Thoughts on Tradition…

I’m currently in conversation with people on Julie Clawson’s blog (onehandclapping) which involves a discussion of tradition.
Interesting, thought provoking stuff.

Into “The Other”

I’ve spent my summer indulging in my love for Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, and other Tolkien lore.  Tolkien’s words stay with you long after reading, like the scent of your grandfather’s cologne, and coming back to the book means simply settling down once again to the comfort of an old friend.  I [...]

Religions for Peace

At times I am frustrated by the lack of unity I see across the globe.  Groups like these give me hope:
Here’s the link

The Harvest: Migrant Children’s Rights

Shine Global’s new film The Harvest seems to be a continuation of Edward Murrow’s Harvest of Shame.  Both works center on the plight of the children of the migrant working poor.  View the trailer and a complete description of the film below:

Harvest
The Story of the Children Who Work to Feed America.

More [...]

A Sense of Unity

One might say that the mantra of the election campaign was “Change,” and it well might still be that as President-elect Obama transitions into the White House. However, I am getting a strong sense of the word “Unity” as well, and not just in American politics. Lately my thoughts have been on the ecumenical role [...]

The Future of Christianity: In Christ, which means…

A recent post online detailed the difficulties inherent in a Christian-Pagan dialogue with missional Christians. Pagans see themselves as targets for conversion, “dehumanized” as mere objects of saving. They are considered by some missional Christians to be “lost” and “unreached.”
This discussion cuts to the core of ecumenical framework of religious tolerance needed to replace [...]

Gore’s Challenge

“There are times in the history of our nation when our very way of life depends upon dispelling illusions and awakening to the challenge of a present danger. In such moments, we are called upon to move quickly and boldly to shake off complacency, throw aside old habits and rise, clear-eyed and alert, to [...]

“This is not the end of our story…”

Recently watched the poignant War Dance from Thinkfilm. At times amusing, at times devastating, and uplifting and wondrous throughout, the film documents the young people of the Acholi in northern Uganda as they prepare for a national tribal dance competition in Kampala. The Acholi were removed from their ancestral lands and forced [...]

“The opposite of faith is not heresay, it’s indifference.” -Elie Wiesel

Such was the stark caption that appears at the end of Beyond the Gates, a movie focusing on the genocide in Rwanda as it occurred at a small Catholic School. The movie stars John Hurt as Father Christopher, a world-weary Catholic priest, and Hugh Dancy as Joe, an idealistic teacher, who provide refuge for [...]

History will honor your actions

Came across this letter written by a Franciscan priest in the latest issue of Sojourners.  Louis Vitale, OFM was inspired to his actions by the story of Alyssa Peterson, a language specialist in Iraq who committed suicide on Sept 15, 2003 due in large part to her objection to interrogation techniques (torture) used by the [...]