Has Donald Trump Lost the Mandate of Heaven?

Last updated on: October 12, 2019 at 9:33 pm By Vance Morgan

Evangelical Christian icon and fossil Pat Robertson lost it a few days ago. On his “The 700 Club” show on the Christian Broadcasting Network, Robertson had the following to say about Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw U.S. troops from the border between Syria and Turkey, thus exposing our ally Kurds to attack from Turkish forces. The president, who allowed [Washington Post journalist Jamal] Khashoggi to be cut in pieces without any repercussions whatsoever, is now allowing the Christians and the Kurds... Read more

A Liberal’s Worst Nightmare: Bridging the gap between words and actions

Last updated on: October 11, 2019 at 5:21 am By Vance Morgan

One of my teaching colleagues and mentors used to love to tell the story of what happened one day after he and a colleague teamed up for a particularly impassioned lecture in the interdisciplinary course they were team-teaching. I no longer remember what he said the text or topic of the class was, but after class a usually silent back-row-sitting student came up from and said “Wow! You guys really take this stuff seriously!” Which raises the question: What would... Read more

Stop Trying to Resurrect a Dead God

Last updated on: October 9, 2019 at 5:33 am By Vance Morgan

One of my greatest joys as a philosophy professor is that I get to be bad on a regular basis. There were a number of people about whom I was told little growing up, other than that they are dangerous and to be avoided like the plague. I work out my rebellion against these restrictions now by ensuring that these thinkers make as many appearances on my syllabi as professional integrity will allow. So I teach Darwin with gusto in the... Read more

Who Are You, Really? Think Carefully About Your Answer . . .

Last updated on: October 6, 2019 at 2:19 pm By Vance Morgan

Jeanne and I are great lovers of movies. As I have described in this blog on several occasions, my all-time favorite movie is “Dead Poet’s Society;” Jeanne’s is “Chariots of Fire.” But a different movie that appears on both of our “top ten” lists—a movie that I am thinking of frequently these days as politicians seek to attract the attention and support of the good citizens of the heartland—is “Field of Dreams.” The story is familiar to most everyone—pure magic with Kevin... Read more

Spiritual Lessons Learned from an Obese Cat: A reflection for “Blessing of the Animals” Sunday

Last updated on: October 5, 2019 at 6:57 am By Vance Morgan

I was reminded yesterday that exactly eight years ago, one of my favorite pictures of my beloved dachshund, Frieda, was taken. I was the lector for “Blessing of the Animals” Sunday, celebrated at our Episcopal church the first Sunday in October in conjunction with Saint Francis day. Jeanne and I brought our three dogs (two dachshunds and a Boston terrier) to be blessed by our rector and good friend Marsue; I carried Frieda with me to the lectern as I... Read more

Possible Responses to the Current Insanity: “Whatever” and “Oh, Well”

Last updated on: October 3, 2019 at 6:24 am By Vance Morgan

Given my teaching schedule this semester, I begin each Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday on the aerobic bike at the gym on campus. The only way I can get through the tedium of working out on an aerobic machine is to read—last Tuesday, I read the opening pages of Anne Lamott’s newest book, Almost Everything: Notes on Hope. I love Anne Lamott’s work—her honesty, fearlessness, humor, and insight always resonate deeply. The best comment anyone ever made about my writing was that... Read more

Are you a “Christian Capitalist” or a “Capitalist Christian”?

Last updated on: October 1, 2019 at 7:56 am By Vance Morgan

For those who claim to be persons of Christian faith and who also are largely unconcerned with the radical inequities of wealth in our contemporary world, last Sunday would have been a good day to stay away from church. The lectionary readings for the day began with Amos announcing divine judgment on those who “are at ease in Zion,” who “lie on beds of ivory, and lounge on their couches,” and who indulge in music, wine, and luxuries while ignoring... Read more

Being Open to the Possibility of God: An excerpt from my new book “Prayer for People Who Don’t Believe in God”

Last updated on: September 28, 2019 at 8:05 pm By Vance Morgan

I am pleased to announce that my new book, Prayer for People Who Don’t Believe in God, will be released by Wood Lake Publishing on Tuesday, October 1. The promotional materials describe my book as an exploration of How prayer has power for those who are opening themselves to the “possibility of God.” This book is steeped in the ideas and issues that I engage with regularly in this blog. You will be able to find information about how to order my new book... Read more

Lessons learned from a “glow in the dark” cross

Last updated on: September 26, 2019 at 4:13 am By Vance Morgan

In one of the many books written by an atheist about Christianity over the past several years (I forget which one), the author suggests that one should look with suspicion on any religion whose dominant and most recognizable symbol signifies violence, torture, and oppression. The importance of the cross to all Christians, regardless of their many important differences, is indeed worthy of attention. One of my early childhood memories involves waiting for a cross to arrive in the mail, selected... Read more

Living an Autumn Faith

Last updated on: September 23, 2019 at 10:57 am By Vance Morgan

Yesterday was the first day of autumn, which is good thing, because autumn is (by far) my favorite season. This is not surprising for a native New Englander—fall weather is the best that the Northeast has to offer, promising cloudless skies, reducing temperatures, turning leaves, and no humidity. I love it. But those of us fortunate enough to be living the academic life welcome the beginning of autumn, as well as the advent of October in a week, for more... Read more