wonderful thoughts from the Pope, intellectually coherent and practically relevant and doable IMO
Weekly lessons in theology and public life • Since 2011
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Lesson 2: The History of Church and State
Read MORE: Lesson 2: The History of Church and StateIf the Bible can pretty much be read as God’s Word speaking truth to human political power, Church history is more diverse. It offers a variety of relationships in different periods. Before we examine what is going on in the…
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Lesson 1: The Bible is About Politics
Read MORE: Lesson 1: The Bible is About PoliticsWhen I entered the ministry back in the early 1960s, pastors were warned not to get too political in the pulpit or they would lose their tax exemption. John Kennedy was elected president after promising his Catholic faith would not…
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Lesson 13: Conclusion (Part 2)
Read MORE: Lesson 13: Conclusion (Part 2)After three months of fairly intensive study, it is probably time to end this series. If I had to mention one take-away it would be our present inability to dal adequately with the mystery of a pregnant woman carrying a…
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Lesson 11: When Does Life Begin?
Read MORE: Lesson 11: When Does Life Begin?A few of you asked about the official position of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America concerning when life begins. That was the question we were asking in the 1960s. When we were unable to find consensus, we did the…
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Lesson 10: What is Life?
Read MORE: Lesson 10: What is Life?The present abortion debate taking place in our society revolves around the question, “When are we dealing with a life that should be protected by civil law?” Answering the question adequately involves some understanding of what comprises life. We seldom…
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Lesson 9: The Role of Technology
Read MORE: Lesson 9: The Role of TechnologyBack in the last century when ministeriums discussed their differing viewpoints in hopes of finding a resolution for the community, this joke was often told: “Three people discuss abortion. A man says he does not believe in it, because his…
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Lesson 15: Community Beyond Family
Read MORE: Lesson 15: Community Beyond FamilyIt is obvious one difference between Jesus’ community and the modern Church has to do with his band treating its members with the intimacy usually associated with the biological family. They shared their money and loved unconditionally as would be…
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Paint Yourself Into the Nativity
Read MORE: Paint Yourself Into the NativityShortly after we were married, Faith and I purchased a wonderful reproduction of Hugo van der Goes, “The Adoration of the Child Jesus.” It is a triptych done on three wooden panels about eight inches high which we have set…
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Lesson 2: Freedom in the Theology of the Cross
Read MORE: Lesson 2: Freedom in the Theology of the CrossFreedom has become a big issue during the pandemic. Many politicians claim refusing to wear masks is your patriotic duty for it opposes authoritarian mandates. They call on their followers to choose to live as free people. Some water down their…
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Lesson 49: What is Islam?
Read MORE: Lesson 49: What is Islam?Before starting a new online course, let me offer few words about Islam. Lately people have been asking if there something about it that fosters the violence of its radical fundamentalists. I often ask the same thing about Christianity that…
Recent Comments
I absolutely love these ideas, especially paying attention to beauty and reducing your needs.
Fritz a wonderful lesson – and esp. reading has a flow I found encompassing. If only …….. yes we can…