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"Follow your bliss" and other myths about call
These days I know a startling number of pastors and seminary graduates who cannot find jobs in the church....
Thursday digest
New today from the Century: Brian Doyle remembers grade school, MaryAnn McKibben Dana on myths about call, more.
Christian humanists
Religious communities have long helped cultivate humanistic practices. We don't often think of ourselves in this way—but what if we did?
Two Catholics featured at hearing on poverty
Sister Simone Campbell, the face of the Nuns on the Bus tours, and Rep....
How the "Battle Hymn of the Republic" became America's hymn
Here’s one thing Presidents Bush and Obama have in common: both had the “Battle Hymn of the Republic” featured at key points in their presidencies....
Investing in boom-town infrastructure
Just how long will the North Dakota oil boom last? Some say that there’s decades of oil in the ground....
Wednesday digest
New today from the Century: Stephaniel Paulsell on the church and the humanities, Tony Robinson reviews Christopher Beeley, more.
Leading God’s People, by Christopher A. Beeley
Clergy need reminders about the core purpose of their work. Christopher Beeley draws on the works of early church leaders to deliver one.
The cross and the lotus
It's ironic that multicultural approaches to Christianity are dismissed as novel or “politically correct.” They are deeply rooted in our past.
Pope Francis changes Catholic Church’s tone on homosexuality
With his open and easygoing manner, Pope Francis charmed the media as much as the faithful during his visit to Brazil, the first international pilgrimage...
Sunday, August 11, 2013: Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16
One of the few reliable maxims in theology is that the simpler the question, the tougher the answer....
Violence as a lack of imagination
Nick, Doug and Aric noticed a trend in movies and games—there seemed to be a lack of creativity when it came to resolving conflict. Violence seemed to be the only resolution and when the killing occurred, that was the end of the story. There was no wrestling with the consequences or struggling with the moral injury.
Tuesday digest
New today from the Century: An Asian religion called Christianity, the good question Fox asked Reza Aslan badly, more.
Actually, I would like to know how Reza Aslan's faith informs his book
I agree with everyone everywhere: Fox News's "why would a Muslim write about Jesus???" interview of Reza Aslan was pretty lousy stuff, yet he handled himself quite well, and good for him for selling more books because of it. All correct.
Yet I'm puzzled by what both Aslan's on-air defense and many subsequent commentators imply: that academic/professional credentials inform a person's writing to the exclusion of personal convictions.
Highly evolved questions: What scientists and theologians talk about
We can learn a lot from interdisciplinary conversation. But we are sometimes puzzled by how our colleagues know what they seem to know.
Walking 1,850 miles to see Pope Francis, pilgrim feels renewed
c. 2013 Religion News Service...
Wealth to share
“Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” Most of us can identify with that request. It’s only fair: each member should receive their own portion of a family’s wealth when the time comes to divide it.
But Jesus doesn’t seem to care about fairness.
Sacrament, interrupted
I jostle one boy on my hip and nudge the other a step closer to the front of the line. Herding cats, I think as he wanders into the neighboring line of communion-goers....