Features
How and what to think
I’m only trying to teach my religion students one of these things. At least that’s what I tell them.
Does God want America to be great?
Six reflections on what God really wants for the world
Political demons
For theologian and civil rights activist William Stringfellow, understanding American politics means taking demons seriously.
A dustpan, a desert, and a search for moral order
My theological education began at Deep Springs College, a two-year work school in California.
Learning to see the planet as gift
At Holden Village, a Lutheran retreat center nestled deep in the Cascades, I asked my students to consider their vocation in light of the Anthropocene.
The academy needs better theologies of cooking
The first step is to give voice to those whose work in the kitchen is shaped by necessity, not choice.
The consolation of studying theology
Theological education is precarious, inconvenient, and uncomfortable. So why do students keep enrolling?
How shall we render?
Thankfully, the Christian tradition is filled with models of resistance to unjust leaders.
Sacred waters, melting ice
Baptismal rituals in glacial lands hold memories of the past—and wisdom for facing climate change.
From seminary classroom to encampment
Students protesting the war in Gaza are asking deep questions about colonialism, antisemitism, and Christian Zionism.
Jimmy Carter, America’s best ex-president
After his 1980 defeat, Carter devoted himself to the causes of a progressive evangelicalism that has all but disappeared from public view.
How do we preach about a vigilante murder?
As preachers consider their response to the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, a sermon from the Gilded Age might guide the way.
The Christmas of Baby Tommy
We raised our kids without a religious narrative. My young son stumbled upon one on his own.
Respecting the Ten Commandments, in all their ambiguity
I’m posting them in my classroom—and teaching my students about how people interpret them differently.
The gift of words
Here are some books and other wordy presents the CC staff will be putting under the tree this year.
Microbes in the manger
God is humbly present in every living creature. Maybe closer than we’ve imagined.