by Ed Hogan | Mar 31, 2023 | Feature, Opinion
I grew up in East Texas where most people were Baptists and Methodists, so the most religious diversity I experienced was playing football with my Catholic neighbors. This all changed when I went to college at The University of Texas at Austin. I met famed atheist...
by Ken Sehested | Mar 16, 2023 | Feature, Opinion
Scripture has a pronounced bias favoring “light” and opposing “darkness.” But there’s a minority report as well, where the Holy One is encountered in darkness. Through the prophet Isaiah, God proclaims: “I will give you the treasures of darkness … that you may know...
by Ken Sehested | Mar 15, 2023 | Feature-, Opinion
The traditional emphases of Lent — prayer, fasting and almsgiving — are intensely personal but never merely private. Heyr himna smiður (“Hear, Heavenly Creator”), a 12th century Icelandic poem, states: “Listen, smith [artisan] of the heavens, what the poet asks. / May...
by Mitch Randall | Feb 27, 2020 | Opinion
“Boys,” I asked my two sons a few years ago, “what are you giving up for Lent?” My youngest son quickly pounced. “Broccoli, I’m giving up broccoli for Lent.” He beamed, knowing he had just beaten the system of vegetable requirements at dinner. His older brother, who...
by M. Imad Damaj | May 3, 2019 | Opinion
Editor’s note: This article first appeared on Aug. 26, 2009. At the time of publication, Damaj was president of the Virginia Muslim Coalition for Public Affairs and served on the board of Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy and Richmond Habitat for Humanity....