Of course, it is impossible to be teaching a course on Religion and Media without talking about Pope Francis: THE MOST photographed and talked /blogged/tweeted about religious figure ever [OK–I have no hard data to back that up, but really, who is even a close second?!]. We’re going to talk about him [and the media…… Continue reading Anticipating Conversation about Pope Francis: Style vs. Substance
Bonhoeffer’s Life Together
Boy, I forgot what a marathon it is, teaching all day, every day for a week! I want to blog more, but not when I spend every evening reading and getting ready for the next day–I’m already tired and it’s only Tuesday! But, don’t get me wrong: I’m really, really loving the class. The conversation…… Continue reading Bonhoeffer’s Life Together
Religion and Media
Today [actually, in 5 minutes!], I am beginning my Religion and Media J-term course. This is the second time I have taught it, with my colleague Mary Hess from Luther: I love team-teaching with her, not only because she is a warm, interesting person, but because I learn so much, and we have similar pedagogical…… Continue reading Religion and Media
Using My "Soul Camera"
Who has time for a blog post on Christmas Eve?! Not me, really–I should be home cooking–but I wanted to share something I read last week that I think is especially appropriate for this season. As I’m sure I’ve said before, when I’m on the elliptical machine at the gym, I can’t process heavy-duty reading,…… Continue reading Using My "Soul Camera"
A Letter of Thanks to My Birth Mother at Christmastime
I don’t know you, and that has been my choice. Of course, you don’t know me, either, and I assume that is your choice as well. It’s a fine arrangement, as far as I’m concerned, and I’ve never sought to change it. You offered me for adoption in 1968, two years before Roe vs. Wade…… Continue reading A Letter of Thanks to My Birth Mother at Christmastime
Luther and the Jews
On Monday, at our monthly faculty forum, my colleague, Brooks Schramm presented the new book he and Kirsi Stjerna wrote: Martin Luther, The Bible, and the Jewish People–and I have to say, my mind was kind of blown! First, if you don’t already know it, Luther wrote some really, really horrific things about the Jewish…… Continue reading Luther and the Jews
Being Thankful for ALL Families
I read with great interest this article in The New York Times this morning: http://nyti.ms/18TEgrp.Here is the caption about it: “Same-sex parents. Cohabiting couples. Voluntary kin. Children with parents in prison. Immigrant-Americans. What we thought of as the typical American family is being rapidly redefined. It is more diverse than it was even half a…… Continue reading Being Thankful for ALL Families
Thinking More About Double-Religious Belonging
I’m here at the American Academy of Religion annual meeting, which is really stimulating and very interesting. I’m exhausted tonight [an introvert can only function in an extroverted shell for so long!], but I wanted to write a quick post about my presentation this morning. My panel was on the concept of dual religious belonging…… Continue reading Thinking More About Double-Religious Belonging
Anthropocene or Pneumacene?
A quick reflection for a Saturday afternoon. If you read my blog regularly, you know I often try to answer the “so what” question–why does theology matter for life in the world, and how can it positively contribute to our life together, our shared discourse, and the greater good of the whole cosmos. I have…… Continue reading Anthropocene or Pneumacene?
Power in the (Menstrual) Blood
The belief that there is “power in the blood” is common to many—dare I say all—Christian traditions. The phrase, particularly prevalent in some traditions’ Lenten hymnody, refers, of course, to the power of Jesus’ blood on the cross: the idea that Jesus’ crucifixion is the source of our salvation. It goes along with images of being “washed”…… Continue reading Power in the (Menstrual) Blood
Happy Lutheran 