Recent Articles
A Simple Way to Care for Your Body and Bank Account
It’s the most expensive time of the year – the three months in which we’re told it’s time to go shopping. Here is a simple way to care for your body and your bank account.
Voting Is the Beginning of Democracy
Perhaps we need to change that little sticker from, “I Voted” to “I helped save democracy.” Democracy requires many things from us. Voting is the beginning, not the end.
Two International Religious Summits Taking Place During Fall 2022
Global faith leaders convened in Bali, Indonesia, on Nov. 2-3 for the G20 Religion Forum. A second interfaith forum with international leaders will take place in December in the United Arab Emirates.
November 7, 2022
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: As Midterms Near, Clergy Preach Politics and Civics Lessons; In Existential Midterm Races, Christian Prophets Become GOP Surrogates; Lawsuit Alleges Facebook Helped ‘Radicalize’ Charleston Church Gunman; Someone Paid $440,000 for the Bible Used in ‘Shawshank Redemption’ (and more)
Upgrading Our Election Year Conduct
A trip to Europe in 2012 led me to a renewed awareness of how rare U.S. democracy is in the history of the world. With the 2022 midterms approaching, here are four ways to exercise responsible citizenship.
CEO Pay Increases to 399 Times U.S. Worker Pay
The wage gap between CEOs of the 350 largest publicly traded U.S. companies and average U.S. workers continues to increase. In 2021, CEOs earned 399 times more than the typical U.S. worker was paid.
Look Back | Voting is More Than a Civic Duty
After next Tuesday, it will all end — all the campaign ads, the mudslinging, the distortions, the character attacks — and we can get back to other things. But will it really be over? Or will it just be beginning?
November 4, 2022
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: Herschel Walker Cites His ‘Redemption’ Story, Focuses on White Evangelical Christians; Some American Protestants Aren’t Letting Go of Violent Revolution; Christian Monastery Possibly Pre-dating Islam Fond in United Arab Emirates (and more)
The Lies of Christian Nationalism Versus the Truth of the Gospel
Christian Nationalism is an ideology based upon the false belief that America was founded as a Christian nation. Good Faith Media is currently working with partners to counter Christian nationalism through its A Better Way Initiative.
Extreme Poverty Increases, Will Not Be Eliminated by 2030
Decades of progress in reducing extreme poverty slowed and then stopped, according to a World Bank report. In 2020, there was an increase in the number of people living in extreme poverty.
Risking God’s Mercy
I asked a saintly old priest this question: “If you had your priesthood to live over again, would you do anything differently?” From a man so full of integrity, I fully expected that there would be no regrets. His answer surprised me.
November 3, 2022
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: Spiritual But Not Religious Americans are Finding New Ways of Pursuing Meaning; 48 Louisiana Churches Left United Methodist Church Over Gay Marriage, LGBTQ Issues ; Too Many Christians are Afraid to Admit They’re Wrong, Argues Tim Keller in ‘Forgive’ (and more)
When Evil Votes
The people have gone mad. There really is no other way to explain it. Why else would they vote for an individual or party which has declared itself to be fascists while wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross?
Report: Recycling Is Not a Solution for Plastic Waste
The amount of plastic waste being created is increasing, while the percentage being recycled is declining in the U.S., according to a Greenpeace report. Few U.S. facilities can recycle anything other than no. 1 or no. 2 plastics.
How Grandparenting Is an Antidote to Ageism
There is one “-ism” that seems to receive less attention than the others: ageism. Grandparenting is one avenue to address this tendency toward ageism.
November 2, 2022
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: Half of U.S. Protestants Want Their Church to Share Their Politics; SWBTS Confirms Staff Cuts, Pursues Sale of Seminary-Owner Property: ‘These Have Been Difficult Decisions’; What Jews Don’t Know About Christianity Could Fill a Book (and more)
The Need for Life-Over-Death Priorities — in This Life
On All Saints’ Day, we remember that a life-over-death belief permeates the Christian faith. Tragically, many evangelical Christians in the U.S. support policies and express perspectives that are best described as death-over-life.
Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom
David Blight’s biography of Fredrick Douglass is a tough read. Some will probably want it to be banned, along with any of Douglass’s writings in states where the Confederacy is still revered and celebrated.
Few U.S. Adults Look to Religious Institutions, Leaders to Enact Meaningful Change
U.S. adults look to the government and to themselves more than to religious organizations and faith leaders to bring about meaningful change in the nation, according to a Barna Group report.
November 1, 2022
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: Omaha Church Works to Fight Health Inequality; Oldest Map of the Stars Discovered Under Christian Manuscript; At Copacabana Church, Catholic Voters Clash Over Brazil Election (and more)
‘Till’ Is A Must-See Film Directed by Chinonye Chukwu
Emmett Till was the face of the civil rights movement. His tragic death in 1955 is the subject of a new, must-see film directed by Chinonye Chukwu, which tells the story through the eyes of his mother.
Limping Along on Faith
We pulled our little travel trailer from storage and headed out for a four-week road trip. The trip was more eventful than we’d planned or hoped for, but I’m glad we persisted despite the challenges.
U.S. Adults Agree Nation Moving in Wrong Direction, Diverge on Vision for Future
Most U.S. adults believe the nation is heading in the wrong direction, but they have significantly different views of what the country should be like, according to the 2022 American Values Survey released by Public Religion Research Institute and the Brookings Institution.
October 31, 2022
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: Churches are Breaking the Law by Endorsing in Elections, Experts Say. The IRS Looks the Other Way.; Political Science Prof: Americans Who Aren’t Sure About God are a Fast-Growing Force in Politics; Oklahoma Education Official Pushing for Christianity Centered History Curriculum; Calvin Butts, Leader of Harlem’s Historic Abyssinian Baptist Church, Dies at 73 (and more)
Why I’m Not That Kind of Christian
In America, there has always been at least two types of believers: slaveholding or liberating, segregating or protesting inequality. Lately, Christians have been split into the Democrat and Republican kind.
Why Laughing at Bullies Is a Problem
It is beyond time to stop making excuses for Kanye West’s hate speech, or any such speech coming from rich men who find themselves with platforms built on some talent and a fan base that largely chooses to stay silent.
Most U.S. Adults Say Founders Intended to Create Christian Nation, But Most Don’t Want One
Six in 10 U.S. adults believe that “the founders of America originally intended for the U.S. to be a ‘Christian nation,’” according to a Pew Research Center report. Yet, most also do not feel the U.S. should be a “Christian nation.”
Look Back | All Saints’ Day Offers Moment for Remembrance and Reflection
Halloween began as a vigil of prayer and fasting to prepare for All Saints’ Day, a time to remember the martyrs of the faith. Here’s why your church should observe All Saints’ Day Sunday.
October 28, 2022
In today’s curated news and analysis: 45% of Americans Say U.S. Should be a ‘Christian Nation’; Branson’s God and Country Tourism Draws Christian Nationalists; Mike Pence Says Americans Don’t Have a Right to Freedom from Religion; Twitter User Dupes Everyone Into Thinking Andre the Giant is Biblical Figure Joseph (and more)
Standing up for My Jewish Friends
Troubling high-profile antisemitic incidents have occurred across the U.S. People of good faith must work to counter this growing antisemitic movement that frequently finds its roots in white Christian nationalism.