Whatever its specious rationales and eventual outcomes, one underlying fact about the war in Iran is clear: What is largely fueling this dangerously combustible conflict is essentially a clash of fundamentalisms — Islamic, Jewish and Christian. When speaking of Islam generally, it is important to state emphatically that most of the world’s Muslims are peaceable peoples. (In my former role as a leader of the Alliance of Baptists, we entered…
Pete Hegseth’s Gospel of Carnage
I guess a zealot, by nature, can’t hide — too extreme are his convictions, too grand his designs, too consuming his arrogance. And so, over recent weeks, Pete Hegseth has fully revealed himself.
Pete Hegseth’s War Prayer
Standing in the Pentagon for a monthly worship service on March 25, the man who likes to call himself the “secretary of war” prayed for God to pour out righteous wrath in the Iran conflict by helping “break the teeth” and kill…
United Methodists denounce Trump’s Easter threats
United Methodists this week joined a growing chorus of faith and civic leaders denouncing President Donald Trump’s threats against Iran posted on social media. On Easter Sunday, Trump posted on his social media platform: “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day,…
If you think Doug Wilson is fringe, remember Al Mohler’s influence
Don’t underestimate uber-Calvinist/Christian nationalist Doug Wilson. Recent Southern Baptist Convention history demonstrates how someone who seems far outside the mainstream eventually can wield exorbitant strength. In other words, if Al Mohler can become the most powerful person in the SBC,…
Pete Hegseth and the revival of racism
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is blocking the promotion of four Army officers to be one-star generals. Two of the officers targeted by Hegseth are Black and two are women on a promotion list that consists of about three dozen officers,…
From Hegseth to RFK Jr., leaders are using religion as symbol — not substance
In the past several weeks, religious language has been used in American public life with unusual intensity and disturbing clarity. President Donald Trump ended an Easter morning obscenity-laced threat of violence to Iran with the mocking words “Praise be to…
Yes, there is a movement to take away women’s right to vote
A century after the U.S. passed the 19th Amendment allowing women to vote, Dale Partridge and some other pastors say that was a mistake and are calling for its repeal. “If we can repeal Roe v. Wade, then I think…
For first time ever, Army chief of chaplains fired — by Hegseth
For the first time in history, the U.S. Army chief of chaplains has been fired by the Secretary of Defense. Pete Hegseth made national headlines April 2 for firing Gen. Randy George, the Army’s chief of staff. But on the…
Apocalypse? Now?
In November 1095, Pope Urban II addressed a gathering of clergy and laity at the Council of Clermont in France. According to the chronicler Fulcher of Chartres, Urban began: “Most beloved brethren: Urged by necessity, I, Urban, by the permission…
Is James Talarico an Orc?
James Talarico has the Republican Party running scared. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott rarely mentions Gina Hinojosa, his Democratic rival, but he is going after U.S. Senate candidate Talarico with guns blazing. The assault on Talarico isn’t just coming from Texas,…
Hegseth declares war on Defense Dept. reporters, photographers
The U.S. Department of Defense is waging a multi-front war against American news media outlets over negative coverage of the war in Iran and unflattering photos of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The war is being fought on three fronts. First,…