DeaconAnswers.com

PROLOGUE:

In early 2008, the local newspaper, the Redding Record Searchlight, asked members of the Shasta County Interfaith Forum to participate in a weekly “voices of faith” column which would be published in the Saturday edition. A pool of questions about religious faith and practice was developed and a new question was sent out on Monday of each week to all participants by email.

We had up to Thursday evening to submit our “answers” which were limited to 150 words. The coordinator, Jessica Skropinic at the Record Searchlight was responsible for selecting those to be published based on the number submitted and available space. Jessica was careful to make sure everyone’s submissions got their turn.

The questions became quite wide ranging in topic, and readers at large as well as regular submitters were invited to contribute new questions to the pool. For over 10 years this feature continued at the local newspaper until its takeover by USA Today.

Every Sunday our church attendees would comment on the variety of submissions and express their nod of agreement or exceptions or comparisons that occurred to them. Most of us who responded each week found a great level of interest from both our own congregations and other people we knew. The Voices of Faith column had become a well read weekly feature.

As I reread some now, 15 years later, I cringe at the brevity we had to deal with under the 150 word limit. So please forgive so many simple explanations when some topics could be a whole book in themselves.

I hope your reading finds the responses that I submitted helpful. The responses are not dogmatic by any means. And the only one I got pastoral critique on was the one on the existence of Hell. I hope I was right and that our Lord Jesus will make merciful exceptions to each person whom He loves unconditionally.

Sincerely in the Lord’s service

Deacon Mike Evans

January 8, 2024

The file below has the questions/topics in alphabetical order. Alternately, you can click on the Answers to your questions link above and view them in other forms.