Over the last thirty days I've read a number of good books published in 2019. (5.0) When Islam Is Not a Religion: Inside America's Fight for Religious Freedom by Asma T. Uddin (Pegasus Books, 2019)(4.5) Beaten Down, Worked Up: The Past, Present, and Future of American Labor by Steven Greenhouse (Knopf, 2019)(4.5) Health Justice Now: Single Payer and What Comes Next by Timothy Faust (Melville House, 2019)(4.0) Catholic Social Activism: Progressive Movements in the United Read More …
religious freedom
Global Decline in Religious Freedom (#1625)
According to the recently released United States Commission on International Religious Freedom's 2016 Annual Report religious freedom decreased from February of 2015 to February of 2016. The report also finds that "There are increasing opportunities for the U.S. government to work in concert with like-minded nations on issues relating to freedom of religion or belief." At nearly 300 pages in length, the report offers in-depth insight into the work of the Commission and the state of Read More …
Sermon: More Than Showing Up (#1406)
Sermon Text: Matthew 22:1-14 Sermon Excerpt: I still remember the first sermon I ever preached. Actually, I remember the preparation far better than the actual message . . . Thankfully no parishioners were exposed to or harmed by my effort. During the spring semester of my freshman year in college, I took an introductory course on preaching. The goal was to learn how to prepare a sermon, and how to deliver it. When it came time to actually work on our own sermons the first Read More …
UCC Files Landmark Lawsuit (#1405)
By now I hope you have heard that earlier this week the United Church of Christ filed lawsuit arguing that North Carolina marriage laws limit ministers' choices, violate the principle of "free exercise of religion" upon which the church is built, and restrict the freedoms of religion and expressive association guaranteed in the First Amendment. The following 2 1/2 minute video message from Geoffrey Black, President and General Minister of the United Church of Christ, provides a helpful Read More …
International Religious Freedom (#1102)
Earlier this week the U.S. State Department released its annual report on religious freedom around the world. Suzan Johnson Cook, Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, stated that the report shows much work is yet to be done. With this in mind, she called upon governments to "fulfill their responsibility to condemn religious intolerance and bring to justice perpetrators of abuses." So What? People who follow the way of Jesus must advocate for Read More …
Religious Freedom: The 75% (#1073)
Brian Grim, a leading expert on global religion and religious freedom who serves as Senior Researcher in Religion and World Affairs at the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life, recently shared two troubling statistics: 37% of the world's countries have high or very high restrictions on religion, 75% of the world's population resides in these countries. So What? Repeat the 75% statistic to yourself a few times. This number cannot be viewed as Read More …