This awful year has offered few glimpses of hope. But one of them has been dawning since May. That is the possibility that Donald Trump and his decadent version of the Republican Party may go down to a substantial national…
How to win the war between keeping the peace and telling the truth
Sometimes the conflict between keeping the peace and truthfully stating what we believe is agonizing. In February 2006, I became semi-famous for writing an article in Christianity Today arguing that torture is morally wrong and that no American Christian should…
The Supreme Court term: Something for everyone to love and hate
The Supreme Court’s major rulings this June and early July may collectively be remembered as one of the most constructive political developments of this momentous and terrible year. The court’s decisions this term gave important wins and losses to both…
Five reasons it’s time to talk about opening our churches
Despite surging COVID-19 case numbers in many states, I believe it is time for progressive, mainline and Baptist churches to consider reopening for worship services. I make this suggestion quite tentatively and with full awareness that it might seem counterintuitive….
Why a film about torture was oddly inspiring for this Christian ethicist
We shouldn’t have to learn the truth about the CIA’s program of torture from a film. American citizens – especially those who are persons of faith – should not only demand access to all the facts but also declare our clear moral repudiation of torture.
A final commentary on the day’s news
By David Gushee Follow David: @dpgushee This is my last regular column for Baptist News Global. Beginning July 1, I will take up an offer from Religion News Service to become one of their 12 regular bloggers/columnists. I offer reflections on…
On LGBT: What I have learned since ‘Changing Our Mind’
By David Gushee Follow David: @dpgushee About a year ago I began my 16-week series on LGBT issues in what was then ABPNews/Herald. In October 2014 a version of these essays plus further material was published as the book Changing…
Guns and suicide — how ministers can make a difference
As part of my engagement with LGBT-related issues over the last year, I have learned that this particular population is especially at risk for suicide, especially when they face strong rejection from families and faith communities. This has led me…
The roots of left/right polarization in the United States
By David Gushee follow David:@dpgushee Early this week at Notre Dame an impressive group of Catholic scholars will gather for a conference called “Polarization in the Catholic Church: Naming the Wounds, Beginning to Heal.” I was invited to participate and…