Recent Articles
January 4, 2022
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: The Life Coaches Fueling the ‘Ex-Evangelical’ Movement; Travel as Healing; Last Parent of a Child Killed in the Birmingham 16th Street Baptist Church Bombing Dies at 93 (and more)
The Third Year of a Global Pandemic Calls for More Than a Resolution
As we enter the third year of a global pandemic, it is time for us to move past annual resolutions to consistent and courageous truth-telling about who we are and have always been.
Evolution of Faith Discussed in Latest Nurturing Faith Books’ Title
‘Phases of Faith in the Biblical Story’ is the latest title from Nurturing Faith Books, with author Sherrill Gardner Stevens considering the various ways that people have expressed their faith over time in the Bible.
Garbage Truck Worth of Plastic Enters Oceans Every Minute
The amount of plastic waste entering the oceans each year is the equivalent of a garbage truck worth being dumped in every minute, a report found. The U.S. is a top producer of plastics and source of plastic waste.
January 3, 2022
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: On Eve of the Anniversary of the Capitol Insurrection, 1 in 3 Americans Say Violence Against Government Can Be Justified; Wampanoag, Who Helped Pilgrims Survive, Win Rights to Tribal Lands;
Is That a Burning Bush? Is This Mt. Sinai? Solstice Bolsters a Claim; A Neuroscientist Prepares for Death (and more)
Good Faith Media: 2021 and 2022
In 2021, GFM emerged as a trusted and valued source for people of faith with a social conscience and deep desire for advocacy.
A Prophet Has Spoken to Us: A Tribute to Archbishop Desmond Tutu
Archbishop Desmond Tutu is remembered for his holy activism and righteous indignation against every form of injustice.
Only One Religious Leader on ‘Most Admired’ Lists for 2021
A single religious leader made YouGov’s “most admired” lists in 2021. Political figures, TV and film celebrities and athletes were the most prominent figures.
God Had Other Plans for Archbishop Desmond Tutu
A sermon in praise of the plan that God had for Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s life on his 90th birthday is offered by his friend and co-laborer in the ecumenical movement.
December 30, 2021
In today’s news and analysis curated headlines: Egypt’s History of Burning Incense; Trump-Appointed Judges Reject Comparisons Between January 6 and Portland Political Unrest; The Wealthy LDS Church Offered a Man $40 for Food, He Says. So He Wrote a Mormon Musical.; and more
Fear and Remembering in a Calais Winter
A Facebook feed memory from Calais, France, 2015 stopped me in my tracks. The so-called “jungle” filled with migrant tents and shelters is long gone, but migrants continue to need help.
U.S. Prison, Jail Population Drops in 2020, Racial Disparities Persist
Both U.S. prisons and jails saw significant population declines in 2020, due mostly to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these drops, significant racial disparities continue.
When Do Death Row and Solitary Confinement Constitute ‘Cruel and Unusual Punishment’?
After six years leading the mental health department at the Texas prison unit housing men on death row, I concluded that the way death row and solitary confinement as practiced were ‘cruel and unusual punishment.’ Here is why.
December 29, 2021
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: NASA Taps Theologians to Study Potential Human Reaction to Aliens; India Cuts Off Funding of Mother Teresa’s Charity, While Right-Wing Hindu Nationalists Threaten Christians and Muslims; United Methodist Church Reaches Settlement in Boy Scouts of America Bankruptcy Case; and more
Perhaps Rating Everything Is Not a Good Idea
It seems like every business wants constant feedback from its customers, asking for ratings and reviews on nearly every transaction and interaction. How might this mindset seep into houses of faith in harmful ways?
Less Than Half of U.S. Says Religion Extremely or Very Important
Less than half of U.S. adults say that religion is extremely or very important to them, a recent report found. White evangelical Protestants were the most likely group to affirm this view.
How Health Care Costs, Medical Debt Impact U.S. Households
A recent survey found that a growing number of U.S. households are not seeking medical care due to concerns over costs. How are these concerns and medical debt impacting U.S. households?
December 28, 2021
In today’s news and analysis headlines: Cost of Extreme Weather Driven by Climate Change Mounts, Christian Aid Warns; Catholic Church Bringing Clergy from Africa to U.S. as Number of American Priests Drops; Leading American Naturalist, E. O. Wilson, Former Southern Baptist Dubbed ‘Darwin’s Heir,’ Dies at 92; and more
A Call for Audacious, Bold and Courageous Words
I’ve been collecting words for years; finding solace, guidance, inspiration and conviction in them. Here’s why we need words that are audacious, bold and courageous to guide us.
‘Davka,’ Do the Right Thing
One Hebrew word defies explanation and is best understood through examples. You know it when you see it. Here are several manifestations of this word that I’ve observed in my interfaith work.
Religious Life in U.S. ‘Slowly Returning to Normal’
Religious life in the U.S. is “showing signs of slowly returning to normal,” an AP-NORC report found. Nearly one-quarter of all adults are attending in-person religious services at least weekly.
December 27, 2021
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: World Leaders Morn the Death of Archbishop Desmond Tutu; Burned Out by the Pandemic, Many Clergy Quit in the Past Year; Archaeological Survey Off the Coast of Caesarea Recovers Treasure from Two Ancient Shipwrecks; Billionaire Makes Public Break from Mormon Church and more
An Empty Tree
The Randall family Christmas tree is empty for the first time ever. Why? And what lessons can we take away from its barrenness?
Atmosphere, Schmatmosphere
A trip to Arkansas led to sampling a variety of food styles and restaurant venues. What lessons might this experience offer for people of faith?
Few U.S. Adults Could Tell Christmas Story Accurately from Memory
Less than a quarter of all U.S. adults say they could tell the biblical Christmas story accurately, a report found. Even so, a strong majority plan to celebrate Christmas this year.
Look Back | Who Is Jesus?
Each year, the arrival of Christmas invites us to consider the question, “Who is Jesus?” To answer, let’s look at some of the terms used in the Bible to describe him, along with Jesus’ favorite term for himself.
December 22, 2021
In today’s news and analysis headlines: Chimes from Crusader Times: Recreating Nativity Church’s Medieval Music; Religious Imagery in Capitol Insurrection is Year’s Top Religion News Story, Survey Finds; North Carolina Relief Organizations in Kentucky Following Deadly Tornado; ‘They Were Finally Free’: Christian Aid Details How Hostages Escaped Captivity in Haiti; and more
Removing the Parentheses Around Jesus’ Life
Have you placed Jesus’ life and teachings in parentheses as interesting but not essential to Christian faith? If so, the celebration of his coming is a good time to get rid of those punctuation marks.
Advent Lectionary | Is There Room? Are We Ready?
Like the innkeeper, many of us likely have no room to receive the Christ Child. Luke’s Gospel prepares to hand Jesus off to us following his birth. Is there room? Are we ready?
Considering Advent’s Insurrectionary Promise
Advent and Christmas challenge and unsettle the status quo. Let’s consider how these seasons bring an insurrectionary promise.