Recent Articles
May 31, 2023
Charlies Kirk’s ‘Turning Point’ Pivots to Christian Nationalism; Fox News is Airing Weekly Sermons from a Christian Nationalist Pastor Who Has Called Transgender People ‘a Plan on None Other than Satan Himself’; Americans are Rejecting Religion as the Christian Right Becomes More Extreme
“Deep is the Hunger:” When the Sunday Morning Worship Service is Not Enough
I’ve attended Sunday morning worship services for more than 30 years. The traditional, predictable order of service has consistently left me deeply dissatisfied.
More Mass Shootings, No Substantive Responses in Texas
Five years after a mass shooting at a Texas high school, and multiple mass shootings since, nothing substantive has been done by Texas leaders to address gun violence. Recent efforts to pass gun control legislation have not been successful.
Pope Laments Lack of Progress in Global Peacemaking
War never brings relief to human lives, Pope Francis emphasized in a pontifical message to a mid-May international conference. Rather than resolving conflicts, war results in destruction and loss of humanity.
White Supremacist and the N-Word: The Failure of This “Both Sides” Argument
There’s a difference between calling someone a white supremacist and calling someone the N-word. To say they are the same is a false equivalent; this is not a “both sides” argument.
Looking Beyond the Horizon While Living This Side of It
A collection of Viktor Frankl’s lectures offers fresh insight into his experiences and reflections as a Holocaust survivor. He offers a hopeful activism that can guide those who find themselves in contexts dominated by the intoxication of power.
Look Back | A Short History of Memorial Day
Decorating the graves of fallen soldiers goes back at least to the fifth century BCE. In the United States, however, the tradition originally referred to as “Decoration Day” sprang up in response to the Civil War.
Students, Welcome MAGA to the Class
A new student is coming to schools near you. Their presence has been enabled by right-wing politicians across the nation, who are challenging long-held traditions and foundational concepts vital to our constitutional democracy.
Emerging Voices | Sacred Safe Places
Christians live in both an already and a not yet space. We are a part of the pilgrimage not yet completed, but we also are already a part of the coming kingdom of God.
U.S. Adults Embrace Change Over Tradition for Nation’s Future
The U.S. is among the advanced economies in which most adults embrace change over sticking to traditions, according to a Pew Research Center report. All but two of the 19 nations surveyed had a majority of adults affirm this view.
Chimps, Champs, and Cherry Log
Thinking theologically as we experience life is a worthwhile skill, even when on vacation. You never know what you will see, learn, or file away for future pondering.
Overlooked Climate Concern: Municipal Landfill Emissions
Methane emissions from municipal landfills are a key contributor to greenhouse gas emission increases, according to a report by the Environmental Integrity Project. They account for more than 14% of total U.S. methane emissions.
U.S. Homelessness Increased for Seventh Straight Year
Homelessness in the U.S. increased for the seventh straight year, according to an annual report from the National Alliance to End Homelessness. Currently, 18 in every 10,000 people living in the U.S. are experiencing homelessness.
By the Way | The Race to the Right in Evangelical Higher Education
When I headed to graduate school in the summer of 1980, my aspiration was someday to teach at a Christian liberal arts school. With recent developments at several evangelical colleges, I see now how precarious that path would have been.
Where Are the Leaders With Integrity?
It might just be that religious leaders today exceed the hypocrisy of the religious leaders who questioned, heckled, and ultimately rejected Jesus. Those are harsh words, but tragically true.
Plurality of U.S. Protestants Say Churches Don’t Actively Support Fostering or Adoption
A plurality of U.S. Protestant churchgoers said their church doesn’t actively support fostering or adoption, according to LifeWay Research. No expression of support surveyed had more than 18% of respondents say their church was engaged in that manner.
May 30, 2023
The Epicenter of Anti-Abortion America: States with the Highest Child Poverty Rates; What Christian Nationalism Has Done to My State of Wyoming and My Faith is a Sin; Ancient Toilets Unearthed in Jerusalem Reveal a Debilitating and Sometimes Fatal Disease (and more)
When White Supremacists Come to Town
Patriot Front hosted a rally at the National Memorial in Washington, D.C. on May 14. But this is not the first time that a white supremacist group has paraded itself around in the capital city. In fact, there is a long history that shouldn’t be treated hospitably.
White Evangelical Protestants Are Outliers in Public School Vaccination Views
Support for vaccinations for children attending public schools has declined in recent years, according to a Pew Research Center report. While most U.S. adults continue to affirm vaccination requirements, support has declined significantly since 2019.
Most U.S. Teens, Adults View Jesus Positively
U.S. teens and adults have a positive perception of Jesus, according to a Barna Group report. However, when it comes to adherents of Christianity, levels of positive affirmation drop noticeably.
Preaching Hope to a Weary World
The 2023 Festival of Homiletics theme was “Preaching Hope for a Weary World.” Preachers from around the world descended on Minneapolis, Minnesota, this week to hear inspiring sermons and discuss the craft of preaching.
Correlation Between Religious Freedom Violations and ‘Transnational Repression’
There is a correlation between nations that violate religious freedom and their engagement in “transnational repression,” according to panelists at a hearing conducted by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom.
Look Back | What’s the Debt Ceiling Debate Really About?
We shouldn’t be fooled into thinking the current debate ceiling battle is simply a fiscal debate. So, what is the real issue in the debt ceiling debate?
May 19, 2023
The Importance of Religion in the Lives of Americans is Shrinking; The Faithful See Both Crisis and Opportunity as Churches Close Across the Country; Title 42 Ends – and Oak Lawn United Methodist Church Prepares for a Spike in Migrants (and more)
Biden Administration Issues Updated Guidance on Religious Expression in Public Schools
The Biden administration has issued updated guidance regarding constitutionally protected religious expression in public schools. Addressing a variety of topics related to both students and school employees, the guidance emphasizes public schools should be neutral toward religion and religious expression.
Infant and Maternal Mortality Rates Remain Shockingly High
A pregnant mother or newborn dies every seven seconds, according to new data from the World Health Organization. Tragically, these numbers have not improved over the last eight years.
Emerging Voices | What Is the First Step of Loving Others?
I am in the field of social work, and the more I learn and work in this field, the more I am convinced that “loving your neighbor” requires us to utilize many skills through discipline and practice. Love does not come naturally.
May 18, 2023
Mormon Who Left Wall Street to Work for Charity Blows Whistle on What He Says is His Church’s ‘Clandestine Hedge Fund’; Cyberfraud Cost Florida Baptists More than $700,000; Human DNA is Everywhere. That’s a Boon for Science, and an Ethical Quagmire. (and more)
Hot Fire, Cold Snow and Social Gospel
“Social gospel” names a way of following Jesus which seeks to address systemic injustices and inequities with organized efforts at social change. In truth, it is a redundant adjective. Here is why.
Generous Orthodoxy
The Gospels tell us that God’s mercy is unlimited and unconditional, and that God has no favorites. If that is true, then we need to ask ourselves why we so frequently tend to withhold God’s Spirit from others in our judgments.