostalism
Babylon and prostitution, Revelation, 1 John
Baptism of the Holy Spirit, Pentecostalism
Barabbas, John 18, Matthew 27
Beatitudes, Dallas Willard
Biblical inspiration, Orthodox Christianity
Bitterness, Higher thoughtBlind Christian faith, Lorin Friesen
Blinding of Saul, Acts 9
Blood Guilt, Matthew 27
Bodily resurrection, NT Wright, 1 Corinthians 15
The Body of Jesus, John 19
Bread and Knowledge, John 6
Brown dwarfs, Alien Plan
Cain and Abel, Hebrews
Catholic charismatic renewal, Spirit
Catholic versus Protestant, Matthew KellyThe Centurion of great faith, Matthew 8
Charismatic renewal, Spirit
Cherubim, Hebrews
Christology, John, John 8, John 10
Church and relationship, Josh McDowell
Church and state, John Redekop, Higher thought
Church and technology, John Redekop
Civil rights movement, Matthew 21, Daniel, Luke 6
Cleansing the Heavenly Sanctuary, The Great Controversy
Colonialism, Luke 3, Matthew 15
The coin in the mouth of the fish, Matthew 17
The cognitive development of Jesus, John 12
Communism, Matthew 18, Daniel
Confession, Matthew Kelly
Conscience (a 1997 introduction), Programmer's Guide
Conscience and cause-and-effect, Biblical Christianity
Approval conscience and natural conscience, Programmer's Guide
Constantine and the Church, Revelation Revisited
The consumer society, 1 Peter
Contemporary Christian music, Lorin Friesen
Corporate election, Open Theism
Cosmic plan, Alien Plan
Cosmic watershed, 2 Corinthians 5, John 16
Covenant Theology, Louis Berkhof
The church fathers and Christian doctrine, Orthodox Christianity
Creationism and scientific thought, Pentecostalism
Creation story, Eden
The Crucifixion, John 19, Matthew 27, Luke
Day of atonement, The Great Controversy
Deacons in Acts, Acts 6
Delegated spiritual authority, Acts 8
Deconstructionism, Matthew 21, Daniel
The direct path of mysticism, Lorin Friesen
Dismantling of Temple Stones, Matthew 24, Matthew 24
Divine Foreknowledge, Louis Berkhof
Divine Intervention, Louis Berkhof
Divine paradigm shift, 1 Corinthians 15, Matthew 24
Divine Spirit, Lorin Friesen
Divorce, Dallas Willard
Doctrinal guidelines, The Great Controversy
Dooyeweerd’s aspects, Dooyeweerd
(fifteen aspects, ground motives, intuitive integration, meaning, mysticism, supra-temporal heart)
Dorcas of Joppa, Acts 9
Doubting Thomas, John 20
The Dragon, Revelation
The Eight Woes, Matthew 23
The emergent church and Dallas Willard, Dallas Willard
Emotional 'error', The Great Controversy, The Great Controversy
Empowering mortal bodies, 2 Corinthians 4
The enlightenment, NT WrightEthiopian eunuch, Acts 8
Eucharist and cognition, 1 Corinthians 11
Eucharist versus Fundamentalism, Matthew Kelly
Evil and computer viruses, Internet
Evolution and Orthogonality, The Nature of God
Evolution and the Trinity, The Nature of God
Evolution as a concept of God, Todd Tremlin
Evolution as a theory, Physics
Existence principle, 2 Corinthians 12, 1 Peter
Experimental theology, Robert McCauley
Explicit versus implicit concept of God, Kyle Fedler, Ravi Zacharias, Islam
Explicit versus implicit TMN, NT Wright
Eye makes you stumble..., Dallas Willard
Faith versus works, Matthew Kelly
The Faithful Slave, Matthew 24
False apostles, 2 Corinthians 11
Fasting, Matthew Kelly
Fear of God, Gerald McDermott
Feeding of the five thousand, John 6, Matthew 14
Female thought transformed, 1 Peter
Fence laws, John 5
Fig leaves, Matthew 24
The fig tree, Matthew 21, Matthew 24
The First Trumpet and Romanticism, Revelation Revisited
Flesh versus Spirit, Hans Boersma
Flood of Noah, Lorin Friesen
Following Jesus, Dallas Willard
Following Jesus and transcendence, Anabaptism
Following strange flesh, Jude
Foot-washing, John 13
Forming a mental concept of God, Todd Tremlin, Ravi Zacharias
The Four Horsemen, Revelation, Revelation Revisited
The four living beings and mysticism, Revelation Revisited
Four worlds of Kabbalah, Kabbalah
The Fourth Trumpet and 1960s counterculture, Revelation Revisited
Fractal Plan of Incarnation, John 17
Free will and core mental networks, John Piper
Free will, personal meaning, and evil, James Loder
Fundamentalism, Louis Berkhof
Fundamentalism and alien thought, Carla Rueckert
Fundamentalism and black-and-white thinking, John Piper
Fundamentalism and Contributor thought, Katie Fortune
Fundamentalism and economics, von Mises
Fundamentalism and idolatry, Higher Thought
Fundamentalism and Mercy thought, Katie Fortune
Fundamentalism and morality, John Redekop
Fundamentalism and Perceiver thought, Katie Fortune
Fundamentalism and personal suffering, John Piper
Fundamentalism and pride, NT Wright
Fundamentalism and revealed truth, Higher Thought
Fundamentalism and selfishness, Ayn Rand
Fundamentalism and Swedenborg’s heaven, Emanuel Swedenborg
Fundamentalism and belief in monotheism, Islam
Fundamentalist Baptist Church and technical thought, Technical Thought
Garden of Eden, Eden, Louis BerkhofFuture history, Acts 7
Garden of Gethsemane, Matthew 26
Gene expression and Teacher thought, The Nature of God
Globalization represented by the Transfiguration, Luke 9
God and country, John Redekop
God and country, and 9/11, Evangelicalism
God and science, Physics
God and Teacher thought, Gerald McDermott, John 11
God as a Father, Hebrews 12
God as a servant of identity, Anthony Robbins
God of fortresses, Daniel
God of the gaps, Ravi Zacharias
Godly sorrow, 2 Corinthians 7
The Good Shepherd, John 10
Bill Gothard, Daniel
Government under God, John Redekop
Gray aliens, Alien Plan
The Great Tribulation, Matthew 24, Revelation, 2 Corinthians 1, Matthew 24
Great White Throne, Darrell Johnson, 1 John, Hebrews 12
The Greatest Commandment, Matthew 22
Guardian Angels, Matthew 18
Guarding the Tomb, Matthew 27
Habits versus righteousness, NT Wright, The Great Controversy
Heaven, Eden
Healing the cripple, John 5Heavenly existence, Josh McDowell, Josh McDowell
Helping God, Martin Buber
Herod, John 3, Matthew 14
Hesychasm, Orthodox Christianity
Holiness, Robert McCauley, Higher thought
Holy City, Revelation, Hebrews 13
Holy Spirit and Cosmic Meaning, Martin Buber
Holy Spirit versus spirit of the world, Biblical Christianity
Holy language, The Great Controversy
Hope, Dallas Willard
The Horsemen and Corporatism, Revelation Revisited
Hosanna in the Highest, Matthew 21
Humility, Gerald McDermott
Hunger for God, Gerald McDermott
Icons, Orthodox Christianity
Imputed righteousness, NT Wright
Incarnation, Hans Boersma
Incarnation and Orthodox Christianity, Orthodox Christianity
Incarnation and Judaism, Louis Berkhof
Incarnation and Kierkegaard, James Loder
Incarnation and science, James Loder, John 18
Incarnation and the Word made flesh, John 1
Infant Baptism, Louis Berkhof
Instructor of 'truth', The Great Controversy
Interpretation of tongues, 1 Corinthians 14
The indirect path of Christianity, Lorin Friesen
Industrial Revolution, Matthew 14, Luke 2Inhering and math, Hans Boersma
The Internet and morality, Internet, Ravi Zacharias, Luke 8
Islam and blind faith, Ravi Zacharias
Islam and sex, Islam
Israel and successionism, NT Wright, Darrell Johnson
Jacob, Hebrews 11
Jacob's ladder, John 2
Jericho, Hebrews 11
Jesus and Judaism, Kabbalah
Jesus and the Greeks, John 12, Darrell Johnson
Jesus as imaginary friend, Darrell Johnson, John
Jesus as lamb in Revelation, Darrell Johnson, Revelation Revisited
The Jesus movement, Luke 7
The Jesus Prayer, Lorin Friesen
Jewish feasts, Josh McDowell
John the Baptist, John 1, John 1, John 3, birth of
Jesus walks on the water, Matthew 14
John the Baptist and the desert fathers, Matthew 3
Joseph of Arimathea, Matthew 27
Judas and Betrayal, John 13, Matthew 26
Judas Hangs Himself, Matthew 27
Judging, Dallas Willard
Justification, Dallas Willard, Louis Berkhof
Kabbalah and mysticism, Kabbalah
Kierkegaard and Zen, James Loder
The Leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees, Matthew 16
Legalism versus grace, NT Wright
Living stones, 1 Peter
The Locusts and Postmodernism, Revelation Revisited
The Lord's Prayer, Matthew 6
Love, Dallas Willard, 1 Corinthians 13
Maccabees, Daniel
Manipulating mental networks, John 7
Mantids, Alien Plan
Mariology, Hans Boersma
Mark of the Beast, Revelation, 1 John, John 15
The Marriage Feast, Matthew 22
Marriage supper of the lamb, Revelation, 1 John
Martyrdom and self-denial, Anabaptism
Mary anointing Jesus, John 12, Hebrews 9
Mary Magdalene and Jesus, John 20
The Mass, Matthew Kelly
Means of Grace, Louis Berkhof
Measuring the Temple, Revelation Revisited
Meat offered to idols, 1 Corinthians 8
Mega-church, Matthew 22, Daniel, Luke 8, Luke 8
Melchizedek, Hebrews 7
Mendicant orders, Matthew 10
Mennonite culture, Anabaptism
Mennonite fringe radicals? Anabaptism
Mennonite thought and MMNs, Anabaptism
Mental symmetry and an internal vision of societal perfection, Luke 8
Mercy thought and God, The Nature of God
Methodology, John 9
Milk and meat, 1 Corinthians 3
The Millenium, Revelation, Darrell Johnson, Louis Berkhof, The Great Controversy, The Great Controversy
Millerism, The Great Controversy
Mind over matter, John 16
Miracles, Dallas Willard
The missionary kid, David Pollock
Mohammed, Islam
Money and evil, Ayn Rand
Monotheism and Kabbalah, Kabbalah
Moral cause and effect, Josh McDowell
Moral goodness as the opposite of evil, Kyle Fedler, Dallas Willard
Morality abused by the powerful, Anthony Robbins
Moses and Kabbalah, Kabbalah
Body of Moses, 2 Peter
Development of Moses, Hebrews 11, Hebrews 11
Limitations of Moses, Hebrews 11
Moses and Mental Symmetry, Acts 7
Meta-culture, 1 Peter
Motivational Insights (spiritual gifts), Bill Gothard
The Münster Rebellion, Anabaptism
Musical style, Lorin Friesen
Mystery, The Great Controversy
Mystery finished, The Great Controversy
Mystery versus intuition, Spirit
Mysticism and Adamic curses, Eden
The mystical defining experience, James Loder
Mysticism and morality, Martin Buber
Mysticism and Orthodox Christianity, John
Mysticism and overgeneralization, Justin Barrett, Eden, Martin Buber, Louis Berkhof
Mysticism and personal salvation, John 3
Mysticism and science, Luke 10
Mysticism in the New Testament, John 10, Acts 1
Nathanael and Judaism, John 1
Nazism, Matthew 18, Daniel
New heaven and earth, Revelation, 1 Corinthians 13, 1 Corinthians 15, John 16, Hebrews 12, 2 Peter
Nicodemus, John 3
Noah's Ark, 2 Peter
Nordic aliens, Alien Plan
Numbers and prophecy, The Great Controversy
Oaths, Dallas Willard
Officially sanctioned learning, John 6Open theism, Dallas Willard, Lorin Friesen
Origen and theology, Revelation RevisitedOriginal sin, Lorin Friesen, Eden, Eden
Original sin and practical Contributor thought, Ayn Rand
Overgeneralization and Reformed Theology, Louis Berkhof
Pacifism, Gerald McDermott, John Redekop
PaRDeS, Kabbalah
Passover, John 18, Hebrews 11, Josh McDowell
Peace, Dallas Willard
Pentecost, Josh McDowell, Acts 2
Pentecostalism, Spirit
Pentecostalism, gender, and culture, Spirit
Perfectionism, Louis Berkhof
Personal computers represented by the parable of the sower, Luke 8
Personal honesty, 1 John
Personal transformation, Gerald McDermott
Personal transformation and MBTI, Thomas Kuhn
Personal transformation and spiritual disciplines, Dallas Willard
Personal transformation summarized cognitively, Todd Tremlin
Peter and the keys of heaven, Hans Boersma, 1 Peter, Matthew 16
Peter’s Three Denials, John 13, John 18, Matthew 26Peter is freed by an angel, Acts 12
Peter’s Three Questions, John 21
Peter’s vision of the sheet, Acts 10
Philip and organization, John 14
Philo of Alexandria, Daniel
Philosophy of religion, Ravi Zacharias
Physical body, Dallas Willard
Plan of God, John 16
Platonic forms, Catholic, and catholic, Matthew Kelly
Platonic forms and reality, NT Wright
Pontius Pilate, John 18, Matthew 27
Pornography and the Internet, Internet
Postmodern amorality, Dallas Willard, Luke 6
Pragmatic Christianity, Evangelicalism, Matthew Kelly
Primal beings and Christianity, Acts 11
Primal beings and protein folding, Acts 9
Proclaiming to Spirits, 1 Peter
Propaganda represented by catching fish, Luke 5
Prophecy, 1 Corinthians 14
Protein folding and the Trinity, The Nature of God
The Quakers Luke 2
The Quran and holy books, Islam
Rahab, Hebrews 11
Raising of Lazarus, John 11
Reality as a Simulation, John 16
Rebirth and Einsteinian thinking, James Loder
Red Heifer, Hebrews 9
Reformed predestination, Calvinism, R.C.Sproul
Reformed theology and the three stages of salvation, Calvinism
Reformed thought and Anabaptism, Louis Berkhof, Louis Berkhof
Reformed Theology from a cognitive perspective, Louis Berkhof
Reincarnation, Carla Rueckert
Relationship, Josh McDowell
Religion and MMNs, Robert McCauley
Religious fervor, Gerald McDermott
Religious Infatuation, Darrell Johnson
Regeneration, Mysticism, and Reformed Theology, Louis Berkhof
Renaissance, Matthew 10
Renaissance humanism Luke 1
Reptilians, Alien Plan
Rest of God, Hebrews 4
Resurrection order, 1 Corinthians 15Revelation of Jesus as God, Darrell Johnson, Corinthians
Righteousness, Dallas Willard, NT Wright, 1 John, John 4, Matthew 6
Righteousness: words versus actions, Biblical Christianity; Paul's reward, Corinthians
Righteousness and God, John
Ritual, Robert McCauley
A roaring lion, 1 Peter
The Rosary, Matthew Kelly
Russian invasion of Ukraine represented by parable of rich fool, Luke 12
Sarah, Hebrews 11
Saturday sabbath, The Great Controversy
Scholasticism, Matthew 10
Scientific dogmatism and fundamentalism, Thomas Kuhn
Scientific thought and Christianity, Thomas Kuhn, John, Matthew 13, Luke 2
Second Coming (theoretical return of Jesus), Matthew 24, John, 1 John, 1 Thessalonians 4, John Darby, 2 Corinthians 2, Alien Plan, Matthew 24, Revelation Revisited, Daniel, Luke 3
The Second Trumpet and World War I, Revelation Revisited
Secrecy versus a concept of God, Evangelicalism
Sefirot of Kabbalah, Kabbalah
Self-denial, Matthew Kelly, John Redekop, Acts 3
Self-denial and Islam, Islam
The Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5
The seven bowls, Revelation, 1 John, 2 Corinthians 6
Seven life principles, Bill Gothard
Seven mountains of culture, Evangelicalism, Spirit
The Seven Spirits of God, Revelation Revisited
The Seven Trumpets, Revelation Revisited
Seventy Weeks of Daniel, John
Sexual desire, Bill Gothard, Dallas Willard
Sex and patience, Higher thoughtSexuality from a cognitive perspective, Anabaptism
The Shahada, Islam
Parable of the Sheep and the Goats, Matthew 25
Shunning, Anabaptism
Sight to beggar born blind, John 9
Simon the Sorcerer, Acts 8
Sitting in the chair of Moses, Matthew 23
The Small Book, Revelation Revisited
Social interaction, Dallas Willard
Social media and ideology, Luke 10, Luke 12
Sodom & Gomorrah, 2 Peter
Sola Scriptura cognitively contradicts itself, John Piper
The soul, Dallas Willard
Doctrine of Soul Sleep, The Great Controversy
Sovereignty of God, Calvinism, Louis Berkhof, 1 Peter
Sovereignty of God and birth of science, Lorin Friesen
Sovereignty of God and laws of physics, Lorin Friesen
Sovereignty of God, coercion, and conscience, Lorin Friesen
Sovereignty of God and personal testing, Gerald McDermott
Parable of the Sower and the Seed, Matthew 13
Sowing and Reaping sparingly, 2 Corinthians 9
Speaking in tongues, Pentecostalism, Robert McCauley, 1 Corinthians 14, Acts 2
The speed of light, Physics
Spirits and angels, Hans Boersma, 1 Corinthians 15, and demons
Spirit of Truth, John 14
A Spirit passing through Waterless Places, Matthew 12
Spiritual awakening, Pentecostalism
Spiritual disciplines, Dallas Willard
Spiritual economy, Acts 4
Spiritual gifts, Pentecostalism, 1 Corinthians 12
Spiritual technology, John 14, John 16, Hebrews 2, 2 Corinthians 3, 2 Peter, Jude, Revelation Revisited, Daniel
Spiritual technology and government, John, 2 Corinthians 2
Spiritual transformation, Gerald McDermot, Dallas Willard
Spiritual warfare, Lorin Friesen, 2 Corinthians 10
Spontaneous beauty and the kingdom of God, Luke 12
Stoning of Stephen, Acts 7
The Strong Angel, Revelation Revisited
Suffering, Matthew Kelly, Ravi Zacharias, John 18, 1 Peter
Suffering church, 2 Corinthians 9
Sukkot, Josh McDowell
Swearing and Oaths, Hebrews 6, Hebrews 7
Swedenborg, life after death, and mental networks, Emanuel Swedenborg
Swedenborg’s heresies and MMNs, Emanuel Swedenborg
The covid pandemic and fear, Luke 12
The Syrophoenician Woman, Matthew 15
The Tabernacle, Hebrews 9
Parable of the Talents, Matthew 25
Parable of the Tares and the Wheat, Matthew 13
Technical Specialization, Matthew 7
Technology and a concept of God, Martin Buber
Temptations of Jesus, Lorin Friesen, Matthew 4
Temptations of the coming age, Corinthians
Temptation versus Testing, Hebrews 3
Ten Commandments, Hebrews 9
Parable of the Ten Virgins, Matthew 25
A theodicy of existence, Physics
Theology and science, Robert McCauley
Theology and Christianity, NT Wright, NT Wright
Theology and worldview, NT Wright
Theosis, Orthodox Christianity
The Third Trumpet, Communism, and Nazism, Revelation Revisited
Third wave charismatic, Spirit
Thomas, John 14
Thorn in the flesh, 2 Corinthians 12
The Titus' joy, 2 Corinthians 7
Traits of God, Bill Bright
(faithfulness, holiness, immutability, justice, love, mercy, omnipotence, omnipresence, omniscience, righteousness, sovereignty)
Transcendence of God, Hans Boersma
Transcendence of God and the quiverfull movement, Bill Gothard
Transfiguration, 2 Peter, Matthew 17
Transformation versus evolution, Thomas Kuhn
Transubstantiation, Hans Boersma, John 6
The Trinity, The Nature of God, Alien Plan
The Triumphal Entry, Matthew 21
The two brothers, 2 Corinthians 8
The Two Witnesses, Revelation Revisited
TULIP, Calvinism, Louis Berkhof, R.C. Sproul
The twelve disciples as a cognitive progression, Matthew 10
Universal tolerance, Luke 11
Universal truth and Maxwellian thinking, James Loder
Universal truth versus preaching, Ravi Zacharias
The Unpardonable Sin, Matthew 12
Victorian Era, Daniel
Parable of the Vine, John 15
Parable of the Vineyard, Matthew 21
Parable of the Vineyard Workers, Matthew 20
Virtual Reality, 2 Peter, Jude
The Waldensians, Matthew 10
Walking on Water, John 6
Wedding at Cana, John 2
Westernization and developing countries, Luke 9
Woodrow Wilson’s fourteen points, Luke 4
Wokeism and intersectionality, Luke 11
World War I and the temptations of Jesus, Luke 4
Worms eat Herod, Acts 12
Woman at the well, John 4
Woman caught in adultery, John 8
Women in 1 Corinthians: touching women, status of women, unbelieving spouses, virgin daughters, silent in church
The World, John 17
Worldview, Josh McDowell
World War I, Daniel
Wrath of God, Darrell Johnson
NT Wright’s explicit and implicit theology, NT Wright
The following is a list of more general topics discussed on this website:
Absolute truth and universal truth (a 1997 introduction), Programmer's Guide
Addiction, Neurology
Agency detection device myth, Robert McCauley, Todd Tremlin
Aliens and Teacher thought, Carla Rueckert
Alien thought versus human thought, Biblical Christianity
Amygdala, Neurology
Analogy and normal thought, James Loder
Analogical thinking, Bill Gothard, Physics
Analytic philosophy and abstract technical thought, Dallas Willard
Absolute truth, The Great Controversy
Abstract normal thought, James Loder
Abstract technical thought and normal science, Thomas Kuhn
Abstract thought as the servant of concrete thought, Anthony Robbins
Anti-semitism, Kabbalah
Basal Ganglia, Neurology
Edward Bernays, Wokeism
Birth of science, Kabbalah, John,
Books and abstract technical thought, Robert McCauley
Calculus, Physics
Cognitive Development, Neurology
Cognitive styles and consciousness, Programmer's Guide
Introduction to Contributor thought, Lorin Friesen
Contributor thought and confidence, Anthony Robbins
Contributor thought and gender, Ayn Rand
The Copernican principle, Physics
Critical Race Theory, Wokeism
Cross-cultural versus multicultural, David Pollock
Cult structure, Wokeism
Cultural dislocation, David Pollock
Cultural reentry and Teacher thought, David Pollock
Cultural transformation and MMNs, James Loder
Desire and Free Will, Louis Berkhof
Diagram of mental symmetry, Programmer's Guide
Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex, Neurology
Dual processing theory and a concept of God, Todd Tremlin
Economics and abstract technical thought, von Mises
Economics and core mental networks, von Mises
Einstein and Teacher thought, James Loder
Electric charge and gender, Physics
Electromagnetism, Physics
Embodiment, John
Emotional 'truth', The Great Controversy
Equity versus equality, Wokeism
Evolution and orthogonality of function, The Nature of God
Evolution and protein folding, The Nature of God
Evolution and the three laws of Newton, The Nature of God
Facilitator thought and evolution, Todd Tremlin
Fields, Physics
Frontopolar Cortex, Neurology
Gender theory, Wokeism
Heisenberg's uncertainty principle, Physics
Hippocampus, Neurology
I and Thou, Martin Buber
Ideology, Wokeism
The immersive experience, Martin Buber
Innate fears, Eden
Introduction to Exhorter thought, Lorin FriesenThe Internet and personal transformation, Internet
Introduction to Facilitator thought, Lorin Friesen
Incommensurability, Thomas Kuhn
The indigo child, Carla Rueckert
Inferior Frontal Cortex, von Mises
Intellectual Contributor thought (Ci), Lorin Friesen, Thomas Kuhn
Kepler and heliocentrism, Physics
The Lagrangian, Physics
Marriage compatibilities and conflicts (see p.43-49), Seminar booklet (from 1994)
Marxism, Wokeism
Math and relativity, Physics
Medial Prefrontal Cortex, Neurology
Minimally counterintuitive concept, Justin Barrett, Robert McCauley, Todd Tremlin
Me versus mine, von Mises
Mental networks, Introduction
Mental networks (described in 1997), Programmer's Guide
Mental networks and Members Resources, Norman Fairclough
Mental networks and closure, David Pollock
Mental networks and propaganda, Wokeism
Mental networks, childhood, and culture, David Pollock
Mental networks, violence, and sex, Biblical ChristianityIntroduction to Mercy thought, Programmer's Guide
Money, von Mises, von Mises Multiple personalities, Programmer's GuideThe Multi-verse, Physics
Music, physics, and musical theory, Lorin Friesen
Nazi propaganda, Wokeism
Newton and Teacher thought, Physics
Newton's three laws, Physics
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Neurology
Orbitofrontal Cortex, Neurology
Paradigms and scientific thought, Thomas Kuhn
Paradigms and Teacher thought, Thomas Kuhn
Introduction to Perceiver thought, Programmer's Guide
Perceiver thought and cause-and-effect, Biblical Christianity
Perceiver thought and repetition, Norman Fairclough
Perceiver thought and reasonableness, Todd Tremlin
Personal transformation through suffering or patience, Programmer's Guide
Phenomenology and Husserl, Dallas Willard
Planck's constant, Physics
Platonic Forms, Hans Boersma
Platonic Forms and replaceable parts, Pentecostalism
Postmodern thought, Norman Fairclough
Postmodern science, Norman Fairclough
Practical Contributor thought (Cp), Lorin Friesen,
Practical Contributor thought and identity, Ayn Rand
Practical Contributor thought and morality, Ayn Rand
Practical Contributor thought and optimization, Anthony Robbins
Practical Contributor thought and value, von Mises
Practical Contributor thought models reality, Anthony Robbins
Propaganda, Wokeism
Protein folding, The Nature of God
Queer theory, Wokeism
Revolutionary science and cognitive styles, Thomas Kuhn
Russian invasion of Ukraine, Wokeism
Science and truth, Robert McCauley, Wokeism
Science versus philosophy, Dallas Willard
Self-image, Programmer's Guide, John
Serotonin, Neurology
Social Emotional Learning, Wokeism
Social hierarchy, Wokeism
Socialism and Teacher thought, von Mises
Socialism versus capitalism, von Mises
Soft science versus hard science, Biblical Christianity
Space-time versus time-space, Carla Rueckert
Special relativity, Physics
Striosomes, Neurology
The strong force, Physics
Symmetry breaking, Physics
Introduction to Teacher thought, Programmer's Guide
Teacher emotion, Neurology
Technical thought, Introduction, 2 Peter, Neurology
Thalamus, Neurology
Theory and Ideology, Norman Fairclough
Theory of Mind, Justin Barrett, Todd Tremlin
Third culture kid cognitive development, David Pollock
Threshold of uncertainty, Programmer's Guide
Uncertainty and transformation, Physics
Values and goals, Anthony Robbins, Martin Buber
Ventral Striatum, Neurology
Virtual particles, Physics
Waves, Physics
Wave-function collapse, Physics
Wave-particle duality, Physics, James Loder
The weak force, Physics
Weaknesses of technical thought, Norman Fairclough, Dallas Willard
Wokeism, Wokeism
World War I propaganda, Wokeism
The following theological topics are discussed in Natural Cognitive Theology:
Absolute truth versus universal truth, p.54
Altruism and righteousness, p.220
The angelic realm, p.348
Apocalypse and rebirth, Ch.14
Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, Ch.10
Divine righteousness versus human righteousness, p.222
Evolution and the mind, p.200
Two forms of holiness, p.178
The fruit of the Spirit, p.315
Holy books and textbooks, Ch.5
The Holy Spirit and Platonic forms, Ch.9
The Holy Spirit and personal rebirth, Ch.15
Incarnation and abstract thought, p.278
Incarnation and exemplars, p.246
Incarnation and Platonic forms, p.181
Incarnation and the angelic realm, p.355
Incarnation and the deep structure of science, p.157
Incarnation and the life of Jesus, p.326
The Jesus prayer, p.190
Mysticism, Ch.6
New heavens and earth, p.360
Pentecostalism, p.174
Personal salvation and spiritual gifts, p.333
Peter and the ‘keys of heaven’, p.272
Piaget's stages of development and the sin nature, Ch.3
Praise and worship, p.112
The prayer of salvation, p.150
The religious attitude of self-denial, fervor, and transcendence, p.63
Righteousness, Ch.11
Salvation of angels and aliens, p.362
Divine sovereignty and human free will, Ch.12
Three stages of personal salvation, p.316
The spiritual realm in life after death, p.344
The supernatural, Ch.17
Natural Cognitive Theology also includes a section on each of the following brain regions:
Amygdala, p.406
Anterior cingulate cortex, p.393
Dorsal striatum, p.419
Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, p.375
Hippocampus, p.409
Inferior frontal cortex, p.398
Insula, p.396
Frontopolar cortex, p.379
Limbic system, p.402
Medial frontal cortex, p.388
Orbitofrontal cortex, p.382
Parietal lobes, p.373
Subthalamus, p.428
Temporal lobes, p.403
Thalamus, p.429
The following topics are discussed in God, Theology & Cognitive Modules:
Aliens, p.363
Childish identity, Ch.4
Christian prayer of salvation, p.310
Conscience, p.139
Concrete thought, p.128
Practical (Cp) and intellectual (Ci) Contributor thought, p.386
Economics, p.133
Education, Ch.8
Theory of evolution, p.327
Michel Foucault’s epistemes, p.405
Martin Heidegger, p.343
Judaism, p.353
Kohlberg’s stages of conscience, p.398
Thomas Kuhn and paradigms, p.81
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, p.395
The cognition of mathematics and logic, p.416
Math versus science, Ch.9
Mental networks, Ch.2
The cognition of music, p.432
Personal rebirth, Ch.12
Piaget’s stages of development, p.393
Platonic forms, p.238
Willard Quine’s Web of Belief, p.461
Rebirth as a paradigm, p.321
Rebirth of a concept of God, Ch.6
Substitutionary punishment, p.317
Technical thought, Ch.11
Three stages of learning, p.277
Translation versus paradigm shift, p.92
Truth and emotions, p.51
Unsolved problems of philosophy, p.448
Verses
When I began extending the theory of mental symmetry in 2010, I deliberately avoided quoting from the Bible, because I wanted to go beyond the attitude of fundamentalism by building upon a general theory rather than upon quotes from a holy book. However, even though I am not building upon the Bible, the theory of mental symmetry still leads to results that are consistent with Christian doctrine.
I have recently found that it is possible to use mental symmetry to analyze entire books of the New Testament, doing a verse by verse sequential analysis of the original Greek text, and I have now analyzed over half of the New Testament as well as numerous chapters in the Pentateuch. Saying this more clearly, one can use a cognitive model that is consistent in detail with the latest neurological findings to analyze religious writings penned two millennia ago. This provides strong evidence that the Bible ultimately has a supernatural author, because it is impossible that such clever thinking could have originated within the minds of any religious or secular experts from that age.
The following is a list of biblical passages discussed on this website, the name of the essay in which the passage is quoted and a link to the appropriate section in that essay.
Genesis 1; Six days of creation, Eden
Genesis 2:1-3; Sabbath rest, Eden
Genesis 2:4-14; Original conditions, Eden
Genesis 2:15-25; Garden of Eden, Eden
Genesis 3; Temptation and fall of Adam and Eve, Eden
Numbers 21:4-9; Fiery serpent, Eden
Jeremiah 31:31-33; New Covenant, NT WrightDaniel 11-12; Prophecy of Daniel, Daniel
Matthew; A cognitive, historical, and prophetic analysis of Matthew
(chapter 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28.)
Matthew 4; Three temptations of Jesus, Pentecostalism
Matthew 5:3-12; Beatitudes, Dallas Willard
Matthew 5:21-26; Anger, contempt, and condemnation, Dallas Willard
Matthew 5:29-30; If right eye causes you to stumble, Dallas Willard
Matthew 5:31-32; Divorce, Dallas Willard
Matthew 5:33-37; Avoid oaths, Dallas Willard
Matthew 5:43-45; Divine justice, RevelationMatthew 6:1-6; Righteousness and approval, Dallas Willard
Matthew 6:9-15; Lord’s Prayer, Dallas Willard
Matthew 6:25-32; Don’t worry, Dallas Willard
Matthew 7:6; Pearls before swine, Dallas Willard, Revelation
Matthew 7:9-10; Ask for fish and bread, Dallas Willard
Matthew 7:15-23; False prophet, fundamentalist and scientist, Dallas Willard
Matthew 13:24-30; Wheat and the Tares, The Great Controversy
Matthew 24; Dismantling of Temple Stones, Matthew 24
Matthew 25:1-13; The Ten Virgins, The Great Controversy
Matthew 25:14-30, The Talents, 2 Corinthians 9
Luke; A cognitive, historical, and prophetic analysis of Luke
(chapter 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12.)
Luke 7:7-9; Faith of the centurion, Thomas Kuhn
Luke 17:1-4; Millstone around neck, RevelationLuke 21; Dismantling of temple stones, Matthew 24
Luke 22; Crucifixion compared to Matthew, Matthew
John; A cognitive analysis of John
(chapter 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21.)
John 3:1-16; Nicodemus, Eden
John 6; Transubstantiation, Boersma
John 12:20-28; Expanding the domain of Jesus, Darrell Johnson
John 14:1-10; Many dwelling places, James Loder, Eden
John 15:26; 16:12-15; Holy Spirit, Pentecostalism
Acts; A cognitive analysis of Acts 1-12
(chapter 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12.)
Acts 18; Paul and Apollos in Corinth, 2 Corinthians
Romans 1-6; Overview of Romans, NT Wright
Romans 7-8; Overview of Romans, NT Wright
Romans 9; Predestination, Louis Berkhof, R.C. Sproul
Romans 11; Temporary hardening of Israel, NT Wright
Romans 12:2-5; Cognitive modules and mental wholeness, Dallas Willard
Romans 12:1-15; Mental symmetry started with spiritual gifts, See pages 53-54
Romans 13:1-4; Submission to government, Anabaptism, 1 Peter
1 Corinthians; A cognitive analysis of 1 Corinthians
(chapter 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15.)
1 Corinthians 10:6-13; Learning from examples, Eden
1 Corinthians 13:1-8; Love, Gerald McDermott
2 Corinthians; A cognitive analysis of 2 Corinthians
(chapter 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13.)
2 Corinthians 5:14-19; Universal abstract view of incarnation, Dallas Willard
Philippians 2:3-11; Jesus and self-denial, John Redekop
Philippians 4:6-7; Be anxious for nothing, Dallas Willard
Colossians 1:9-13; Forgiveness and transferring domain, Dallas Willard
Colossians 1:24-29; Extending incarnation, Corinthians
1 Thessalonians; A brief analysis of 1 Thessalonians (chapter 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.)
2 Thessalonians; An analysis of 2 Thessalonians (chapter 1, 2, 3.)
1 Timothy 6:10; Love of money is a root of evil, Revelation
Hebrews; A cognitive analysis of Hebrews
(chapter 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13.)
Hebrews 4:1-12; Entering God’s rest, Gerald McDermott
Hebrews 12:7; Personal discipline from God, Dallas Willard
1 Peter; A cognitive analysis of 1 Peter (chapter 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.)
2 Peter; A cognitive analysis of 2 Peter (chapter 1, 2, 3.)
1 John; A cognitive analysis of 1 John (chapter 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.)
Jude; A cognitive analysis of Jude
Revelation 4-22; A cognitive analysis of the book of Revelation, Revelation, two sequences
(chapter 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22.)
Revelation; Another look, Darrell Johnson (chapter 10, 11, 13, 14a, 14b, 17, 19, 20a, 20b, 21.)
Revelation 4-11; A detailed historical and cognitive revisit of Revelation,
(chapter 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11.)
The following biblical references are in the book Natural Cognitive Theology.
Genesis 6:1-7; Nephilim, p. 358
Genesis 11:1; Tower of Babel, p.122
Psalm 139:1-13; Where can I go to flee God?, p.299
Malachi 1:10-11; God’s name great among nations, p.286
Matthew 3:13-17; Baptism of Jesus, p.327
Matthew 4:3-10; Temptations of Jesus, p.328-9
Matthew 6:1-7; Practice righteousness before men, p.321
Matthew 16:13-26; Peter and keys of heaven, p.273
Matthew 16:16-7:2; Transformation through rebirth, p.330
Matthew 22:35-40; Golden rule, p.338
Matthew 26:38-45; Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane, p.275
Mark 3:21-30; Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, p.188
Mark 3:20-22,31-35; Behold my mother and brothers, p.323
Mark 7:22-25; “Did we not prophesy in your name”, p.268
Luke 2:10-14; Angels at Jesus’ birth, p.326
Luke 2:46-49; Jesus in the temple, p.327
Luke 9:28-35; Transfiguration of Jesus, p.284
Luke 11:27-28; Blessed is womb that bore you, p.323
Luke 23, John 19; Seven last words of Jesus, p.332
John 5:19; Jesus does what God does, p.326
John 6:26-69; Transubstantiation, p.281-4
John 20:9-13, 17-24; Triumphal entry of Jesus, p.331
Acts 8:26-31, 39-40; Angels and teleporting, p.350
Acts 23:8-9; Angels and spirits, p.352
Romans 8:28-37; All things work together for good, p.162
Romans 12:1-8; Spiritual Gifts, p.338
Phil. 2:5-11; Jesus given name above all names, p.276
Colossians 1:13-27; Jesus is image of invisible God, p.288, 363
1 Corinth. 15:35-37, 42-44; Personal resurrection, p.360
2 Corinth. 5:16-20; New creation in Christ, p.280
1 John 2:28-3:3; Be like God at his appearing, p.303
Revel. 4:8-10; Worship in heaven, p.285
Revel. 6:12-17; Flee the wrath of the lamb, p.304
Revel. 14:1-5; A new song, p.285
Revel. 20:10; New Jerusalem, 22-23, p.286
Revel. 21:1-4,22-27; New Jerusalem, p.293
Revel. 20:11-21:2; New heaven and earth, p.361