Islam and Violence: Debunking Myths on the 15th Anniversary of 9/11 — A Presentation by Dr. Asma Afsaruddin

Last updated on: September 9, 2016 at 2:14 pm By Suzanne Ross

Remember the early days after the 9/11 attacks? Americans rushed to bookstores and bought Korans, eager – maybe desperate – to understand the motivation driving the terrorists who were identified in the news as Muslims. Unfortunately, that willingness to learn about others quickly morphed into a drive to punish them and anyone we could link to them, however tenuously. Fifteen years later, it’s high time we return to that initial instinct to read, listen and learn about Islam. In this... Read more

Adam, Eve, and the Mimetics of Being Human: The Bible Explained, Part 6

Last updated on: September 8, 2016 at 9:26 pm By Adam Ericksen

The truth about the Adam and Eve story isn’t so much found in literal historical event, but that the story of Adam and Eve is the story of all of us. In a sense, we are all Adam. We are all Eve. The story tells us that there are invisible forces in the world. Rene Girard calls this force mimesis. Mimesis speaks to the fact that human identity is not based on individualism. Girard states that we are not individauls,... Read more

Wednesday Sermon: The King Coming from Afar

Last updated on: September 7, 2016 at 10:55 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 Wednesday, Teaching Nonviolent Atonement will highlight his sermons as an example of preaching the Gospel through mimetic theory. In this sermon, Tom explains the heart of mimetic theory – that the... Read more

Bound in Love to All Creation: Lessons from Standing Rock

Last updated on: September 6, 2016 at 10:43 am By Lindsey Paris-Lopez

“We are part mountain. We are part ocean. We are part river. We are part flower and grass and tree.” — Dennis Banks, Co-founder of the American Indian Movement. The truth of these words rushes like a river in my soul. As thousands gather at Sacred Stone Spirit Camp, putting their bodies and freedom on the line to pray and protest with the people of Standing Rock Reservation, my spirit joins my brothers and sisters as we call upon the... Read more

Saving Face: Blood, Carnage, and Creating Peace After WWII

Last updated on: September 2, 2016 at 2:32 pm By Adam Ericksen

“Let us pray that peace now be restored to the world and that God will preserve it always.” With those words spoken 71 years ago today, on September 2, 1945, Douglas MacArthur, Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, ended World War II. The deadliest war in human history ended with a prayer that God would preserve peace throughout the world. General MacArthur offered that prayer during a formal signing ceremony on board the USS Missouri. Leading members of Allied powers... Read more

Children, Teachers, and the Biggest Parenting Mistake I’ve Ever Made

Last updated on: September 1, 2016 at 11:10 am By Adam Ericksen

I used to think that all teachers knew what they were doing. They are the professionals, after all. As professionals, they know how best to manage their classroom. But one experience changed my mind forever. From the beginning of first grade, my son hated going to school. He took forever to get dressed and put on his shoes. As he walked out the door, his shoulders curved forward as he looked to the ground. Sometimes he talked about his teacher.... Read more

Wednesday Sermon: It’s All about Ranking and Rivalry and How to Escape It

Last updated on: August 31, 2016 at 11:58 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 Wednesday, Teaching Nonviolent Atonement will highlight his sermons as an example of preaching the Gospel through mimetic theory. In this sermon, Tom explains Jesus’ healing of a man with dropsy on... Read more

The Key to Biblical Violence: The Bible Explained, Part 5

Last updated on: September 8, 2016 at 11:47 am By Adam Ericksen

So, in case you haven’t heard, there’s a lot of violence in the Bible. In fact, many people reject the Bible because of its depiction of violence. I appreciate the deep concern about biblical violence, but here’s the thing – history shows that humans have had a major problem. The truth is that every culture, including ancient Jewish culture, has suffered from acts violence. If the Bible ignored violence we would rightly criticize the authors for covering up the truth... Read more

Colin Kaepernick – Football, God, and the American Flag

Last updated on: August 30, 2016 at 4:38 pm By Adam Ericksen

San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick refused to stand while the National Anthem played on Friday night. He plans to continue his protest into the season. He defended his decision over the weekend, stating that, “This country stands for freedom, liberty, justice for all – and it’s not happening right now.” By sitting down, Kaepernick is standing up for those people who remain voiceless. “There’s people being murdered unjustly and not being held accountable. Cops are getting paid leave for killing... Read more

Ryan Lochte and Everything Wrong with America

Last updated on: August 25, 2016 at 2:48 pm By Adam Ericksen

Ryan Lochte is an embarrassment to the United States. Maybe even the world. We don’t know the full story. But we do know that he peed. He lied. He vandalized a sign, if not a bathroom. He “over-exaggerated,” lied, and embarrassed Brazil. He drank himself so full of alcohol that he struggled to control his body. He acted like an immature jock and brought down his younger teammates with him. Good articles have been written about Lochte’s white privilege, which... Read more