When covering a tragedy, faith almost always emerges as a part of the story. That was the case again this past weekend when a monster storm system struck the Deep South and the Plains.
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(OPINION) âPoor wordy little Protestantsâ â as someone once said â have severed this connection between the church and its visual soul food. Bereft of beauty, Protestant churches have left us to the narcotizing effect of TV and social media, and a daily diet of pap, propaganda and rage. Could new generations and populations be inspired again to aspire to the heights to which those early artists aspired? If so, we'll surely need to get out more.
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(OPINION) As we prepare this Lenten season, let us walk through whatever wilderness we travel, knowing that Jesus walks with us, sure that he knows the wilderness far better than we, and knowing that, stays by our side.
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(OPINION) My counselor and I never did agree about whether I was mad at God, but our ongoing discussions forced me to ponder anger as a principle â anger toward the Lord, anger toward difficult circumstances and anger toward my fellow pilgrims. Hereâs what I think today.
Read MoreThis week marks the five-year anniversary of the COVID-19 lockdown. Mostly, life has returned to normal. But in some ways we still seem to be struggling, our columnist notes.
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(OPINION) In recent weeks, the plight of a group of Iranian asylum-seekers claiming to be converts to Christianity has been followed by The New York Times, helping to shine a light on a story not commonly reported by the mainstream media. The story, that is, of Iranian Christians who for years have found it harder and harder to find anyone willing to accept them.
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(OPINION) Mainly, the people whoâve become devoted to their faith did so along a winding path. Some had been to jail. Some were atheists. Some grew up in church, rejected it in their youth, veered out into the wider world for years and then reluctantly found their way back. Some hated organized religion.
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In a California meeting, Compelling Preaching Initiative participants enjoyed how-to sessions on the content, crafting and delivery of sermons as well as one-on-one coaching and fellowship with other men â and women â of God.
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(OPINION) Marty died on Feb. 25 at the age of 97, a quarter of a century after retiring from teaching at the University of Chicago Divinity School. The research center he launched in 1979 was then rebranded as the Martin Marty Center for the Public Understanding of Religion. He received numerous other awards, including more than 80 honorary degrees.
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(OPINION) Suffering indeed is our common language. Regardless of your age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, politics or marital status, every person reading this column has suffered. If somehow you havenât yet, you will. This may be the greatest impediment to believing in a loving, all-powerful God.
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Some of the nationâs top religion writers offer insights on what they found surprising â and not surprising â in the Pew Research Centerâs massive Religious Landscape Study.
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(OPINION) For several years now, itâs felt like the whole world has gone mad. Trying to keep track of, much less digest, the daily flood of outrageous news stories and hair-on-fire op-ed pieces curdles my mind, steals my joy and leaves me staring gape-mouthed into a tsunami of chaos. But I happened across two articles that helped me rethink my news avoidance.
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At the five-year anniversary of COVID-19, our columnist reflects on his brother-in-lawâs near-death battle with the contagious virus.
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(OPINION) The Buddha didnât suggest that monks and nuns become societyâs moral police, dictating correct behavior and enforcing his rules. Rather, by living simply within his guidelines and refraining from harm, monastic communities can exemplify ethical living. By deliberately cultivating equanimity, love, compassion and empathic joy, they could inspire others to do the same.
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Our columnist witnesses a whole lot of despair, but he always looks for a measure of hope. He explains why â and how â as he reports from the scene of Southern Californiaâs deadly wildfires.
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(OPINION) It might be surprising to hear that clergy are among the happiest and most fulfilled employees. Being a minister isnât an easy job, for sure. Some preachers get burned out. Iâve been burned out at times myself. But dig a bit deeper into the data and these high-satisfaction numbers arenât so surprising.
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(OPINION) Itâs gratifying to see new government policies which align with Godâs creational order, yet this is not the end of our witness on this issue. Our churches should both be eager to declare what is good and true and beautiful about biblical masculinity and femininity and read to help those who struggle with gender dysphoria find hope in the Gospel and the resurrection of the body at the end of the age.
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For the most fervent of the football faithful, the Super Bowl â which last year drew a record 123.7 million U.S. viewers â brings rituals and traditions with a quasi-religious feel. But at least one Christian scholar has concerns.
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(OPINION) I still believe almost 50 years later that my father was divinely healed. I was there. I saw it. But I also believe that what happened to him was a once-in-a-thousand-prayers miracle. A miracle of biblical proportions. It was not the norm.
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(OPINION) Vandalism wonât stop us from serving great food â and, with it, joy, connection and unity.
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