For many years evangelical and fundamentalist Christians in the United States have been fighting for the posting of the Ten Commandments in public buildings, especially courthouses, city halls and legislatures. I have always understood this as only a political move to assert the mythology of America's Christian origins. I see it as political because there …
The Unspoken Morality
Viet Thanh Nguyen came to the United States in 1975 as a refugee from Vietnam. He was interviewed last night by Christiane Amanpour on PBS. They discussed the current policy of the United States to separate children from their parents if they enter the US "illegally". After playing a clip of Attorney General Jeff Sessions …
Another School Shooting…More Hypocritical Prayers
In the wake of today's school shooting in Texas, Ted Cruz, senator from Texas, appeared before the cameras, as politicians do in order to fool voters into thinking that they care about anyone or anything. So Mr. Cruz is talking about the newest shooting and as he links it to other recent shootings and tragedies …
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Conversation at the Core of Life
A Gospel reading of contrasts "Chosen" people (the Jews) - "rejected" people (the Samaritans) Light and darkness: Jesus at the well at the sixth hour (about noon). Contrast with Nicodemus who came to Jesus at night! When Jesus was crucified, darkness came over the land from noon (sixth hour) to the ninth hour - …
The Times They Are a-Changin’
Yesterday, March 24th, the nation saw hundreds of thousands of young people rally against gun violence. The largest rally was in the nation's capital, where perhaps as many as 800,000 turned out. I started watching just as Ryan Deitsch was addressing the rally in Washington. As I watched this young man, I said, I …
Stephen Hawking is now one with the Universe
No scientist since Albert Einstein has captured the public imagination and spotlight like Stephen Hawking. Diagnosed with ALS at the age of 21, doctors gave him two more years of life; he defied all odds and lived another 55 years, during which he transformed our understanding of the universe. He is now one with the …
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The Community Approach
How do we recognise Jesus? Do we expect him to look like we see him in our icons? Icons are a very important part of our Orthodox tradition - so important that this First Sunday of Lent commemorates the restoration of icons in the year 843, after a long period of iconoclasm. But icons …
An Ash Wednesday of Sin and Horror
Among the most poignant scenes from yesterday's carnage in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School yesterday were grieving and anxious parents with ashes on their forehead. Yesterday, of course, was Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent for Roman Catholics and Episcopalians. This is how the website bibleinfo.com summarizes the meaning of Ash Wednesday: Roman Catholic churches …
Jesus, the Good Samaritan
In recent weeks we have seen a constant stream of allegations of sexual misconduct against prominent men. One of these is Judge Roy Moore who is running to be elected to a Senate seat in a special election in Alabama next month. It's not for political reasons that I mention him. I mention him because …
Our privacy for sale
In case anyone still has doubts as to who rules our lives, consider this: Today the US Congress voted to kill privacy rules which would have prevented Internet providers from selling our online habits and personal data. Because of this act of Congress, there will be no limits to the amount of advertising that will clutter our …
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