James Talarico recently held a rally at the Waco Hippodrome. My wife and I are grateful we attended. We joined a long line of diverse Wacoans, talking excitedly as we waited to clear security and enter the theater. When Talarico…
National Prayer Breakfast or Christian Nationalism Breakfast?
On Feb. 5, the 74th annual National Prayer Breakfast was held in a ballroom at the Washington Hilton Hotel, with President Donald Trump as the keynote speaker. On Feb. 4, 2016, the 64th National Prayer Breakfast was held at the…
We need to remember the real meaning behind these carols
Christmas carols I have been enjoying at church, on my devices and in my car are lifting my spirits once again. The familiar lyrics and melodies blanket my consciousness like a snow shower I wish we could experience in my…
Will Zohran Mamdani institute Sharia law in New York?
Zohran Mamdani is the mayor-elect of New York City, the largest city in the United States, and will take office on New Year’s Day 2026. Mamdani was born in Kampala, Uganda, and became a naturalized American citizen in 2018. He…
The kingdom of God is not about gold
I had not heard of “MAGA pastor” and Trump supporter Shane Vaughn until reading Rick Pidcock’s BNG opinion piece, “This Is Not an Idol. This Is A Sculpture.” Referring to the “12-foot-tall golden Trump statue holding out a Bitcoin” which…
A certain kind of envy, both good and holy
The Ten Commandments are considered “the background and foundation of Israelite law,” according to Walter Harrelson, distinguished professor of Hebrew Bible at Vanderbilt Divinity School. The tenth injunction is against coveting that which is not your own, but your neighbor’s:…
Integrity matters
On the morning of April 21, Pope Francis died. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican camerlengo — the chamberlain or acting head of the Vatican in the interim period between the death or resignation of one pope and the inauguration of…
God is not … a Christian
Brent Laytham, a former professor of theology at North Park Theological Seminary in Chicago and currently running the ecumenical division of America’s first Catholic seminary, has edited a fascinating book titled God Is Not … . The book — written…
Manipulating Christian worship for political gain
The inauguration of Donald Trump to a second term as president of the United States was another example of how religion and politics are being blended in America today. This merger challenges the idea that the government should not interfere…
Stubborn frugality vs. willful extravagance
On Saturday, Jan. 4, former President Jimmy Carter’s body made the final journey from his home in Plains, Ga., to the Carter Center in Atlanta, where he had been so many times since its establishment 42 years ago. The remains…
The art of patriotic dealmaking
It is incomprehensible that opponents of President-elect Donald Trump criticize his efforts to commemorate historical events and memorable occasions from our recent national story by offering personal souvenirs to his fellow Americans. After all, he is simply following the footsteps…
The train we all should ride
Negative reactions to Donald Trump’s reelection to the presidency — the ones I have primarily heard or read — have been swift and serious. There have been many analyses of where Democrats went wrong in an election that offered such…