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What body cameras can't solve
In the wake of the grand jury’s failure to indict Officer Darren Wilson for the death of unarmed teenager Michael Brown—and in light of conflicting eyewitness accounts of the incident—many have argued that video evidence would have helped a lot. Body-mounted cameras offer a technological solution to what is otherwise a problem of human moral complexity: eyewitnesses can’t agree; officers can’t behave; human evidence can’t be trusted. Technology, the argument suggests, can supersede all of this.
And then, of course, a grand jury in New York City failed to indict Officer Daniel Pantaleo in the death of another unarmed black man, Eric Garner.
It's time we stop washing our hands
We have washed our hands as the war on drugs has overwhelmingly targeted black men. We have washed our hands as our justice system has given longer sentences to people of color. And then, when an innocent man dies, we keep scrubbing our fingers some more, as we blame the victim.
Days of Fire, by Peter Baker
Few Americans today could identify any of FDR’s vice presidents. Yet little surprise is occasioned by Peter Baker’s treatment of Dick Cheney as a costar with George W. Bush.
Refuge in Uganda: A poor nation opens its doors
Uganda hosts one refugee for every 160 residents. That’s more than seven times the burden the U.S. bears.
Don't shoot
For black Americans, the abuse of power by police is not an aberration. It’s a familiar pattern.
How pastors talk about Ferguson
After years of wrestling, I settled in a predominately white church. My logic was this: if every white person concerned about racial justice leaves white churches, then there will be few women or men there to help. This Sunday, I worried that Ferguson or other police shootings of African Americans would once again go unmentioned in the sermon or a prayer.
Advent in post-Ferguson America
Thanksgiving is over in post-Ferguson America, and it can’t come too soon. A national celebration of country, family and freedom from want follows on the heels of protests, frenzied media, and the deployment of the National Guard over the failure of a grand jury to indict a police officer over the shooting of 18-year old Michael Brown. In an America deeply divided over race and debate over individual character vs. systems, bad apples vs. rigged games, the long dawn of Advent has begun. Thank God.
Ugly and beautiful
Where do we see the holy? Where do we catch glimpses of grace? Where is God most present in our world? Maybe we think of grand cathedrals, where centuries-old art and architecture reflects the beauty and glory of God. Or perhaps a glimmering ocean sunset where the light dances to a tune of divine artistry.
But rarely will we think of a dirty homeless person rambling in the street.
Aquinas on the Beginning and End of Human Life, by Fabrizio Amerini
Fabrizio Amerini’s analysis creates precision about Aquinas on beginning-of-life issues—something other accounts, especially abortion polemics, often lack.
Sunday, December 14, 2014: Luke 1:46b-55
Mary’s song marks a transformation from seeing her condition’s weight to receiving a new power within the situation. And then, finally, she is a participant in the work of God’s spirit.
Nigerian religious leaders condemn attacks on Muslim worshippers
c. 2014 Religion News Service...
Survey finds one in three in U.S. don’t want clergy for civil marriages
Two surveys released in December by LifeWay Research show some support for separating religious marriage from civil marriage....
Serious waiting
For many of us, Advent is the most meaningful season of the church year. It’s not passive waiting; it’s living into the promised future.
Recommended Ferguson reading
These are wise words from Chris Rock, words that bring to mind the point often made by Ta-Nehisi Coates, among others: that while race may be a construct, this doesn’t change the all-too-clear reality of racism.
Revival in the white church
What would it mean for us to be filled with the breath of God again and come to life for the sake of racial justice?
Putting the vent back in Advent
Advent is upon us, and I’m just not feeling it this year. Granted, it is only the first week, but I’m not sure I can muster up all the mystery and purple and candles again this year.
On Sunday I heard myself say in my sermon something about making our hearts ready to receive the Christ Child this season. I said it as I have said it every Advent for the last 21 years. And later while I was doing the dishes I realized that I haven’t the foggiest idea what I mean by that.
The preacher’s wife
In a crucial scene of Marilynne Robinson’s new novel, Lila spends the morning thinking, has lunch, then thinks some more. Why isn’t this boring?
Hobby Lobby president’s Bible curriculum shelved by Oklahoma school district
c. 2014 Religion News Service...
Pope Francis fails to find common ground in Turkey
(The Christian Science Monitor) The idea was to reach out to Muslims, but Pope Francis got a prickly reception from his hosts during his firs...