Letter to the Editor October 9, 2022 Dear Editor: My first recollection of the song “Ship of Fools” was in college while reading Book VI of Plato’s Republic in a political science class. An allegory using a ship with a…
In Central Texas, the Naomi House makes me proud to be a Baptist again
I never imagined I would utter, much less think, these words: “I am proud to be a Baptist.” But it happened. I don’t need to recount the long laundry list of problems with our denomination or with the church in…
The importance of making virginity a personal choice within Christianity
John Chrysostom in his Major Treatises on Virginity argued that the first human beings were “adorned by virginity,” as they lived in a perfect and non-sexual state before the fall of humankind. Once the first sin occurred, this adornment ended,…
Climate disasters reveal serious hypocrisy — both religious and political
When the AIDS epidemic descended upon cities on America’s West and East Coast (but not in the American South just yet), religious “authorities” such as Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell and Billy Graham declared it to be God’s judgment for sin….
The two apocalyptic movements threatening America
Two apocalyptic movements bracket America’s democratic crisis. One predicts a future chaos; the other airs a past history of grievances. The future and the past impinge upon the present to paralyze the potential for positive action. One looks to the…
White resentment is like an abusive lover who would rather kill than lose control
Many years ago, I was having a conversation with a woman with whom I had gone to high school. She was a successful attorney, living in Pennsylvania, and had a good life — except for her long-term boyfriend. He was…
The white church isn’t dying; it’s in exile
In mid-September, I returned to the church of my childhood, McLaurin Memorial Baptist Church in Edmonton, Alberta. The last time I had been inside the church was for the 1998 funeral of my mother. There are still a handful of…
What The Great British Baking Show teaches us about life and politics
A new season of The Great British Baking Show just hit Netflix, meaning 10 episodes of brand-new bakes are in our future. Like everyone else with good taste, I love The Great British Baking Show. I love the polite and…
Christians can intensify their spirituality by studying other religions
Christianity has a long history of making exclusive claims to ultimate truth. Indeed, many Christians point to the simplicity of John 14:6 — “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the…
Jesus does not ask me to assimilate
I am no longer a teacher, but I often speak and write about biblical justice and immigration. In this context I often hear people say that immigrants do not assimilate. As a good advocate, I am supposed to say, “Yes,…
What the church can learn from Chad Powers
Recently, Eli Manning did a segment on his ESPN show, “Eli’s Places,” where he wanted to see what it’s like to be a walk-on for a college football powerhouse. He chose Penn State, the home of the Nittany Lions. However,…
Letter to the Editor: On the crisis at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Letter to the Editor September 30, 2022 Dear Editor: As a 2014 graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, I am closely monitoring events at my beloved alma mater with a great deal of disappointment and sadness. There is an unparalleled…