When Judge Aaron Persky reduced Stanford rapist Brock Turner’s sentence from six years in state prison to six months in county jail, he did so on the basis that Turner was “a promising young man.” Writer/director Emerald Fennell’s stark thriller/fairytale…
Religion Notes: Religious people happier; Baptist groups fund global projects
It’s long been assumed that religious belief and participation contributes to overall happiness. Now there are some statistics confirming that. The Pew Research Center has released a survey that found, globally, those active in congregations “tend to be happier and…
A call for renewed servant leadership at Baylor
A 1996 song by Paula Cole states: Where is my John Wayne? Where is my prairie song? Where is my happy ending? Where have all the cowboys gone? Now that I’ve got that tune stuck in your head, as I…
Baylor shakeup continues with Starr’s resignation as chancellor
Days after being demoted as president of Baylor University over the university’s mishandling of sexual assault among its students, former Whitewater special prosecutor Ken Starr told ESPN June 1 he is resigning as chancellor. Starr, elected president of the world’s…
Baylor can go further in addressing sexual assault
The world of college football was rocked last week — at least that’s what they tell me — when Baylor University demoted president Ken Starr and fired football coach Art Briles after the university’s board of regents received the results…
Getting back to gospel basics is the systemic cure for Baylor’s woes, pastors say
The sexual assault scandal that exploded at Baylor University last week has generated waves of heartbreak, disbelief and outrage. And now add theological reflection to the litany of responses. “For me this underscores the depth of human sin and that…
When sexual intercourse is seen as male entitlement
I often hear remarks that today’s society is too sensitive and too focused on political correctness. Ideas, phrases and words that were once acceptable in everyday society are no longer accepted. Certain actions too, that were once commonplace, are now…
10 ways every church ought to combat sexual violence and domestic abuse
Recently some colleagues of mine and I hosted a four-part series on Baylor University’s campus for survivors of sexual assault and their advocates. We created a space for lament, then silence, next anger, and finally hope. We acknowledged in each…