In my teens, I thought some about heaven and decided that I wanted no part of it. So much of what I found fun consisted of activities that someone had proscribed, activities not likely allowed in heaven. Our cultural stereotype of angelic beings strumming harps in a place evocative of an impressionist painting left me, a non-musician, unimpressed.
We know that Joseph was concerned about his future with Mary because they were not yet married when she conceived. We know that he considered divorcing her, as the Jewish law allowed. So Jesus’ life began in a difficult and even dangerous situation in that small town in Israel.
The Dallas Morning News Religion Blog notes an interesting new film that was previewed at the South by Southwest Film Conference and Festival in Austin earlier this month, and that will air at 8 p.m. on May 29 on the Independent Film Channel. The film is called “At the Death House Door,” and it focuses on the Rev. Carroll “Bud” Pickett’s path from death-penalty supporter to opponent.
On April, 15, 2008, Pope Benedict XVI will make his first visit as Pope to the United States. Beliefnet offers complete coverage, including a blog devoted to the visit.
An evangelical group that wants to reshape the movement’s political reputation for being focused on opposing abortion and same-sex marriage is hoping that a series of meetings stressing its roots in women’s suffrage and abolition will help it break out of the mold.
Quite rightly, we may therefore say that St Paul had a view of the role of women that we now recognise to be less than Christian — to take a simple example. Once that is conceded, there is no longer any need for theologians to sweat blood ironing out the many contradictions in the Bible. Given the world as it is, those contradictions make the Bible more, not less, credible. They leave us with essential existential choices, which give meaning to the “glorious liberty of the children of God”. We are slaves to no text; nor are we a religion of any book
Wendell Berry, the great environmentalist poet-theologian, has written a piece about somebody he calls a “mad farmer” who goes around shouting, “Practice resurrection!” “Practice resurrection.” That’s not bad advice.
Some notes from around the internet/blogosphere on the special convention for San Joaquin, starting with the presiding bishop: “We stand with you in the firm and constant hope that this body will grow and flourish and bless the central valley of California in ways you have not yet dreamed of. And we will celebrate with you as that becomes reality.”
The Episcopal Diocese of Maryland today elected the Rev. Canon Eugene Taylor Sutton, canon pastor at the Washington National Cathedral, to be its 14th bishop
Author Jan Karon made an appearance at the Virginia Festival of the Book, whose lineup reads like a SXSW for English majors. The sold-out “high tea” with Karon happened Thursday afternoon in Charlottesville, VA.