As Israel wages war against Hamas in Gaza, many Americans have declared themselves armchair generals who think they understand everything about one of the most complex geo-religio-political conflicts in world history. Dear readers, Facebook is a poor resource for a…
Holy Week and Pentecost at UT Arlington’s Palestinian protest
One of the tasks and joys of my ministry in the last year has been to build relationships with young adults in our community and respond to their needs. Recently, that work brought me out from the walls of the…
We have a teachable moment, and we’re blowing it
We haven’t seen protests on college campuses like this since the 1960s. As a professor, I’m thrilled to see a deep level of engagement by students on an important issue. I’m also horrified at the responses of many institutions to…
Christians in Palestine ask why U.S. believers ignore them
Since Hamas launched horrific attacks on Israel and Israel responded with its deadly and devastating war in Gaza, we’ve heard much about this conflict. But we’ve been deaf to the pained cries of Christian brothers and sisters caught up —…
What are they wearing in District One? The Met Gala, Gaza and another real-life connection to the Hunger Games
On May 6, celebrities waltzed into the Metropolitan Museum of Art for the year’s biggest night of fashion, extravagance and outrageous displays of wealth: The Met Gala. One ticket to the Met Gala costs around $75,000, which the BBC points…
And a biblically illiterate Congressman shall lead them
America’s impasse over the dismal state of affairs in Gaza and Israel might have something to do with biblical illiteracy — even in Congress. Two weeks ago, on April 17, the House Education Committee held a hearing on Columbia University’s response to alleged…
Like the Quakers, can we imagine peace between Israel and Hamas?
In what may seem an exercise in futility, the Quakers have produced a peace proposal for Hamas and Israel. I have great respect for the Quakers, starting with the influence they had on President Abraham Lincoln. I have been greatly…
What is going on at America’s elite universities?
Today’s national news has been filled with yet more headlines about unrest on the campuses of some of the nation’s most elite universities. It’s starting to feel like 1970 all over again. From today’s news alone: “More than 40 pro-Palestinian…
As antisemitism and Islamophobia skyrocket, the effects ripple through politics
Antisemitism is on the rise in the United States across the political spectrum, and it is creating challenging questions for how best to address many of the most pressing moral challenges of our day — particularly U.S. policy toward Israel…