It just so happens that middle schoolers and the New York Times are asking the same question: “Why is yawning contagious?” Unfortunately, the New York Times doesn’t answer the question in their video. The closest it gets to an answer is to say, “Scientists see this yawning as part of the social glue that holds us together, so it’s not surprising that it occurs in other social species, too.” That’s hardly an answer, and in fact, it only serves to... Read more
In just two months, 21 provocative religion thought-leaders will convene in Denver to share their “big ideas” on the future of Christianity as part of the unique Christianity 21 conference. (Special Patheos reader $50 discount here.) To give you a taste of who’s coming to speak, we’ve invited several of the presenters to respond to seven questions about their life and what they’re most excited about in their work as part of our 7 Questions Before C21 series. This week, we’re talking with Jonathan Merritt, a faith and... Read more
Thanksgiving is here! Bring on the turkey and the culture wars, then spend black Friday with a bad case of indigestion. Americans are as preoccupied with sweet potato controversies – with or without marshmallows – as we are with arguing over what kind of country those reforming Pilgrims wanted to jump start. Were they hoping to inaugurate a Christian nation guided by Scripture? Or were they pioneers for religious freedom, carving out a land with a clear separation between church... Read more
The Supreme Court of the US is now considering a case from Greece, NY, in which the town board started its meetings with sectarian Christian prayers. Lower courts disallowed them as violations of the clause in the Constitution banning the state from “establishment” of religion. As I described in a recent “musing”, the Air Force Academy had to restructure its policies in order to rectify a climate that put strong pressure on cadets to profess and practice evangelical... Read more
Are you on a diet now? Are you starting one tomorrow? Dieting is a preoccupation for most of us, the result of living in a land in which we are bombarded with two competing messages: advertisements of often irresistible foodstuffs and media idols celebrated for their svelte figures. Some of us manage to lose some weight, many gain it back, but for a few of us the healthy desire to control our eating and shed a few pounds becomes life... Read more
In just two months, 21 provocative religion thought-leaders will gather in Denver, CO to share their “big ideas” on the future of Christianity as part of the unique conference Christianity 21 (C21). The speakers are diverse: pastors (Nadia Bolz-Weber, Kent Dobson); authors (Tony Jones, Enuma Okoro, Bruce Reyes-Chow); CEOs (David Lee, Noel Castellanos); POTUS spiritual advisors (Joshua DuBois); and religion journalists (Sarah Pulliam Bailey, Jonathan Merritt), all musing on the future of faith in America. We’ve invited several of the speakers... Read more
A few weeks ago, I posted about the upcoming Christianity 21 conference here in Denver, January 9-11. With so many great speakers lined up – including Spiritual Advisor to the POTUS, Joshua DuBois – C21 is shaping up to be a conference you don’t want to miss. (And today’s the last day to catch the Early Bird rate of $199!) To give you a taste of some of the fantastic people who are coming to share their “one big idea about... Read more
Who would you like to see bound to Hell to suffer eternal conscious torment? Okay, it’s a petty question, but we’ve all thought about our enemies suffering eternally in hell. There’s a particular, albeit vulgar, satisfaction in imagining certain people who have wronged us suffering the horrors of hell. Something in us yearns for justice and, for many, hell is God’s ultimate justice machine. But for many others, the idea of infinite suffering for finite sins isn’t about justice; it’s... Read more
Religions, like puppy owners, often don’t do a good job of scooping up the messes they leave behind. But that’s not a compelling enough reason to give up on either your God or your dog. This is my conclusion after participating in some fascinating conversations in the past week. Last Friday, our Office of Religious Life hosted a talk by Dr. Richard Dawkins here at the University of Southern California. A famous British evolutionary biologist, he’s one of the world’s... Read more
I believe that many Christians put Jesus in a straitjacket. I see Jesus as a lively, contemporary figure, uncontained by our theologies and churches and constantly doing new and creative things in our lives. As companions on the Way of Jesus, we can do great things and claim our vocation as God’s partners in healing the world. —Dr. Bruce Epperly, from Loosely Christian Bruce Epperly is a pastor, theologian, spiritual guide, and author of nearly 30 books. He regularly contributes... Read more
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