I really should not own a car. Hold that thought for a moment while I offer the story. I had walked to a nearby church on Sunday morning for an early service. A couple of minutes after I returned to my apartment, someone knocked on the door. I opened it to find the neighbor who lives directly below me. “Come here” he said, beckoning to the balcony. “There’s something you need to see.” I walked over and he pointed down... Read more
“After the first night of legal Gay marriage ceremonies in England and Wales, Christians are today desperately leafing through the Bible to identify another basic human right to rail against.” This quote came from a spoof site, but the spoof says too much about the long-held tendency of people who call themselves part of the kingdom of heaven to find something to hate. A number of years ago, I began, but never finished, a book I tentatively called, The Making and Unmaking... Read more
Two “celebrity” pastors hit the religion news in the last week. One is internationally known for hate speech and representing an angry God and leads a small church of about 100 people, primarily family. The other is also internationally known for hate speech–the angry prophet representing the angry God–and leads a multi-site church with at least 15,000 people in worship each week. Both are famous, or infamous, for the things that come out of their mouths. The first, Fred Phelps,... Read more
I’ve had a real problem with mega-celebrity, bad-boy, foul-mouthed, plagiarist-publicity-seeking, sex-obsessed, females-better-submit-or-else, God-is-going-to-send-pretty-well-everyone-to-hell* pastor Mark Driscoll for a long, long time. Yes, his church(s) in Seattle have seen significant growth, and if “growth-in-numbers” equals “God-must-like-him-better” theology, then anything I have to say would have to be interpreted as sour grapes. OK, lots of hyphenated words here–I tend to do that when I get passionate. But he has now published a letter of repentance–which says it is only for the Mars... Read more
The battle over sexuality rages with new energy. The Just Resolution decision instead of a trial for Rev. Olgetree (this 80 year old retired clergy presided at the same-sex wedding for his son, and fellow clergy filed charges against him) has ignited a firestorm of separatist talk, exposing more fully the deep divisions among us. IT IS TIME TO STOP. It is time to stop and pray the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples when they asked him, “teach us... Read more
“It sounds like the Taliban.” That was my oldest son’s response when I told him about the latest scandal in the Christian world: the resignation of Bill Gothard. Gothard was the founder and president of IBLP (Institute for Basic Life Principles) and ATI (Advanced Training Institute). ATI, an educational institution, supports a fair amount of the home schooling and quiverful (have as many children as possible) movements. The Duggar Family, of TLC 19 Kids and Counting fame, are adherents and followers... Read more
Please note: The Concerned Women for America are seeking to float a resolution to enact a bill that would do the same thing as the proposed one in Arizona (just vetoed by Arizona Governor, Jan Brewer) would have done. It reads in part: BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the right to act or refuse to act in a manner motivated by a sincerely held religious belief may not be burdened unless the government proves there is a compelling governmental interest... Read more
I had just watched the dam deliver her fourth lamb, with help from the foreman of this lovely farm in the Cotswolds. This particular breed of sheep tend to give birth to twins regularly, but quads are highly unusual, and we just happened to be there at the right time to observe. Here’s the video. Be aware that it is “narrated” by the voices of four young children (4-7) who are a bit grossed out by the process, even as they... Read more
As I wander through the airport for taking off for London, trying to keep moving for the long enforced the overnight flight, I suddenly realized: no bookstores. I saw one small newsstand with maybe a couple of dozen books, a few newspapers, a paltry stack of magazines, but no expensive, serendipitous shelves of untouched books. No place to stumble upon an engaging read to distract the mind from the drone of the engines. We have arrived in the brave New... Read more
I’m just going to add my puny little voice to this situation where a bill has been passed by the Arizona Legislature to permit business owners to deny service to anyone they think may be part of the GLBTQ community. Many have already made eloquent links to this bill and our shameful national memories of refusing service to anyone whose skin wasn’t white enough to pass the color test. Governor Jan Brewer now faces the responsibility to either sign, or... Read more
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