A pop star will soon face trial in an ultra-religious nation over remarks that “insulted religious feeling.” She could be sentenced to two years in prison for her “crime.” If you think that the country is in the Middle East, you’re wrong. It’s Poland. If you think that Muslims were insulted, think again. The case is being pushed [...]
There are oodles of new posts waiting to be posted, but for now I leave you with this: I love the pure, peaceable, and impartial Christianity of Christ: I therefore hate the corrupt, slaveholding, women-whipping, cradle-plundering, partial and hypocritical Christianity of this land. -Frederick Douglass via NCR Stay tuned this week coming for hospitality, earth, air, [...]
I don’t typically do these “meme” things, but as spirituality and practice is a major theme of the blog, for this I will make an exception. Fr. Austin Murphy (at Jesus Goes to Disney World- which is excellent, and if you aren’t reading, you should be) tagged me to list my 5 favorite devotions. So [...]
Timothy Kincaid wrote for the Box Turtle Bulletin yesterday this piece, which he has graciously given me permission to re-post in its entirety. Much ink is spilled by Christians attempting to justify practices in the ex-gay movement, and even the movement itself. Kincaid’s article addresses head-on some of the problems faced by many in the [...]
As I observe the hysteria with which some people are reacting to the news that a mosque will be built in lower Manhattan 2 blocks from the former site of the World Trade Center, I cannot help but wonder how many Christian churches have been built, and their proximity to the federal building in Oklahoma [...]
Playing follow the leader with Anne Rice sometimes seems very sensible. Read this, and then weep for our world: A local pastor’s complaint about a brand of underwear being sold with “pornographic” pictures on the packaging at the Cullman Walmart reportedly led to a recall of the product. Frank Boren, pastor of New Hope Christian [...]
Another angry “ex-gay” enlightens us about Anne Rice: I simply believe that Anne’s blanket stereotyped generalizations may lead to further stigmatization of Christians she doesn’t agree with. If Anne can make bajillions of dollars humanizing the blood sucking un-dead … maybe she could try (again?) to understand those Christians she is obviously angry with. Perhaps [...]
Anne Rice, the best-selling and prolific author, was raised as a Catholic. She left the Church in adulthood, but returned about 10 years ago. Her book, Christ the Lord, and its sequels, accompanied her return to Christian faith and practice. Rice announced on Facebook yesterday, however, that she has quit Christianity. For those who care, [...]
M. Craig Barnes writes in the current issue of Christian Century (07/27/10) about discernment and the will of God. Discernment is a cool word in religious circles. All the spiritual gurus use it. Even those of us who think of ourselves as spiritual grasshoppers strive to discern the will of God. When faced with a [...]
My thoughts are scattered today in one hundred different directions. So here goes. Sunday, during his Angelus address, the Holy Father said, in part: [Each time we pray the Our Father], our voice interweaves with the voice of the Church, because no one who prays is ever alone. … Each one of the faithful must try [...]
