By Bert Montgomery A picture is worth a thousand words, they say. This week, I learned just how true that is. I’ve written thousands of words over the past several years about how the Church has failed our gay and…
Those thorny parallels between faith and addiction
By Trey Lyon Recently there was quite a dust-up among the evangelical-ish internet crowd when author Donald Miller revealed that he no longer regularly attends church. There were folks who assailed his position for any number of reasons, as well…
The ethics of Dexter Morgan
By Miguel De La Torre Dexter Morgan, the fictional character on the popular Showtime series, Dexter, is a forensic blood splatter analyst for the Miami Police homicide department. Those who watched the eight seasons (as I just binge watched) know…
High court must not rule RFRA is unconstitutional
By J. Brent Walker When the U.S. Supreme Court hears oral arguments on March 25 in the contraception case involving Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Wood Specialties, it will be asked to decide novel and difficult questions concerning the interpretation and…
What do we mean by ‘open’ and ‘closed’?
By Luke Smith The word “open” is increasingly used as a metaphor for a more measured, relaxed and polite, engagement with our world. In contrast, the term “closed” is a metaphor for all that is bigoted, unfairly exclusionary or simply…
Odd behavior: Nonviolence, loving enemies and the Sermon on the Mount
By Jerrod Hugenot The Revised Common Lectionary is visiting parts of the Sermon on the Mount as it guides worshippers through this year. Here’s a thought on one section of this major teaching in Matthew’s Gospel: The teaching of “do…
As interfaith dialogue grows, what’s the case for an open Christology?
By Colin Harris Increased participation in interfaith dialogue in recent years has brought new levels of friendship and understanding across lines often marked by fear and hostility. Fellowship leads to friendship, hostility gives way to hospitality, respect replaces suspicion and…
What’s so beautiful about America?
By Marv Knox The blogosphere, Facebook, Twitter and, no doubt, millions of e-mail accounts just about melted down lately, thanks to a Coca-Cola commercial. Maybe America needs to hold a can of Coke up to its collective face and chill…
Treasuring the gift of water
By Bruce Day The Bible is full of water illustrations and metaphors. Most are of the positive actions and attributes of God – cleansing, restoring, saving. Some of my favorites are: • Psalm 1:3, “That person is like a tree…
Religion and science call for dialogue, not debate
By Joseph Phelps People love a fight, especially one that includes religion. So Bill Nye, the Science Guy, and Ken Ham, founder of the Creation Museum, did their best this week in their nationally-watched face-off to recreate the Scopes Monkey…
To get the right answers, ask the right questions
By Miguel De La Torre On Sunday, Oct. 23, 4004 BCE, some 6,000 years ago, God created the heavens and the earth — at least according to James Ussher, archbishop of Armagh in Ireland, who made his calculations during the…
The ‘Science Guy’ and the Creationist
By Alan Rudnick What do you get when you put a children’s-educational-scientist-teacher with a Bible-believing-Christian-creationist? Lots of confused adults. I just finished watching the almost three-hour debate between humanist Bill Nye and creationist Ken Ham and I’m truly confused. I’m…