Recent Articles
December 3, 2021
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: As Supreme Court Debates Abortion, Dueling Theologies Battle Outside; Ohio Governor’s Race: Jim Rennaci Chooses Anti-Abortion Christian Movie Producer as Running Mate in GOP Primary; It’s Back: Purity Culture, 2.0, Gen Z Style; and more
Reaction and Response | Few Cite Faith/Spirituality/Religion As Giving Life Meaning
Few adults worldwide cite faith, religious or spirituality as a leading source of meaning, according to a new report. What were the most common responses? And what do faith leaders think about the findings?
Women in the Catholic Church: A Brief History
Pope Francis has appointed several women to prominent positions within the Roman Catholic Church in recent months. Here is a brief history of the complex role of women within Catholicism.
‘The Gathering’ Offers Alternative to ‘Church-as-We-Know-It’
Are you among the people giving up on church right and left? Are you tired, perhaps even offended, by ‘church-as-we-know-it’? If so, “The Gathering: A Womanist Church” is the book for you.
December 2, 2021
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: QAnon Follower Writes Open Letter to Donald Trump Over Failed Predictions: ‘Tired of It’; Marjorie Taylor Greene, in Feud with Nancy Mace on Islamophobia, Launches Personal Attack Over Abortion; Catholic Church Cancels College Republicans’ Pro-Life Talk Featuring Matt Walsh, Citing Speakers’ ‘Provocative Positions’; and more
Does Your Congregation Need Inoculation Against Misinformation?
Karl Barth’s advice to preach with a Bible and a newspaper in hand would likely be met today with questions about what newspaper to read. Churches are not immune from a misinformation pandemic, and an inoculation is likely needed.
Didn’t Ask, Don’t Need
What are some of your pet peeves when it comes to end-of-the-year donation requests from charitable organizations? Let me share a few of mine, and why I still give despite the annoyances.
Analyzing Vaccine Mandates and Legal Challenges
Legal nuances surrounding the federal vaccine mandates can be mind-numbing. Here is what you need to know, and why these challenges matter.
December 1, 2021
In today’s curated new and analysis headlines: After Ahmaud Arbery’s Death, This Group Demanded Change; The Christian Legal Army Behind the Ban on Abortion in Mississippi; Conservative Southern Baptist Network Launches Attack on James Merritt for Saying Something Nice About His Son; and more
Jesus on the Sidelines
Americanized Christians have made a recent substitution, replacing one player for another star. With this long-revered figure now on the sidelines, many are struggling to know how to proceed.
Advent Lectionary | The Earliest Soundtrack
The Gospel of Luke opens with a series of songs, which offer the earliest soundtrack to the Advent season. Of the four, Zechariah’s Benedictus is the most sophisticated.
U.S. Protestant Congregations See Finances Stabilizing
Many Protestant churches in the U.S. have seen their finances stabilize after a volatile 2020, a survey found. A majority report that giving was either the same as last year or had increased in 2021.
November 30, 2021
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: Horse Troughs, Hot Tubs and Hashtags: Baptism is Getting Wild; “We Remember a United States that Fought the Nazis”: A German Scholar of Fascism Weighs in on Christian Nationalism in the U.S.; Center for Christian Virtue, Ohio Christian Nationalist Culture War Organization, Buys Building Across from Statehouse; Black Catholics Have a Right to be Frustrated with a Church that Ignores Racism; and more
‘White Equals Right’ Mentality Continues Today
The men who chased and killed Ahmaud Arbery went home after the incident, only facing charges after a public outcry. Called ‘self-defense’ by some; others have described it as a ‘modern-day lynching.’
Organ Donation Disparities Rooted in Social, Economic Inequity
Scapegoating always serves to avoid a deeper look at the underlying conditions that caused social issues, including health care access and outcomes. Here is what you need to know about racial disparities in organ donations and transplants.
Government Restrictions on Religion at All-Time High in 2019
Government restrictions on religion were at an all-time high in 2019, according to a Pew Research Center report. Social hostility toward religion declined for the second year in a row.
November 29, 2021
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: Giant Menorah to Light up Genesee County as Part of World’s Largest Chanukah Observance; Religious Abortion Supporters Fight for Access; ; Christian Nationalist Idaho Church, Advocates of Theocracy, Wages Culture War With Books, Cartoons and Nature Doc; and more
Thank You, God
Fred Rogers spoke often of gratitude, encouraging one particular action of those he spoke to at graduations and other special events. This practice is beneficial at Thanksgiving and throughout the year.
U.S. Majority Says People, Not God, Responsible for World’s Suffering
Most U.S. adults blame people, not God or a higher power, for the world’s suffering, a report published by Pew Research Center found.
Six Dos and Don’ts Surrounding Grief
The holiday season following a significant loss is often the hardest, so compassion, care, kindness and patience should guide interactions during this stressful time. Here are six dos and don’ts.
Look Back | Let’s Build on the Good of Thanksgiving Day
Thanksgiving in the U.S. is a wonderful time for friends and family, fellowship and food, gratitude and graciousness. Let’s extend this attitude beyond the holiday by practicing neighborliness year-round in practical, tangible ways.
November 24, 2021
In today’s curated news an analysis headlines: 48 Million Expected to Hit the Road as Travelers Emerge for Thanksgiving; A Majority Supports Keeping Roe v. Wade in Place: CBS News Poll; Alabama Man’s 14-Foot-Tall Church May be Worlds Smallest; and more
Gratitude Expresses Itself Best in Generosity
Much of the U.S. gathers around tables this week, expressing thanks for life’s blessings. Yet, there is a fuller way to express our thankfulness than pausing to offer words of gratitude.
Advent Lectionary | Hope, the Thing With Feathers
Faced with uncertainty, how do we move forward? From poets to prophets to praise songs, we’re reminded that hope can buoy us and enable us to carry on.
Your Story Could Light the Way for Others
We might think personal stories and experiences are insignificant, but they will be priceless for close friends and family. They can also illuminate the pathway for others.
November 23, 2021
In today’s news and analysis headlines: A Historic San Juan Church that Once Welcomed Freed Slaves Now Takes in Hispanic Refugees; Both Republicans and Democrats Prioritize Family, But They Differ Over Other Sources of Meaning in Life; Tucker Carlson’s Jan. 6 ‘Documentary’ is His Most Nakedly Fascist Piece of Propaganda Yet; ‘Heil Rittenhouse’: White Supremacists Celebrate Verdict Like They’ve Won the Super Bowl; and more
Two Words That Explain the Kyle Rittenhouse Acquittal
A jury in Kenosha, Wisconsin, found Kyle Rittenhouse not guilty of all charges on Nov. 19. Two words have been used to explain the decision, but those are not the words that reveal the basis for this acquittal.
This Thanksgiving, Leave a Lasting Message
Awkward conversations seem inevitable at Thanksgiving tables, but they don’t have to be. Rather than make your point by shouting across the table, consider leaving a more lasting message by your example.
Can You Remain Hopeful but Not Optimistic?
What is the difference between optimism and hope? Let’s consider these terms, reflect on whether you can be one without the other, and discuss why it matters.
November 22, 2021
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: For Black Residents of Ahmaud Arbery’s Hometown, Trust in the Justice System is on Trial Right Alongside His Accused Killers; Two Missionaries Released in Haiti After Group Kidnapping; Conflict Over Abortion Laws Won’t Abate if Roe v Wade Falls; and more