Date: February 7, 2020
A Parable: The Pastor Who Can Do Anything He Wants
I’m called by God to the ministry, I’m called by the people to this pulpit, and I can do anything I want. Called by God. And successful. Believe me, I’m […]
RPLI Posts
Date: February 4, 2020
If You Don’t Like What You’re Harvesting, Pay Attention to the Soil
Culture is like soil. Life on the entire planet depends on healthy soil to create and sustain the necessary matrix for life. Similarly, good life in any human community requires […]
Date: January 31, 2020
Committing Faith in Public Podcast with Jesse Ulrich
What was it like growing up Jewish in Tulsa, attending a nearly all African-American elementary school where one was a dual minority, then having the experience of living in a […]
Date: January 28, 2020
We Need More Kitchen Table Conversations about Politics and Religion
I have previously written on why moderate and progressive religious communities need to talk more about politics. Here, I want to expand on the topic with which I opened that […]
Date: January 21, 2020
Why Oklahoma’s “Year of the Bible” Bill is Both Inappropriate and Wrong
It is good to know from whence your food and your legislation come. I’ve written previously about Project Blitz, which is now known as “Freedom for All.” Project Blitz/Freedom for […]
Date: January 21, 2020
Committing Faith in Public Podcast, Talking Theology and Impeachment
Sit down with two Phillips faculty to talk about theology and impeachment and what do you get? A half hour of insight, perspective, and something to chew on. Dr. Joe […]
Date: January 15, 2020
Christmas Is Over, Herod (Thinks He) Won
+ Editor’s Note: The following is a fictional narrative, relating Matthew chapter 2 from Herod’s point of view. Did those Persian astrologer no-good liars think they got away with something? […]
Date: January 10, 2020
Committing Faith in Public Podcast with State Senator George Young, Sr.
The Rev. Dr. George Young, Sr., is well known to Phillips’ audiences as a double alumnus (master’s and doctoral degrees), adjunct instructor, and former trustee. In addition, we know him […]
Date: January 10, 2020
Public Religion in the News Digest, January 10, 2020
Religion New Service lists the top 10 religious news stories of the past decade: From the article: Benedict XVI resignation; Islamophobia; clergy sex abuse; #ChurchToo; the “nones”; mass shootings at […]
Date: January 8, 2020
Lessons from the Christianity Today Dust-Up
The current danger, for religious people, is that we baptize political and partisan stances with “God’s” holy waters. However, those stances are not thereby cleansed; to the contrary, holy waters used for partisan purposes lose their sacramental power, and God becomes god or simply irrelevant.
If individuals and community of faith cannot do, say, or imagine differently from the options represented by today’s political positions, then we are dangerous if taken seriously, for the sword of the spirit and the sword of the state are wielded again as one.