In a somewhat surprising development, given the secular world’s decision to use climate change as a political “sorting hat” of people into camps of good and bad party members, the religious community seems to have found broad based agreement and is now working in concert to lobby in Washington.
The Rt. Rev. Pierre Whalon, bishop in charge of the
For every faith community, marriage exists not only to protect but to reveal the deeper connection of God’s love for us. It is precisely as such that it is as important an institution to same-gender couples as it is to heterosexual couples in those same faith communities. Faith, however, demands more of us.
Gabriel Vahanian suggests that there may well be no true faith without a measure of doubt, and thus contemporary Christian worry about God could be a necessary and healthy antidote to centuries in which faith was too confident and sure. Perhaps today, the Christian can do no better than echo the prayer of the worried father who pleaded with Christ to heal his spirit-possessed son: “I believe; help my unbelief.” – John T. Elson
Rev. Kramer had was known as a tireless advocate in the aftermath of the storm. He helped animate a number of ministries that continue to thrive for the benefit of locals, all while convincing parishioners that a building of their own was less important than to strive for selfless service.
When disaster struck in the form of fire, one congregation decided to work its way through the pain. Another affected church, connected to the same wrongdoer and a victim of the same crime, appears to be teetering on the verge of non-existence.
Interesting week on the socnets, as some folks call social networks. Relatively quiet, with plenty of Facebook thumbs-ups and Twitter retweets. You too can submit content for our weekly social media roundup by hash-tagging it as #ecafe on Twitter or posting it to our Wall on Facebook. We look forward to hearing from you!
How to pray? When the New York Times asked that question last week, a raft of insights into the American spiritual condition appeared.
Universal concerns, not cultural values, may shape kids’ developing notions of right and wrong, writes Bruce Bowers in Science News.
I went through the Requiem Mass and found passages that were almost exactly the same as passages in the Yizkor service or in similar synagogue ritual, and that’s where the Mass came from. It came directly out of the synagogue. – Thomas Beveridge