Considering everything, God chose beauty and pain
There’s a funny thing about living with chronic pain. Eventually, you get used to it. I don’t mean that it goes away. I don’t mean that it no longer hurts. But there comes a point …
Religion
Insiders until they’re not
Martin Luther stood in peril of his earthly life and possibly his eternal soul. The energetic Wittenberg firebrand challenged more than he realized when he issued debating points to the popular indulgence seller Johann Tetzel. …
Transforming culture? A Culture War v. culture making question
Scot Loyd wrote a provocative piece It seems good to the Holy Ghost: A defense of progressive Christianity here on Faith on View. A reader who I know in real life asked a good question …
Should I tell him he’s a racist?
Social media is fraught with challenges not the least of which is racism. I admit that over the last few years, I have become less active on social media—part of the reason is the growth …
“Marching as to War” Why do American Evangelicals celebrate bloodshed?
The tragic images coming out of Afghanistan in the wake of U.S. troop withdrawal is a reminder of the prophetic words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., “An eye for an eye leaves us all …
Pat Robertson and the ideological transformation of the Republican party
“Ladies and Gentlemen,” declared former Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Rosey Grier, “Pat and Dede Robinson!” Immediately realizing his gaffe, Grier added, “Robertson! Pat and Dede Robertson!” The couple emerged from a townhouse behind the …
It seems good to the Holy Ghost: A defense of progressive Christianity
One of the unfortunate consequences of growing up as a small, skinny kid with little to no athletic talents, is that I was always picked last when participating in playground games. This happened enough that …
Seeing God when our metaphors fail
Let’s face it, it is absolutely impossible for us to understand an eternal transcendent God and his domain. It is far beyond our comprehension. So, we often use metaphors to make the incomprehensible accessible to …
If I could pick my pastor
If I could pick my pastor, I imagine they would be—compassionate, bold, and unapologetically challenging the status quo. Picture a shepherd for the marginalized, embodying the very essence of love and activism. A leader transcending …
Recovering from religious trauma: Healing begins with believing
The number of people sharing stories of religious trauma has increased significantly in recent years. Religious cultures in the United States all too often create broken institutions led by broken people, who do everything imaginable …