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One afternoon I got a "friend" request from someone on Facebook. I did not recognize the name, for a variety of reasons, one of which was the name was written in Chinese script. I saw that we had one friend in common, another missionary friend of mine from 30 years ago when I lived in Japan. Still, I really did not recognize the name. I couldn't pronounce the name. I no longer read Japanese. So, I sent this person a message, asking them, "Are you one of my former students from Japan?"

Fleming Rutledge's magnum opus is many things: a look at the ways the death of Christ has been interpreted, an argument that the how of his death matters, and a protest against Christianity-light.

Jon Levenson's new book reflects on the theme of the love of God in the Hebrew Bible. The three components of his subtitle suggest the range and depth of his exposition.

Yes, Go Set a Watchman has its problems; yes, it needed an editor. Yet one senses that this fiction has grown out of a life lived.

c. 2015 Religion News Service...

c. 2015 Religion News Service...

c. 2015 Religion News Service...

c. 2015 Religion News Service...

It is intriguing that the Republican presidential candidate who's leading the polls and the Democratic candidate who's close to tying the front-runner are both outliers.

At a moment when the spotlight shines on those who say the most outrageous things, it's worth noting Bernie Sanders's approach at Liberty.

It was probably one of those Internet memes that flits about the ether, and gradually enters the aggregate stream of quotes and pop inspiration that we collectively contribute to and maintain. This one, however, had the ring of truth to it. I don’t know the source, but it was something to this effect: Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.

I’m not one who has any natural inclination to vulnerability, but the suggestions I read that clergy vulnerability should be exercised in the pulpit of all places really make me cringe. I’ve asked Carol Howard Merritt for her thoughts on vulnerability as an element of clergy self-care.

Matt talks to the retired pastor and professor about Catholic perspectives in Protestant pulpits, moralistic preaching from the left, and what happens when Godzilla shows up in the manger. 

The authors of Spiritual Companioning suggest a way forward for those disenchanted with polite, shallow church relationships.

Readers who found Pastrix to be a long, cool drink will find more refreshment here. Those who have tired of Nadia Bolz-Weber's cranky schtick will tire of it here as well.

"In the Middle East peace process, the peace was being negotiated by secular elites who lacked the religious language of so many of their people."

According to Jesus, chances are good that there's not going to be much left of us once we've admitted to just how often stumbling blocks stand in our way. Whether others put them there or we find ways to place them ourselves, they trip us up, keep us from moving forward, get us off track.

“Don’t ask what the world needs,” says Howard Thurman. “Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” This was the guiding quote of a church visioning retreat I led recently.

It feels to me like evil is hovering over the prison in the form of a government ready to kill a woman who prayed with me when my father was dying of cancer. There isn't a thing I can do about it except pray this psalm and damn if we can't get it right. 

Hitting a glass ceiling is a metaphor for the experience professional women have of finding subtle obstacles in the way of their advancement....