I suggest that one clear and dangerous result of the current deep divisions in US American culture, from political chasms, to race crevasses, to the huge deficits in simple kindness, is cynicism. Cynicism is that characteristic that includes disenchantment with current events and persons, pessimistic fears of a dark future, and a jaundiced look at nearly everything. Persons afflicted with cynicism are often sardonic, sarcastic, and skeptical, filling the air with ridiculous cult-like theories of an alternative reality, disconnected with... Read more

Older accounts of Christian Sundays named this day, “Christ the King,” prior to a necessary increase of concern for the overly masculine language that continues to permeate Christian discourse. We now appropriately call the day, “The Reign of Christ.” It is the day that signals the end of the long “ordinary time,” comprising the summer and the nearly three months of September, October, and November. Next week begins Advent and a new round of lectionary texts. I have rarely heard... Read more

It is election time again, and we in the US are being asked to make a choice between two white men, both septuagenarians. This choice is perhaps peculiar, given the increasing number of “minority” persons in the nation (I live in Los Angeles County where Latino/as are in fact now in the majority, make my white, male, septuagenarian self the new minority), and the fact that the average age of the country is well below 70. Also, one running mate,... Read more

I am no longer a pastor of my own congregation, nor am I required, by self or others, to play impartial mediator between the choices we have this election season. In what follows I plan to be quite clear concerning whom you should vote for, if you still have not done your crucial civic duty. There are to me numerous reasons why a vote for the Biden/Harris ticket is not only important but necessary on Nov.3. Donald Trump is, and... Read more

[Beginning Note: If you would like a more detailed analysis of this passage, please see my 2013 book, Telling the Whole Story, chapter 6, 169-198. It may be far more than you ever want, but I thought I would let you know.] I have long been fascinated by the dual presentation of the grim and dramatic story of the prophet Deborah, her companion agent of doom, Jael, and the two hapless men of the tale, Sisera and Barak, two would-be... Read more

I imagine that the title of this essay may be familiar to many of you. It was found on the belt buckles of German soldiers, especially during World War II. It translates: “God with us,” and implies that God is uniquely and exclusively watching over the soldiers of Germany, suggesting that the cause for which they were fighting was somehow blessed by the deity. This claim, of course, was particularly problematic during World War II, since Germany was fighting for... Read more

The entire book of Joshua is the purported story of how the forces of Israel, under the divine leadership of Joshua, entered into the land of promise from the east, crossing the Jordan, and in a lightening series of armed attacks conquered the entire land, central, north and south, defeating the tribes of people living there, precisely as YHWH had promised. Now, of course, as careful study of the archaeological realities, the sociological and political facts, and the complex nature... Read more

The nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett by President Trump to fill a place on the Supreme Court, made necessary by the death of Ruth Bader Ginsberg, has raised the usual firestorm of conflict in our sharply divided nation. Judge Barrett is an avowed conservative, as her many legal writings demonstrate clearly. The fact that she clerked for Antonin Scalia, the most famous of the recent conservative members of the High Court, and has consistently claimed that she follows his... Read more

Let me begin by saying that I am very sorry that the president, his wife, and several members of his inner circle have tested positive for COVID-19. I find these diagnoses distressing, and especially dangerous for Mr. Trump who, like me, falls into that age group that does not in the main deal well with the invasive virus. His hospitalization at Walter Reed suggests that his doctors are taking no chances with the acute dangers that his health might bring.... Read more

Most of the celebrations of All Saints Day that I have encountered or led have included solemn ways to remember those members of a community who have died in the previous year. A name is read and a chime or bell is rung, sounding in the deep silence of the sanctuary. Of course, in this year of the pandemic, that is little likely to happen; I imagine there will be a Zoom service at which the pastor will read the... Read more