Latest Articles
Thirsty in Detroit: Water shutoffs and baptismal witness
At St. Peter's, the font beckons Detroiters to wade into freedom—while the bottled water around it brings to mind the principalities and powers.
Marlowe’s ghost among American atheists
A 2006 study in American Sociological Review shows that, while both divisions among American Christians and negative perceptions between people of different faiths are eroding, there is still one group that Americans don’t trust: those who choose to remain outside of communities of belief. Further research shows that atheists are perceived about as favorably as Muslims. Not believing in God constitutes a social mōs on par with one of the most maligned religious groups in the current American zeitgeist. (At least one op-ed has called for a political alliance between Muslims and atheists on the grounds that much of the current vitriol in American politics is aimed at these two groups.)
The most fascinating question here falls outside of quantitative analysis: what does an atheist look like?
"Do you need a place to pray?"
Toward the end of last semester, a student walked through the door at St. Francis House, the campus ministry I serve, and abruptly stopped, standing inside the entryway. Frozen. I was passing through the space, which connects the chapel and the lounge, and stopped to introduce myself. "What brings you in today?" I asked him.
His answer expected the question.
In Tunisia, a move toward 'Muslim democracy'
Tunisia’s Ennahda movement, the most successful Islamist party to emerge from the Arab Spring revolts early in this decade, has left political Islam and declared that its members will operate in th...
June 12, 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Luke 7:36-8:3
When I read this week’s passage from Luke, I take an aerial view. My perspective shifts from the disciples to Jesus, then to Simon the Pharisee, then to the bystanders, and finally to the woman who washes Jesus’ feet.
Populist fever: Anger at the democratic deficit
Populism is a predictable recurring feature of any society that is unwilling or unable to be as democratic as it claims to be.
Exile: Extinction and survival
My church goes off-lectionary frequently. Part of me is sympathetic: I, too, grow weary of the cycle at times, and I long for something different to ponder. Part of me mourns the fact that we're not in sync with the larger Christian world; when we're on-lectionary, I love knowing that Christians of all sorts throughout the world are reading the same texts.
On Sunday my church heard about the Babylonian exile.
The spiritual-and-maybe-religious Dylan
Bob Dylan is 75 today. He’s not the only one who’s still making records after 50+ years, but it’s hard to think of anyone else with as many good ones.
“Keep it religious,” the Century’s longtime editor liked to say. Many people find this hard to do when talking about Dylan.
Glorify, by Emily C. Heath
United Church of Christ pastor and blogger Emily Heath is a self-described binary-smashing, trinitarian, gender-nonconforming Reformed theologian.
Faith-filled reasoning
The National Day of Prayer has been challenged by a National Day of Reason. This duel of proclamations trades on the notion that the two stand in opposition.
Episode 29: David Bartlett
Matt talks to David Bartlett, American Baptist pastor and coeditor of “Feasting on the Word,” about the necessity of his first call, balancing church and academy, and an approach to scripture that is seen as both dangerous and quaint.
Goes without saying
I trust that my wife knows that I love her even if I do not tell her that on a daily basis, but I tell her anyway because hearing and saying “I love you” does both of us a lot of good. When Elizabeth sprints through the day, running errands, transporting children, taking care of our house, and preparing our supper, I tell her how grateful I am for all that she does for our family. Even though she probably knows that I am appreciative of her efforts before I say a word, I say it anyway because some things cannot be said often enough.
I hope that it goes without saying that everything we do as a church is all about Jesus, but I think that it is time for us to move beyond that assumption and begin to proclaim that Christ-centered focus clearly and boldly.
The mysteries of young Augustine
Confessions is not primarily about Augustine at all; it is about God’s activity in the particularity of Augustine’s life.
Generation to generation
Congregations often cater to those who show up and pay the bills. But as Jesus said, we need new wineskins to hold new wine.
The truth of the triune God
The Gospel of John addresses a community facing trouble because of its faith in Jesus. Its original readers needed to hear a message of affirmation. No wonder Jesus says "I will not leave you orphaned" and promises the disciples peace.
Kathryn Tanner gives Gifford Lectures in Scotland
Kathryn Tanner, professor of systematic theology at Yale Divinity School, gave the prestigious Gifford Lectures May 2–12 at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland....
Womenpriests on the prospect of female deacons
There’s the Pope Francis buzz. And then there’s reality.
Last week news outlets reported that Pope Francis would form a commission to study the issue of female deacons in the Catholic Church. The predictable reverberations began immediately.