The last two articles in this series have been blunt about the threat of a sixth mass extinction looming on the horizon caused by human exploitation of nature, greed, ignorance (some of it intentional), and lethal egotism. There have been five mass extinctions in the history of our planet. The… Continue reading
In part two of this series, I presented Jesus’ understanding of God’s love as unconditional, indiscriminate, self-giving, nonviolent, and everlasting as foundational to his message and ministry. I also suggested that such love is at the heart of the wisdom we need if we are to progress in ways which… Continue reading
Jesus was the most radical, countercultural person in the history of humankind. Unfortunately, that’s not the way the world and much of the church view him. Too many times Christians have done their best to domesticate him or (in the words of one of my New Testament professors) to put… Continue reading
We may be the most technologically advanced generation in history, but my fear is that we are fast becoming one of the most insane and misguided generations since Homo sapiens began to form communities. Continue reading
In part one of this series, we looked at the current popularity of zombies within our cultural narratives. John Vervaeke suggests that this zombie myth reflects the loss of meaning, community, and connectedness within our society. Continue reading
The survival and flourishing of civilization depend upon communal, shared wisdom. That’s why wisdom traditions, sagas, poetry, and art are so crucial for humanity’s future. Continue reading
The challenge of our time (as with all times) is to find metaphors which reveal the essence of the gospel in ways which speak to us in our unique cultural context. In our last article we looked at the different metaphors the writers of the New Testament used to communicate… Continue reading
(12 minutes) In an extraordinary interview with Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel just weeks before he died, the great philosopher and biblical scholar said that religion must have validity more than mere relevance. Today, there are many calls to relevance. I’ve noticed that I have referred to the necessity of relevance… Continue reading
(10 minutes) The Rev. Dr. Randy Woodley is a Cherokee descendent, ordained pastor, activist, college professor, author, and farmer. For decades, he has been active in ongoing concerns that include Indigenous peoples, racism, eco-justice, social justice, sustainable and regenerative agriculture and earth practices, and inter-faith dialogue. In a lecture entitled… Continue reading
Read the Scripture Our text for today is one of the most important passages in the New Testament. In a real sense, if we understand the Beatitudes, we will understand the message and ministry of Jesus as well as our own calling as his disciples. But we have several obstacles… Continue reading
