Here we are, again. Once again, we find ourselves in a place we have been all too many times before, and only too recently. Here we are, again, mourning the tragic, senseless loss of life in a mass shooting. This time, at a mosque. Last time at a synagogue, and before that, at a church, and…… Continue reading The Danger of Silence
Category: Politics
Women, Religion, Violence and Power
The title of this blog post is the subtitle of Jimmy Carter’s latest book (well, unless he has cranked out another one in the last year or two–which wouldn’t surprise me!), A Call to Action. It came out in 2014, and mine is autographed–I will always wait in line for Jimmy Carter! I finally got…… Continue reading Women, Religion, Violence and Power
Who Do You Say that I Am?
No, this post is not about Jesus’ identity, but about the identity of roughly 1.4 million Americans who identify as transgender. The story broke on Sunday that the Trump administration is seeking to more narrowly define gender as something immutable and unchangeable, determined exclusively and definitively by genitalia at birth. [Read about it here: Transgender Could…… Continue reading Who Do You Say that I Am?
The Catholic Church, The President & Abuses of Power
If you don’t live in Pennsylvania, you might have missed the story, but those of us who live here couldn’t escape it. And, if you are a regular news reader/watcher, surely you saw something about it: it has received national news coverage. Of course, I am talking about the huge scandal in the Catholic Church…… Continue reading The Catholic Church, The President & Abuses of Power
Zoos and Hope for the Future
So, like lots of people, I have mixed feelings about zoos–I’ve written about this before. On the one hand, I loved the zoo when I was little and I think they provide lots of people–grown-ups and children alike, especially those in cities–a way to connect with wildlife they only would ever be able to see…… Continue reading Zoos and Hope for the Future
Recent Perversions
According to the first online dictionary that comes up with a Google Search [the extent of my research], the first definition of “perversion” is the following: “the alteration of something from its original course, meaning, or state to a distortion or corruption of what was first intended.” It is only the second definition that references…… Continue reading Recent Perversions
Lessons from an Epic Vote in Ireland
I have been thinking a lot about Ireland these past couple weeks. Did you see the news about the vote on the abortion amendment? You can see the story here: Ireland Votes to End Abortion Ban. Since 1983, Ireland has had an amendment to the Constitution that recognized equal right to life for the fetus…… Continue reading Lessons from an Epic Vote in Ireland
All Buddhists are Nice People, Right?
I get alerts from The New York Times on a variety of topics, including animals, adoption, religion, and philosophy, among other things. Yesterday, this article came in my inbox, under the “philosophy” category [not religion, which in itself is interesting]: Buddhists and Violence. The article, which actually is titled “Why are We Surprised when Buddhists are Violent,”…… Continue reading All Buddhists are Nice People, Right?
July 4th: Rwandan Liberation Day
Happy Fourth of July! I hope you are enjoying a great day with barbecue, fireworks, family and friends. I have happy memories of this day from childhood: my brother loved setting off fireworks, and he always had a choreographed performance for us on the back porch, before we climbed up on the roof to watch the big…… Continue reading July 4th: Rwandan Liberation Day
Sanctuary, Religious Freedom & the 8th Commandment
This morning, I heard the story on NPR about a woman who has sought sanctuary in a Denver church in order to avoid deportation–here is the link: Colorado Church offers Sanctuary. In the story, the concept of religious freedom was mentioned, which the new administration has promised to uphold; but a spokesperson who opposes the…… Continue reading Sanctuary, Religious Freedom & the 8th Commandment
