In his fantastic little book, Seven Brief Lessons on Physics, a kind of primer on modern physics meant for lay readers, Carlo Rovelli tells the story about how in 1905, a 26-year-old graduate student named Albert Einstein published three short…
Finding Christ in Christianity: Have we stopped looking for him?
“Has anyone seen Jesus? I know that he is around here somewhere. He is always with us.” Jesus’ parents were traveling home after the festival of the Passover (Luke 2.41-51). It was two days before they noticed that he was…
Three ways family ties hinder us in our faith
The “faith of our fathers” offers a nice American ideal, but it also has become one of the key reasons adults fail to respond to the work of the Holy Spirit in their own lives. Those are likely startling words…
Relaxing in the mystery: when answers are always necessary
In his spiritual memoir, O Me of Little Faith, Jason Boyett writes about a forbidden topic: the doubt that so often accompanies faith. He recalls his upbringing in a Southern Baptist church in Texas where he learned Romans 3:23 and…
Scissors, faith see barber through challenges
Antonio Galeno swivels the chair and picks up the scissors. He gracefully yet deftly cuts his client’s hair — all while greeting new customers walking through the door. The grin never disappears from his face. He’s worked hard to start…
The impoliteness of talking about religion
Why are Americans often reluctant to discuss faith outside of their families?
No explanations needed inside the church
Some years ago I had the opportunity to visit the Holy Land with a large tour group. We spent two weeks traveling around Israel and Palestine but spent most of our time in and around Jerusalem. One of the most…
Trump ‘just a symbol’ of America’s declining religious literacy, minister says
By Jeff Brumley If you are tempted to laugh — or even gloat — because Donald Trump put money into an Iowa church Communion plate recently, don’t. The same goes for his previous reference to “Two Corinthians,” when he meant to refer…
unprofessional christianity VI: believing
When I stopped hiding, defending, answering, and protecting myself from followers of this God using God’s name to justify things they were already going to do regardless of the answers I stammered about the Bible’s place in American society, I…