Sermon: Finding Our Lives

Last updated on: June 29, 2017 at 11:24 am By Tom Truby

Pastors have a frequent question when they begin to discover mimetic theory. “That’s great. But how does it preach?” Reverend Tom Truby shows that mimetic theory is a powerful tool that enables pastors to preach the Gospel in a way that is meaningful and refreshing to the modern world. Each week, Teaching Nonviolent Atonement will highlight his sermons as an example of preaching the Gospel through mimetic theory. Mimetic theory teaches that we find our lives in relationship with others. But... Read more

Prophetic Responsibility in the Health Care Debate

Last updated on: July 3, 2017 at 11:04 am By Adam Ericksen

There was once a prophet named Jeremiah. He was known as the “weeping prophet.” Jeremiah wept because he clearly saw that his nation was about to fall to the Babylonian Empire. The Babylonians were ruthless. Before they infiltrated Jerusalem, Jeremiah’s beloved city, the Babylonians starved the inhabitants for months. After they tore down the city walls, the Babylonians demolished the Temple, the royal palace, and burned down the city. They sent most of the survivors into exile throughout the Babylonian... Read more

A Dying Nation and World Implore Us: Stop the Dehumanization and Violence

Last updated on: June 30, 2017 at 7:45 am By Lindsey Paris-Lopez

Our nation and our world have reached a breaking point. Actually, that point is long past. Too many people are dying at the hands of American authority, in the United States and around the world. Too many people are being killed by those whose job it is to “serve and protect.” Acquittals for the police shootings of Terence Crutcher, Philando Castile, and Sylville Smith send the chilling, dehumanizing message that black lives are expendable without consequence. In the midst of... Read more

Wonder Woman and the Myth of Redemptive Violence – The RavenCast

Last updated on: June 23, 2017 at 11:07 am By Adam Ericksen

The hit movie Wonder Woman is not simply a violent movie. It's a movie about the dangers of violence. Watch or listen to the latest episode of the RavenCast as Suzanne Ross and Adam Ericksen explain why Wonder Woman is asking all the right questions about violence. Read more

Sermon: Doing Your Thing

Last updated on: June 21, 2017 at 3:53 pm By Tom Truby

Year A, Pentecost 2, Proper 6 June 18th, 2017 Matthew 9:35 to 10: 8 By Tom Truby and Bruce Prewer DOING YOUR THING Words often change meanings, or take on additional meaning over time. Take, for example, the word “thing.” “Thing” used to mean some object. Dad would say “get that thing over there” pointing to a screwdriver, a crescent wrench, a hammer or any number of other things all in the general direction he was pointing. He had the... Read more

Hands Off My Story! Truth, Lies, and Cultural Appropriation

Last updated on: June 20, 2017 at 4:08 pm By Suzanne Ross

Cultural diversity makes our world interesting, doesn’t it? Our lives would be so impoverished if we were not being exposed to that wonderful variety of language, food, clothing styles, and spiritual practices of cultures different than our own. Yoga and tai chi, bok choy and basmati rice, Oy vey and “hasta luego, baby”, Little Italys, Chinatowns, Irish folk dance and African music – the list of cultural cross-pollination is endless and we are the richer for it, culturally and personally.... Read more

Mimetic Theory and Race Relations: Avoiding Pitfalls that Perpetuate Racism

Last updated on: June 23, 2017 at 11:22 am By Lindsey Paris-Lopez

On Violence and Forgiveness: Mimetic Theory 101 Violence begets violence. Victims of violence, when they have and use the power to retaliate, perpetuate cycles of violence that eventually blur the distinctions between the original attacker and the one attacked. Sometimes, victims of violence without the power to retaliate against their attackers begin new cycles of violence against those whom they have the power to harm. Forgiveness is the best hope we have for stopping violence in its tracks. Forgiveness makes... Read more

Man Who Attacked GOP Was a Product of American Logic of Violence

Last updated on: June 15, 2017 at 9:43 am By Adam Ericksen

Violence continues to run rampant in the United States. This time it struck against Republican lawmakers playing some early morning baseball yesterday. We’ve learned that the attacker was an outspoken Bernie Sanders supporter, and a critic of Hillary Clinton, the GOP, and Donald Trump. The shooter was 66-year-old James Hodgkinson. He shot into the baseball field, where more than a dozen Republican lawmakers and staff members were practicing for a charity event. Steve Scalise, a member of the House of... Read more

Sermon: The Love Flow of Trinity

Last updated on: June 14, 2017 at 2:48 pm By Tom Truby

Year A, Trinity Sunday June 11, 2017 By Tom Truby The creation story in Genesis stands in sharp contrast to almost all other creation stories. Usually creation is pictured as coming from the conflict, discord and the rivalry of the gods who are contending with one another. Often, the people who tell the story see themselves as the dismembered remains of a slain body. But not the Genesis story. In the Hebrew genius, creation is out of nothing except God’s... Read more

Islamist Militants Carry Out Terror, Not Jihad

Last updated on: June 13, 2017 at 6:53 pm By Adam Ericksen

Editor’s Note: This article was written by Teaching Nonviolent Atonement friend Dr. Asma Afsaruddin and originally published by Religion News Service. It is posted here with Dr. Afsaruddin’s permission. For more, see my interview with Dr. Afsaruddin about “Islam and Violence: Debunking the Myths.“ One of the most persistent accusations leveled against Muslims today is that the Quran explicitly instructs them in the name of jihad to fight against non-Muslims — solely because they are non-Muslims — until Islam takes over... Read more