Being A Friend to Israel and Palestine: Five Truths for Making Peace

Last updated on: May 25, 2018 at 11:33 am By Lindsey Paris-Lopez

Truth in the Midst of a Lie During his May 14th speech on the occasion of the dedication of the US Embassy in Jerusalem, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu uttered scandalous words followed by an ironic truth. News reports showed split-screens capturing the Hunger Games-like horror of the celebration and pageantry in Jerusalem on the one hand and the carnage and death just an hour away in Gaza on the other. With this surreal scene on the world-stage, Netanyahu infamously declared, “I believe it’s... Read more

“Come Sunday”: Hell Hath No Fury

Last updated on: May 23, 2018 at 8:29 am By Maura Junius

From an Evangelical pastor preaching salvation from the fires of hell to being inspired to believe that God saves everyone, former Bishop Carlton Pearson's most significant conversion is probably his own. Maura Junius explores his story as portrayed in Netflix's "Come Sunday." Read more

A Terrible Theory About the Terrible Twos: Countering the Idea of Counterwill

Last updated on: May 21, 2018 at 8:47 am By Suzanne Ross

Do children have a counterwill that keeps them at odds with a parent? Or are they actually imitating their parent's will to be obeyed? Suzanne Ross explains this crucial parenting question in her latest article. Read more

Islam, Nonviolence, and Mimetic Theory – The RavenCast

Last updated on: May 18, 2018 at 11:08 am By Adam Ericksen

Yesterday was the first day of Ramadan! But what is the Islamic holy month of Ramadan? And what's the relationship between Islam and violence? Adam Ericksen and Suzanne Ross discuss in the latest episode of the RavenCast. Read more

The Day My Mother Introduced Me to Jesus

Last updated on: May 16, 2018 at 5:19 pm By Adam Ericksen

How can you trust in God when bad things happen in your life? Rev. Adam Ericksen tells a story about his mother's faith in his latest sermon. Read more

Seven Stories Book Review: Part 7 – History to its End

Last updated on: May 15, 2018 at 10:16 am By Adam Ericksen

Adam Ericksen and Lindsey Paris-Lopez discuss the final chapter of Tony Bartlett's book, "Seven Stories: How to Study and Teach the Nonviolent Bible." Read more

René Girard and Maria Montessori: Scientists, Mystics, Revolutionary Thinkers

Last updated on: May 14, 2018 at 4:33 pm By Suzanne Ross

On May 12, I was honored to be a featured writer at Italian American Literati 2018 an event hosted by Casa Italia in Stone Park, Chicago. The library is dedicated to documenting the history of Italian-American immigration to Chicago, which began in the 1880s. The Casa Italia Library is a real gem for historians, sociologists and cultural anthropologists researching the immigrant experience in America. The annual IA Literati event gathers together contemporary authors writing from their own experiences as immigrants... Read more

Mimetic Reflections on the Death of a Loved One

Last updated on: May 11, 2018 at 7:13 am By Lindsey Paris-Lopez

My grandfather died last week. My memories are scattered fragments, shadows, half-imprints like stamps never fully inked, leaving bold impressions of part of a picture and then fading to nothing. A few scenes are etched so clearly in my mind. A montage of hugs at the front door of his old house in Kansas when we would arrive for family visits. Hearing him make spoonerisms and puns, like the corny joke about the mama bird who laid an orange, shocking... Read more

The Politics of the Ascension

Last updated on: May 10, 2018 at 5:22 pm By Adam Ericksen

Today is Ascension Day! Hooray! Let’s celebrate by exchanging gifts. Or let’s at least hide plastic eggs filled with candy. But don’t put in any of those Peeps. I believe God created and called all of creation good, except for Peeps. Those things are not good. At all. They are disgusting. According to Scot McKnight, one of the most important Christian theologians ever thought the Ascension was crucially important. “St Augustine thought Ascension Day gave meaning to all other days... Read more

Seven Stories Book Review, Part 6: The Temple and Its Deconstruction

Last updated on: May 8, 2018 at 8:33 am By Adam Ericksen

According to the Bible, are the Temple and sacrifice good things? The answer may surprise you. In this episode of the RavenCast, Adam Ericksen and Lindsey Paris-Lopez discuss the sixth chapter in Seven Stories, "The Temple and Its Deconstruction." Read more