In a historic 5-4 opinion, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that states must recognize the marriages of same-sex couples. Swing vote Anthony Kennedy recognized that, as our understanding of human beings changes, so should the understanding of how our institutions accommodate and recognize them. He cited the example that rights for women have shifted as our society has gone from seeing women as property to recognizing them as equals to men. It seems only just to me then that, as... Read more
When we think of “terrorist threats” to American lives and sovereignty, immediately our minds go overseas, usually to the middle east. We have been sold more than one war abroad principally based on the argument that, if we don’t take the fight there, they’ll bring it here. And yet, there is disturbingly little done – and often times, even known – about a more potent threat here, in our midst. There have, indeed, been a handful of executed or attempted... Read more
Could it be? Are the CultureCasters back on the horse after a two-part live extravaganza, more more miles than a presidential primary candidate and more excuses than, um, well…a presidential primary candidate? Yessir/ma’am. We’re back and on track, for tha reelz. For the first episode after the live gig, we’ve got Tony Jones talking about his newest book, “Did God Kill Jesus?” We dig down into why Tony deconstructs the theology of penal substitutionary atonement (tee, hee, penal), but still... Read more
Dylan Roof, a 21-year-old white male, entered Emanuel AME Church Wednesday (one of the city’s oldest historically black churches) and joined the congregants for a prayer meeting for about an hour. He then opened fire and killed nine in attendance, including a state senator. He is now in custody and the shooting is being ruled a hate crime. Though he was not likely known by those in the church at the time, it has been reported that he was a known... Read more
The Gay Pride parade in Portland, Oregon is not only a family-friendly event; it’s a community-wide celebration. From airlines, banks and restaurants to the SPCA and churches, lots of people get involved with floats, costumes and displays at the end of the parade route. There are kids there, both of straight couples and same-sex couples. And our kids don’t just go; they’re on our church’s float. Every year. Here’s why: 1. They need to learn that the world is big... Read more
Rachel Dolezal, the woman who was born to racially anglo parents, headed the Washington State NAACP for years and self-identifies as black, has officially broken the internet. In an eight-minute interview on the Today Show with Matt Lauer, she went public to address allegations that she has deceived friends, colleagues, and has co-opted a racial and cultural identity to gain both credibility and professional advantage. So how is this different from Caitlyn Jenner’s story? Or is it? One of the... Read more
700 Club leader and purveyor of no shortage of off-balance comments on his TV offered a staggering response to a caller who asked him what she should say to a grieving coworker who recently experienced the death of her three-year-old son. His advice? Tell her it was a good thing, because he might grow up to be Hitler, Stalin, a serial killer or only to die of some horrible disease. As one who holds firmly to the idea that call... Read more
A couple in Australia has made a public statement, vowing to divorce, ending their ten-year marriage, if gay marriage is legalized in their country. Though Nick and Sarah Jensen have children together, they claim that they simply can’t recognize the institution of marriage any longer as the government defines it if it goes against their understanding of Biblical teaching. “Marriage is the union of a man and a woman,” writes Nick, “before a community in the sight of God. And the... Read more
Let’s face it; the Bible is ignorant about some things that we know more about now, including things like biology and neurochemistry. So how do we deal with that as people of faith? June is officially “Pride Month,” in which we celebrate the public empowerment of, and advocacy for, our LGBTQ sisters and brothers. Though the momentum around the debates about sexuality, orientation has notably shifted (even prominent evangelical Tony Campolo came forward recently with his own advocacy for full inclusion... Read more
After decades of “bridge building” between the LGBTQ community and those who identify as Evangelicals in opposition to full LGBTQ inclusion, Tony Campolo spoke out in favor of both full inclusion of same-sex couples in the church, as well as for marriage equality. “It has taken countless hours of prayer, study, conversation and emotional turmoil” he wrote on his blog June 8, 2015, “to bring me to the place where I am finally ready to call for the full acceptance... Read more
Christian Piatt
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