On my most recent previous post I wrote that the effort to find common ground in our religiously and politically polarized time is a trivial pursuit. I suggested some examples where “common ground” is no longer possible to find because – like the Fountain of Youth or Xanadu – it does not exist. I suggested…
In the fall of 1971, I began a Master of Divinity Degree program at Duke University. One of my initial courses in moral philosophy and ethics included the study of what was being described then as, “a troubling resurgence of an American theology called, ‘Civil Religion’.” Now, fifty years later, Civil Religion is better known…
On January 6th there were a great number of tragic, despicable sights as domestic insurrectionists stormed the Capitol, the citadel and temple of American democracy. Each of us can call to our mind’s eye the now familiar, horrific sights of replayed video footage of the murderous and destructive assault on our Republic. The pictures of Capitol…
In the closing week of 2020 and now in these beginning days of 2021 there have been many written and spoken commentaries on the past year. Everyone seems to be awfully glad 2020 has come to an end. There is a general chorus of “good riddance” to a year of pandemic-caused death, sickness, and accompanying grief. 2020…
Some days ago, I was playing with my favorite 2nd Grader in the whole world. At one point she said to me, “Grandpa! Let’s pretend we are on a spaceship and traveling to Planet Christmas; a place where it is Christmas every day.” The conversation was delightful and went further with her descriptions of what such…
I read the award-winning, “Mayflower: Voyage, Community, War” by Nathaniel Philbrick when it was first published in 2006. It was a fascinating read. Among other things, it took me deeper into the reality of our origins than the American myths taught in elementary school; myths about the Pilgrims’ altruistic, inclusive beliefs, the idealized stories of…
In a sermon at the National Cathedral on March 31, 1968, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. – referring to the civil rights efforts underway in this country – said, “We shall overcome because the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice.” This is an often-quoted, hopeful, faith-filled thought. I like…
Former Vice President Joe Biden often precedes making a point in his campaign remarks with the phrase, “Look, here’s the deal.” At the outset of this post I want to borrow that phrase. Look, here’s the deal: Satan is real. The very real Satan about which I write is NOT some anthropomorphic, red-suited character with horns and a…
Like millions of other kids this fall, our grandchildren – as a result of COVID-19 – are attending school both virtually and in “hybrid” fashion. Our youngest granddaughter is in school by the virtual, on-line method. So, part of the learning curve for us as frequent, caregiver grandparents is to be as familiar as possible…
One of the great gifts to civilization is a codification of ten ancient rules commonly known today as The Ten Commandments. They can be found in the Bible in Exodus 20:2-17 and in Deuteronomy 5:6-17. The Commandments can also be ordered from Walmart for $9.99 – free shipping included – and delivered directly to our respective doors. Sure…