Recent Articles
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
People of Good Faith: Paul Lewis
Paul Lewis is professor of religion in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia.
What a Resident of Myanmar’s Kachin State Wants You to Know
A military coup in February has ended Myanmar’s decade-long democratic experiment. Here is what one resident of Myanmar’s Kachin State wants you to know.
Statues, Memorials Continue to Reveal U.S. Divides
Protests and counter protests over removing statues and memorials to Confederate leaders have largely died down. However, a recent poll found that polarization remains over some of the people to be honored and memorialized.
November 19, 2021
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: Black Ministry Isn’t Limited to Sundays – and it Won’t be Limited by Racists; What Americans Hear About Social Justice at Church, and What They Do About It; In Charlottesville Trial, Jurors Learn to Decode the Secret Slang of White Supremacists; This North Texas Church Lost Six Members to Suicide. Here’s What it’s Doing to Get Families Help; New Revised Standard Version Bible Updated with Consideration for ‘Modern Sensibilities’; and more
One Week in America
It has been a challenging week in the U.S., with high profile court cases, political tension and calls for “one religion under God.” People of good faith must continue to look for glimmers of light and hope.
Generosity Is More Than a Seasonal, Nostalgic Exercise
The season of Thanksgiving in the U.S. invites us to reflect on generosity. Because this concept and attribute is emphasized in most faith traditions, it must be more than a seasonal, nostalgic exercise in our lives.
More Protestant Pastors Consider Leaving Full-Time Ministry
A growing number of U.S. Protestant clergy are considering leaving full-time ministry, a report found. More than a third seriously considered this possibility in the fall of 2021.
November 18, 2021
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: Pastor Says Church Event Tied to Deadly COVID Outbreak Was ‘What God Wanted Us to Do’; Why is it So Dangerous to be Pregnant in America?; Tennessee’s Southern Baptist Convention Approves Sexual Abuse Recommendation; and more
How Beautiful Are the Shoes …
Observing young children in my neighborhood playing outside barefoot brought back childhood memories. It also led to a reflection on what the Bible has to say about footwear.
Three New Titles Now Available from Nurturing Faith Books
New titles from Doug Dortch, Bruce Salmon, and Maralene and Miles Wesner are now available from Nurturing Faith Books, the publishing imprint of Good Faith Media.
Everywhere You Go, Be Who You Are
The statement of a young man from Uganda offers much food for thought about how we view ourselves and how others perceive us. He offers a needed reminder to be ourselves wherever we go.
November 17, 2021
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: Attending Michael Flynn’s Call for ‘One Religion,’ a Who’s Who of the New Christian Right; Pulpit Panic: Half of Protestant Clerics Looking for Exits, Survey Reports;
If You’re a High-Risk Patient Who Needs an Abortion, a Hospital’s Religious Chaplain Might Help Decide Whether You Can Get One; and more