A Spanish pilgrim in rough clothes rode on a mule toward Rome and Jerusalem in the year 1522. Ignatius of Loyola was his name. He was “to the manor born” but rejected his wealth and status to pursue spiritual enlightenment. Later he would become the founder of the Jesuit order of Catholic priests. Along the way he met a Moor – perhaps a man of North African ancestry who converted at least nominally to Christianity to escape persecution after the... Read more

Discovery I dreamed I heard someone singing A beautiful song I’d never heard before. I woke up humming the tune. Who is the songwriter? I dreamed I found a piece of paper lying on a sandy shore. On it was a poem I’d never read before. Its intense clarity haunted me after I awoke. Who is the poet? Muddy Insight (at Esalen, Big Sur) Four billion years ago, Clouds spat rain on flowing lava, Hot vents stirred the seabed, And... Read more

by Erin Wathen I love the new show GCB. And it bugs me. And I love to let it bug me. Lots of people don’t love it, and I kind of get why. For one thing, it is not super well-written. The main character is sort of flat. I don’t think she’s a bad actress, really…they just aren’t writing her very good lines. Also, if you are a Christian, it feels (ALOT) like the show is making fun. Because it is.... Read more

I received many responses to my recent “musings” about the Blessing of Taxes (coming this Sunday, April 15) and my Christian arguments for progressive taxation, most of them critical. Some objected to the sin-focused theology of my argument that taxation is necessary because human greed prevents charity from being adequate in meeting the needs of the poor. Others were so frustrated with the amount of public funds spent on the military that they could not imagine praying a blessing on... Read more

What’s your passion, this Passion Week? Anything worth risking your life? I attended a conference at Esalen Institute at Big Sur this past week, which gathered filmmakers and activists to share media strategies for promoting reconciliation among the religions of Abraham: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. At one point the conversation focused on how to prevent war between Iran and Israel and America. People professed strong feelings about the brewing crisis. “Are you willing to die to prevent this war?” asked... Read more

Easter morning approaches, bringing with it a fresh opportunity — and challenge — to unpack the mystery of the Resurrection to an alternately curious, skeptical and hopeful world. Here’s how a few of our Patheos bloggers plan to preach it this Sunday. [Let us know how you’re planning to preach (or would preach) the Resurrection in the Comments section below.] Christian Piatt Bending Toward Love Lots of folks love preaching about the risen Christ on Easter Sunday without talking about... Read more

I’m done with Substitutionary atonement. I’m done with the magical notion that human beings need to sacrifice in order to appease an angry God. Sixteen people died at the hands of Sgt. Bales last week. Sixteen innocent Afghanis dead. It’s not entirely clear what happened, but one thing we can say: life had betrayed Sgt. Bales. Something had gone terribly awry, rage overwhelmed the moment, and erupted in a horrifying act of violence. René Girard, an anthropologist of significant influence,... Read more