Opinion
How I Came Home With a Gift From Ayatollah Sistani
I’m still savoring and pondering the significance of our visit with Ayatollah Sistani during a trip last summer with Muslim pilgrims in Iraq. We took refuge in his home from the blistering heat of an Iraqi summer for a conversation.
How We Can Work to Fix a Trust Deficit in the U.S.
Nurses have ranked as the most trusted profession in the U.S. for the past two decades. They retained their top spot in 2022 despite a drop in confidence. This reflects a larger trend of declining trust among many professions.
Beyond Harmony to Friendship
Harmony among persons who follow different faith traditions engenders mutual respect and kindness. Harmony is self-evidently superior to disharmony. Yet, harmony is not enough.
That’s Amoré? No, That’s Amorite
Two archaeologists have revealed the discovery of two Old Babylonian tablets from around 1800 BCE that contain a surprising bilingual text. Could this be the most exciting language discovery of the year?
Giving Honor Where It Is Due
Brittney Griner is owed several apologies – not that she’s asking for them. The opinion of others never kept her from enduring life with poise. Yet, it is time for many to break their silence and give honor where it is due.
America Has a Police Brutality Problem
Don’t resist the truth. Police brutality in America is a real problem. The death of Tyre Nichols at the hands of police officers during a traffic stop is the latest, tragic example of this reality.
How to Sidestep Jesus and Still Profess to Be Christian
There is strong interest among many Americanized Christians to redefine their faith in ways that avoid having to deal too much with Jesus. Here is how this can be accomplished in seven simple steps.
George Santos and the Politics of Deception
Paul told the faith community in Corinth that there was no place for liars in the kin-dom of God. Apparently, there remains plenty of room for them in the United States government.
What Food Reveals About Shame Culture and Insufferable High Horses
At the end of a workday, I turn to cooking and food podcasts to find connection with others and to renew my spirit. Chef David Chang and the variety of opinions about food offer insight into the shame culture found in many faith communities.
Lincoln Lessons: Real Church, Real Theology
This week, I sat down with David Wood, former pastor of the United Church of Lincoln. His 38-year tenure at the congregation was memorable and meaningful, some of which I had the privilege to hear about during our conversation.
How Prescription Drug Development Is Funded
Americans spent over $335 billion on prescription drugs in 2018 compared to $30 billion in 1980. What accounts for the $305 billion increase in costs in less than 40 years?
Why the Inflation Reduction Act Is Unlikely to Reduce Prescription Drug Prices
The median list price for new drugs approved in 2022 by the FDA was $222,003, up from $180,000 in 2021. The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 is unlikely to impact this trend anytime soon, so what can be done?
Entering the Second Half of Life
Richard Rohr’s book ‘Falling Upward’ speaks about there being two halves to life. For me, this transition hasn’t been so much about the calendar but about a change in mindset and an openness to the Divine.
Can I Get a Witness?
A trip to a movie theater to watch whatever was playing next led me and a friend to view the film “Devotion.” One scene was powerful and impactful, leading me to reflect on the importance of having people in our lives who support and encourage us.
When We Lose Our Moral Compasses, We Lose Our Way
Community schools and houses of faith are two key locations where we learn how to live in community with others. Teachers and faith leaders serve as moral compasses, but tragically these professions are seeing an exodus.
How We Can Help ‘Spare’ Children
Prince Harry’s autobiography is making international headlines and it quickly reached the top of the best sellers’ list. Despite my lack of curiosity about the British monarchy, the book’s title caught my attention and raises an important issue.
Politicizing Creation Care Damages Both Nature and Witness
Protecting natural resources was an integral part of my youthful experiences with the great outdoors. There was nothing remotely political about our orientation; saving souls and saving the planet didn’t seem at odds.
Good Faith Advocates’ Monthly Calls Begin February 2
The first Good Faith Advocates meeting will be Thursday, February 2, featuring MSNBC political analyst and author Matthew Dowd. The first advocates’ monthly meeting is free and open to the public, but registration is required.
Many White Christians in U.S. See Immigrants as a Threat
White Christians in the U.S. are the most likely faith group to see immigrants as a threat to the nation’s customs and values, according to a new report. They’re also the most likely group to affirm the replacement theory.
‘Becoming Human’ Offers Breath of Fresh Air on Race, Racism
‘Becoming Human: The Holy Spirit and the Rhetoric of Race,’ the latest book by Luke Powery of Duke Divinity School, offers breath of fresh air for churches and religious institutions that no longer want to treat race as a taboo topic.
Why Churches Need More Afternoon Services
As a child, I hated getting up early to go and sit in a humid sanctuary packed with members so there was only room for the Holy Ghost to move. As I grow older, my perspective changes. Here is why.
A Brief History of the U.S. Debt Ceiling
The U.S. has reached the limit for the amount of money it is authorized to borrow, with the Treasury Department taking extraordinary measures to avoid the nation defaulting on its debt. Here is a brief history of the debt limit.
Lincoln Lessons: Creating Art, Telling Stories
Reed Prescott is an award-winning artist, living and working next to the General Store in Lincoln, Vermont. I visit to his workshop this week, visiting with him about his life and work.
“Protect the Children” and the Sanctity of Drag Queens
Proposed legislation would make it illegal for drag events to occur in public spaces, stating that they are “adult, sexually explicit content” unsuitable for minors to view – no exceptions. This is problematic, and it isn’t about “protecting the children.”
Wisdom Wherever You Find It: Say Something
My mother-in-law had a wide smile, a set of very expressive eyebrows and no patience for whining. Her response to empty complaints was frequently voiced, and it remains sound wisdom today.
Diggin’ It – for Real
I often highlight recent archaeological discoveries in this column. Have you ever wanted to be one of those folks who do the actual digging? Here’s your best chance ever.
Why We Have More to Worry About Than COVID-19
The sharp rise in RSV cases during the past two years, along with the seasonal cases of flu and cold, has revealed that we need a more pragmatic, and neighborly, approach to disease management. Here are four practical actions.
Today Is the National Day of Racial Healing
January 17 is the National Day of Racial Healing. It is part of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation effort, a national endeavor that is community-based and hopes to bring about transformational change.
Don’t Scapegoat Your Minister
Every pastor hears it: Just do what one of your predecessors did a few decades ago and all will be well within congregational life. This is not the truth, and it is harmful to congregations and their current leaders.
New Year, New Resolve
“New Year, New You” advertisements have filled my social media feeds. It’s easy to critique resolutions, but maybe the idea of adopting resolves is an opportunity to reflect on how we use our time and spend our days.