We live in a fame-drenched society. People love to bask in the aura of celebrities and acquire what Andy Warhol called fifteen minutes of fame. In 1968, Warhol proclaimed: “In the future, everyone will be world-famous for fifteen minutes.”[1] Warhol was trying to convey that celebrity status is a fleeting phenomenon and dependent on a fickle media. Warhol’s “superstar” cast, which followed him everywhere, was a group of no name people with whom Warhol associated to make them famous. He... Read more

In “Conspiracy Theories: In Pursuit of Truth,” I claimed that New Testament Christianity may have been a conspiracy theory movement. I made that claim based on a certain definition of “conspiracy theory.” To repeat that definition, political scientist Joseph E. Uscinski, an expert on the subject matter, defines conspiracy theories in a video recorded interview as follows: A conspiracy theory…is a[n] accusatory perception in which a small group of powerful people are working in secret for their own benefit against... Read more

Different attempts have been made to define and reflect upon “deep state”. Here are a few titles: “What Is the Deep State?”; “The Deep State Is Real?”; “Deconstructing the Deep State”; “President Trump’s Allies Keep Talking About the ‘Deep State.’ What’s That?”; and “Here’s the Memo that Blew Up the NSC.” Here’s how Merriam-Webster defines “Deep State,” while also providing some examples: An alleged secret network of especially nonelected government officials and sometimes private entities (as in the financial services... Read more

Loved ones and friends from across the States have reached out and asked how we are doing in the face of all the social tension in Portland. They have also raised concerns amid the fires raging in Oregon, Washington, and California. Add to that the ongoing alarm over COVID, which knows no geographical or ideological boundaries. And don’t forget the upcoming November elections that affect us all. There are so many raging fires and disasters to put out across our... Read more

Today we remember 9/11 in the United States. Nineteen years ago today, two planes smashed into the Twin Towers in New York, and another plane crashed into the Pentagon. I remember those images vividly. Over and over, they played on the television screen. They still play in my head. Along with a multitude of Americans, I live with a sense of pain today. Now how might these images be playing in my psyche as an American Christian? How has the... Read more

Conspiracy theories come in all sizes and shapes and fall across the ideological and cultural spectrum. A conspiracy theory may be true or false, even though we typically assume “conspiracy theories” are just plain false (Refer here to an article detailing “5 US national security-related conspiracy theories that turned out to be true”). Now, no one I know or have come across wants to be called a conspiracy theorist, as it is generally considered a derogatory label. It can be... Read more

There’s a lot in the news these days on conspiracy theories. My colleague John W. Morehead and I have been reflecting upon conspiracy theories, too. In fact, we are doing a series of posts here at my blog column on the subject. If we step back and look at the sweep of American history, we may be surprised to know that there has often been a predilection for such theorizing. It’s in the tap water or in the ‘Covid’ air—just like... Read more

You may be familiar with the subject matter of orthodoxy and orthopraxy. But what about orthopathy? No, it is not a weed killer, like “Ortho Weed B Gon”. Orthodoxy deals with right doctrine. Orthopraxy deals with right practice. Orthopathy deals with right passion. If we wish to take to heart the Scriptures’ emphasis on loving God with our whole heart and our diverse neighbors as ourselves, we must account for all three: orthodoxy, orthopraxy, and orthopathy. Today it is my privilege... Read more

How concerned are you and I about the racial turmoil in our society? Are we wishing the turmoil would all go away and that we can return to the old normal and business as usual? Are we hoping for a breakthrough where the turmoil leads to transformation in our society for racial equality and justice? While I am certainly concerned about all the racial turmoil, it is not really a new phenomenon. The racial turmoil has always been there. It’s... Read more

Back in 1967, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered a sermon titled “Beyond Vietnam” n which he called upon his listeners to move from a culture of things to persons. He also spoke of how we need to address head-on the evil axis of economic exploitation, racism, and militarism. All these things were connected then. They are connected now. We hear a great deal about police brutality and inequities impacting the African American community. We hear of the “New Jim... Read more