Life of Faith
How people deal with pointless suffering
Scott Samuelson considers seven responses to the age-old mystery.
What does a fair trade logo actually mean?
Churches that support the movement should confront the gap between its vision and its accomplishments.
Reading Toni Morrison in Advent
A seasonal practice: cultivate the patient gaze to describe life as we find it.
When hope gives up on magical results
Since my son’s accident, everything I understand about hope has changed.
Two glimpses into Judaism in America
Steven Weisman looks at the development of the Reform movement. Jack Wertheimer focuses on the present and future.
A barbershop births a church of drug users, ex-cons, and homeless folks
Others have given up on them, but not God.
December 15, Advent 3A (Matthew 11:2–11; Psalm 146:5–10; James 5:7–10)
In his response to John, Jesus speaks of hope in the present tense.
A glimpse of how heaven sees worship
On World Communion Day, I sat in the balcony. The view was stunning.
Politics, parenting, and other secular things we put our faith in
We’re religious about lots of things, says David Zahl. Just not God.
December 8, Advent 2A (Matthew 3:1–12)
In the stitched-together story of Advent, we wrestle with each other’s certainties.
Standing in the remains of the death camps in Poland
I was outraged. I wanted to burn it all down. I wanted to pray.
A playground bully, her victim, and their God
An incident in Germany reminded me who we all belong to.
To avoid risk, don’t get close to God
Sometimes faith is like encountering a grizzly bear.
December 1, Advent 1A (Matthew 24:36–44; Romans 13:11–14)
It’s troubling to imagine the Son of man arriving with criminal intent.
Saying good-bye to my congregation
I had to make room for conversations of thanks, forgiveness, love, and good-bye.
The problem with specialization
Chess players and golfers might benefit from an early, singular focus. Most people don’t.
Our legislators’ silence is a failure of moral courage
Margaret Chase Smith and Abraham Lincoln modeled a better way.
Pastors, friendship, and the limits of boundaries
What use are boundaries when you’re sitting with a friend who is about to die?
How Sister Helen Prejean became a “social justice sister”
“What saves us is learning how to love, even to the point of death.”