So forgiveness pre-requires understanding the mistakes of the past? here hear re this opposing this me-first, America-first, white-first, male-first approach>…
Weekly lessons in theology and public life • Since 2011
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Lesson 1: The Situation
Read MORE: Lesson 1: The SituationI really ended the series on world religions because I was getting all sorts of emails that implied it was a good subject, but somewhat irrelevant in the midst of the pandemic. Along with this, I kept feeling a need…
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Lesson 2: What We Have Learned
Read MORE: Lesson 2: What We Have LearnedIn a time when the Christian voice in the public conversation is babel and even cacophony, those struggling to follow Jesus must strive to be radically realistic. Jacques Ellul often describes this as being decisively honest. That would involve acknowledging…
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Lesson 3: Trust… In Government
Read MORE: Lesson 3: Trust… In GovernmentThe pandemic has brought into focus all sorts of societal problems. The last lesson discussed only the large number associated with Smithfield Foods. Most of these have been festering for decades. The question is whether the pandemic will bring them…
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Lesson 4: A Faustian Bargain?
Read MORE: Lesson 4: A Faustian Bargain?As I write, the relationship between church and government is being maliciously manipulated. Popular public figures on both sides are using each other to get what they want. And, the deals being made threaten our souls. In order to understand…
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Lesson 5: Online Courage
Read MORE: Lesson 5: Online CourageIt was a strange week for the online Church. Last Monday night, the symposium that normally gathers in my home discussed the relationship between church and state over Zoom. As we were winding down, a number of the members asked…
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Lesson 6: Systemic Racism
Read MORE: Lesson 6: Systemic RacismIt has become evident that we are in the midst of a history-changing moment. Young people of all colors are demonstrating for Black Lives Matter. Adults are examining their naive belief that society has been improving steadily in spite of…
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Lesson 7: Justice in the Beloved Community
Read MORE: Lesson 7: Justice in the Beloved CommunityAs Dr. Martin Luther King maintained, you cannot deal with systemic racism without also addressing the economic and military problems smoldering in our society. All three exploded under the conditions of the present pandemic. Poor African and Hispanic neighborhoods were…
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Lesson 8: Fairness
Read MORE: Lesson 8: FairnessThe pandemic immediately revealed it is not realistic for our society to base all its decisions on the economic market. As soon as the crisis hit, we began talking about the right for all of our citizens to food, housing,…
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Lesson 9: Foreign Invasion
Read MORE: Lesson 9: Foreign InvasionHundreds of heavily armed men and women invaded Gettysburg, my hometown, on July 4. They occupied sacred land and patrolled battlefield roads seeking the enemy. When asked why they came, they readily claimed to be patriots who were preserving our…
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Lesson 10: So What?
Read MORE: Lesson 10: So What?Paul responded to my last post suggesting it is time to talk about steps we can take in order to address the present crisis. He agreed it is important to share the narratives that give meaning and purpose to our…
Recent Comments
An extremely timely topic. Thanks, Fritz!
yes we need to forgive our leaders yet make sure they do the right thing – which they aren’t.