Opinion
Report Details How Some Faith Groups Were Blamed for the Pandemic
On November 29, Pew Research Center published a report showing how government restrictions have impacted religious groups and their sacred spaces specifically. It also detailed how religious groups were blamed for the pandemic.
Advent Lectionary | The Music of Peace
The Psalter reading for this week of Advent is Psalm 72:1-7 and 18-19. I always wondered why those who built the liturgical year didn’t just focus on verses 1-7; why add the tag at the end of the psalm?
Faith Seeking Understanding | The Story We Were Told and Tell
Have you ever stripped away the sanctified language of the basic story that was offered as central to your inherited faith and told it as plainly as any other story would be told? Here’s the one I learned.
Execution of the Mentally Ill Should Shame Us All
Andre Thomas will be executed by the State of Texas in April, after the Supreme Court rejected a request to review his case. I met Thomas in 2008 when serving as the mental health manager at a Texas prison.
Unwrapping Christmas | Why There Isn’t a ‘War on Christmas’
Four weeks to nest before the birth of Jesus, Advent also doubles as a time of war – the so-called “war on Christmas,” to be specific. But this “war” is mostly being proclaimed by the same people who see attacks on Christianity where none exist.
Keeping Upright on My Bicycle and in Life
Biking is a regular part of my weekly routine, and it is something I’ve enjoyed for over 20 years. Here are some lessons I’ve learned that are applicable both to biking and to daily living.
Unthankful: Remembering Club Q
Thanksgiving in the U.S. is just a day away, and millions of Americans will gather around tables to offer “thanks” for the many blessings bestowed upon them this past year. I will not be one of them. Here is why.
Head Scratching, With Good Reason
The past couple of weeks have been good for archaeology nerds, with several recent discoveries making news. Here are details on a few of the latest finds.
What Story Will You Tell This Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving is tomorrow, and the national holiday comes with anxiety for a variety of reasons. How we view, and celebrate, will depend on the story we tell.
Things to Do Until Jesus Comes
A curiosity about one line, “We’ll work till Jesus comes,” penned by hymn writer Elizabeth Mills, revisits me on occasion. I wondered then and now: Why work?
Advent Lectionary | Flood Watch
The once-mighty Mississippi that shrank during a season of drought is filling again. We’re back on flood watch. And we’d almost forgotten there was such a thing. But what does this have to do with Advent?
What Twitter’s Uncertain Future Reveals about Leadership
Do you still think that Elon Musk is a tech genius? Yes, he is a billionaire, but he is also another rich example of poor leadership as his newly acquired company, Twitter, is facing an uncertain future.
How Jesus’ Lordship Destabilizes All Other Forms of ‘Lording’
‘Christ the King Sunday,’ or ‘Reign of Christ Sunday,’ was observed this past Sunday. Despite the outdated language, it reminds us that Jesus’ lordship destabilizes all other forms of ‘lording.’
Common Ground Begins on Higher Ground
Recently, I read Bono’s autobiography, ‘Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story.’ His story is an amazing tale, weaving together rock-n-roll with social conscience. Bono and U2 have released numerous hits, but their greatest achievements are outside of music.
Look Back | Guatemalan Research: Disturbing Echo of Tuskegee
A disturbing reminder of the well-known Tuskegee syphilis study, the Guatemalan research by the U.S. was discovered by Susan M. Reverby of Wellesley College while she was researching her recent book, “Examining Tuskegee: The Infamous Syphilis Study and Its Legacy.”
Tuskegee Study Is Part of a Long, Shameful History
The Tuskegee experiment is part of a larger and longer narrative of the exploitation of African Americans. It is a reminder that scientific racism is not a thing of the past.