Recent Articles
December 1, 2022
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: England and Wales No Longer Majority Christian Nations, Census Reveals; New Research Reveals Global Youth are Stepping Up for Human Rights and Climate Justice Despite Increased Disenfranchisement; No Religion, No Politics, Just Community: How Refugees Learn to Celebrate Thanksgiving (and more)
Koinonia Farm Celebrates 80th Anniversary
Koinonia Farm celebrated 80 years of commitment to a simple life, a common purse and relationships that cross racialized boundaries. The land continues to extend a call to Christians who feel compelled to live in intentional community.
Advent Lectionary | The Music of Peace
The Psalter reading for this week of Advent is Psalm 72:1-7 and 18-19. I always wondered why those who built the liturgical year didn’t just focus on verses 1-7; why add the tag at the end of the psalm?
Half of U.S. Protestants Prefer Political Silos in the Congregation
Half of U.S. Protestants want to attend church with people who agree with them politically, according to a LifeWay Research report. A majority say most people in their congregation share their political views.
November 30, 2022
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: Why Hawaiians See Volcanoes as a ‘Place of Creation’; Amy Comey Barrett Asked by Former Members of Christian Group to Step Away from LGBT Case; The Righting Deciphers Conservative Media for Outsiders (and more)
Faith Seeking Understanding | The Story We Were Told and Tell
Have you ever stripped away the sanctified language of the basic story that was offered as central to your inherited faith and told it as plainly as any other story would be told? Here’s the one I learned.
Execution of the Mentally Ill Should Shame Us All
Andre Thomas will be executed by the State of Texas in April, after the Supreme Court rejected a request to review his case. I met Thomas in 2008 when serving as the mental health manager at a Texas prison.
Global Temperatures Projected to Far Exceed Paris Agreement Target
Current trends indicate that global temperatures will far exceed the target of 1.5 degrees Celsius established in the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, according to a United Nations Environment Programme report.
Unwrapping Christmas | Why There Isn’t a ‘War on Christmas’
Four weeks to nest before the birth of Jesus, Advent also doubles as a time of war – the so-called “war on Christmas,” to be specific. But this “war” is mostly being proclaimed by the same people who see attacks on Christianity where none exist.
Keeping Upright on My Bicycle and in Life
Biking is a regular part of my weekly routine, and it is something I’ve enjoyed for over 20 years. Here are some lessons I’ve learned that are applicable both to biking and to daily living.
Religious Freedom Repressed When Government Favors a Religious Tradition
Religious freedom is repressed when a government favors one religious tradition over others, according to a report by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. Worldwide, 78 nations have an official or favored faith tradition.
November 28, 2022
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: Colorado Springs, Bastion of Christian Conservatism, Reckons with Past After Gay Club Shooting; At Protests Across America, Guns are Doing the Talking; BYU Student: Young Mormons Aren’t Fooled by Church Support for Gay Marriage Bill (and more)
Unthankful: Remembering Club Q
Thanksgiving in the U.S. is just a day away, and millions of Americans will gather around tables to offer “thanks” for the many blessings bestowed upon them this past year. I will not be one of them. Here is why.
Head Scratching, With Good Reason
The past couple of weeks have been good for archaeology nerds, with several recent discoveries making news. Here are details on a few of the latest finds.
What Story Will You Tell This Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving is tomorrow, and the national holiday comes with anxiety for a variety of reasons. How we view, and celebrate, will depend on the story we tell.
Things to Do Until Jesus Comes
A curiosity about one line, “We’ll work till Jesus comes,” penned by hymn writer Elizabeth Mills, revisits me on occasion. I wondered then and now: Why work?
Advent Lectionary | Flood Watch
The once-mighty Mississippi that shrank during a season of drought is filling again. We’re back on flood watch. And we’d almost forgotten there was such a thing. But what does this have to do with Advent?
Faith Groups, Leaders React to Respect for Marriage Act
The U.S. Senate voted on Nov. 16 to begin debate on the Respect for Marriage Act. This action came after amendments focused on religious exemptions were added. Several faith groups and leaders have issued statements on the legislation.
November 22, 2022
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: Facebook Takes Sexuality, Religion, Address, and Politics Off of Your Profile; Another 100,000 Graduates From the World’s Largest Theological Seminary; Israel’s Religious and Far-Right Parties Demand Law to Legitimize Gender Separation (and more)
What Twitter’s Uncertain Future Reveals about Leadership
Do you still think that Elon Musk is a tech genius? Yes, he is a billionaire, but he is also another rich example of poor leadership as his newly acquired company, Twitter, is facing an uncertain future.
How Jesus’ Lordship Destabilizes All Other Forms of ‘Lording’
‘Christ the King Sunday,’ or ‘Reign of Christ Sunday,’ was observed this past Sunday. Despite the outdated language, it reminds us that Jesus’ lordship destabilizes all other forms of ‘lording.’
Political Affiliation More Influential Than Religion on Environmental Views
Highly religious adults in the United States readily affirm a divine mandate to care for creation, according to a Pew Research Center report. They tend to be the least likely to say climate change is a serious problem.
November 21, 2022
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: Jeopardy Fans are Frustrated by This Controversial Bible Clue; Now Trump and the GOP are Losing Young Evangelicals Too; American Evangelicals Open a New Antiabortion Front – in Israel (and more)
Common Ground Begins on Higher Ground
Recently, I read Bono’s autobiography, ‘Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story.’ His story is an amazing tale, weaving together rock-n-roll with social conscience. Bono and U2 have released numerous hits, but their greatest achievements are outside of music.
Most Adults Say Religious Service Attendance Not Important to Be Good Member of Society
A majority of adults worldwide say that attending religious services regularly is not important to be a good member of society, according to a Pew Research Center report.
Look Back | Guatemalan Research: Disturbing Echo of Tuskegee
A disturbing reminder of the well-known Tuskegee syphilis study, the Guatemalan research by the U.S. was discovered by Susan M. Reverby of Wellesley College while she was researching her recent book, “Examining Tuskegee: The Infamous Syphilis Study and Its Legacy.”
November 18, 2022
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: Poll: Religious Americans Less Concerned About Climate Change; ‘Nondenominational’ is Now the Largest Segment of American Protestants; Spirituality an Important Coping Mechanism for Neurologic Disease (and more)
Tuskegee Study Is Part of a Long, Shameful History
The Tuskegee experiment is part of a larger and longer narrative of the exploitation of African Americans. It is a reminder that scientific racism is not a thing of the past.
When the Oppressed Become Oppressors
Probably no group has suffered more over the centuries at the hands of Christianity than Jews. But what happens when the oppressed become the oppressors?
U.S. Majority Says Legal Same-Sex Marriage is Good for Society
Six in 10 U.S. adults say that legal, same-sex marriage is good for society, according to a Pew Research Center report. This is a one-point increase from 2019 and a five-point increase since 2018.