Today’s issues
Silly Season: Part 4
This is the fourth part of a six-part series about the Christian apocalypse, in which a resuscitated Jesus and his angel army will end civilization and maybe even the universe, usher in the messianic age, and take 144,000 of the elect (who the elect are is debatable) someplace where they’ll live eternally.… Read more >
Silly Season: Part 3
This is the third part of a six-part series about the Christian apocalypse, in which a resuscitated Jesus and his angel army will end civilization and maybe even the universe, usher in the messianic age, and take 144,000 of the elect (who the elect are is debatable) someplace where they’ll live eternally.… Read more >
Silly Season: Part 2
This is the second part of a six-part series about the Christian apocalypse, in which a resuscitated Jesus and his angel army will end civilization and maybe even the universe, usher in the messianic age, and take 144,000 of the elect (who the elect are is debatable) someplace where they’ll live eternally.… Read more >
The Real Meaning of Christmas
I first encountered the Reverend David Keighley, an Anglican priest, in one of Bishop John Shelby Spong’s books. David writes Progressive Christian poetry, including “Leaving Home” in Bishop Spong’s book. I read that poem every Friday during my quiet time.
I asked David if I could use “Leaving Home” in my book Cramming for the Finals.… Read more >
Silly Season: Part 1
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, silly season is “a period marked by frivolous, outlandish, or illogical activity or behavior.” This could mean a laidback summer with no school and lots of vacations, but to me, silly season is about fundamentalist Christians’ incessant talk about the “End Times.”
This is the first part of a six-part series about the Christian apocalypse, in which a resuscitated Jesus and his angel army will end civilization and maybe even the universe, usher in the messianic age, and take 144,000 of the elect (who the elect are is debatable) someplace where they’ll live eternally.… Read more >
Liberty U—a Nasty Misnomer
Liberty University was founded by Jerry Falwell Sr., a fundamentalist preacher who also started Moral Majority, a self-appointed, self-righteous, judgmental hate tank.
Moral Majority was part of the religious right—which is neither. But I do give it credit for keeping homophobia alive and well.
To keep all this judgment and hatred going for generations, Falwell started Liberty University (then Lynchburg Baptist College) in Lynchburg, Virginia.… Read more >
The Pastor of Hate
Franklin Graham is meaner than a junkyard dog!
I knew his father, the legendary Billy Graham, and worked with him on the island of Mau’i in Hawai’i in 1965. Billy was a well-respected leader throughout the world.
We were worlds apart theologically, but this evangelist was truly inspiring. We Episcopalians can be stuffy and aloof.… Read more >
A Prayer for More Violence
This is a special prayer I have written for those who believe in a “divine plan”; think that God lives in a mansion above a flat earth; love to say “God bless America” and “We send our thoughts and prayers” after horrendous mass killings; call themselves evangelicals; and love what’s happening under this administration:
… Read more >O God of Great Violence, we thank you for making us such a violent country.
Scary!
I am a fan and supporter of Americans United for Separation of Church and State (AU). This separation is one of the foundation stones of a true democracy where all people can practice their religion (or not) without interference from the government. Our First Amendment allows religious groups to criticize the government without being penalized.… Read more >
The Notre Dame Museum
I didn’t call it the Notre Dame cathedral for a reason. I’m with the yellow vests in France who are protesting the outrageous amount of money dedicated to rebuilding the fire-damaged Notre Dame rather than to helping people.
I think France should clean up the cathedral but not rebuild it and then turn it into a museum.… Read more >