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What is Beyond the Logos?

Disclaimer: Beyond the Logos is not affiliated with any religion, faith, denomination, or ministry. It is a personal, informative blog dedicated to understanding theology, culture, and politics from a critical and ethical perspective.

Welcome to Beyond the Logos

Have you ever wrestled with profound questions about God, faith, and the reality of suffering? Have the standard answers felt inadequate in the face of real pain?

If so, you’re in the right place.

Beyond the Logos is a space specifically dedicated to grappling with the big, sometimes uncomfortable, questions. As I see it, we must venture beyond the surface-level logos to explore the complex, and often contradictory, ways that theology intersects with our lives, our art, and our society.

This blog is built on three pillars:

  • Theological & Biblical Critique: Examining scripture (especially its response to suffering) and questioning church traditions.
  • Political Commentary: Analyzing modern political issues from a theological and ethical framework that critiques all sides.
  • Pop Culture Analysis: Finding the theological underpinnings in everything from horror franchises to heavy metal.

My Journey: Why Beyond the Logos Exists

My name is Luke Jenkins. This blog, along with my decision to study theology, was born from a personal and academic struggle. Immediately after graduating high-school, my mother was diagnosed with stage four liver cancer. At the time, a devout Christian, this news shattered my world. Her suffering, and eventual death, collided sharply with the faith I knew.

Easy answers didn’t suffice. The problem of suffering sent me on a quest that eventually led me out of the institutional church and into a deep academic study of the text itself.

I graduated from Liberty University with an Associate of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies (2018) and a Bachelor of Science in Biblical and Theological Studies (2022). I recently graduated from Emory University’s Candler School of Theology with a Master of Theological Studies (2026). During my time at Candler, I received the MTS Award for Academic Excellence.

Most importantly, my research culminates in my thesis, titled, “‘This Too is Hebel“: Divine Absence, Oppression, and the Problem of Suffering in Qoheleth. The thesis has been reviewed by 6 faculty members across theological disciplines.

This research—set for public release by the end of June 2026—explores the book of Ecclesiastes and its confrontation with systemic injustice, uncomforted oppression, and divine absence. My work argues for a theology of the Deus absconditus (Latin: the hidden God) where the author uses hebel to name divine hiddenness. This blog is an extension of that work. It is a place to process heavy themes and ancient problems that still frustrate us today.

My Perspective

My journey has led me to identify as an agnostic. Now, before you close your laptop or throw your phone in rage… hear me out. I am not here to disprove God or religion. I am here to confront the fatal flaws in popular—or conventional—interpretations.

What does it mean to be agnostic? The answer to that question is subjective. But for me, it is the belief in the existence of God or ultimate reality, while lacking the knowledge of that God to make a personal or ecclesial statement of faith. In short: I believe in God, but am not Christian, atheist, Jewish, or any other. My answers and arguments are not final; they are pieces of my broader theological journey. I hope you will join me on it.

Think of it this way: I believe in God, but I personally do not know God.

Who Is This For?

Beyond the Logos is for you if:

  • You’re wrestling with doubts or difficult questions about faith and/or suffering.
  • You are disillusioned with organized religion but still drawn to theological questions.
  • You see theology everywhere—in movies, music, news feed, and Creation itself.
  • You are sick of partisan political takes and legalistic religious lecturing.
  • You’re interested in critical Bible interpretation, philosophy, and how they apply to the real world.

Thank you for visiting. I invite you to explore the posts and join the journey,

Warmly,

Luke Jenkins

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