What’s so good about Good Friday?
“I have always wondered how Mary and the beloved disciple could stand being there. It seems ridiculous—either superhuman or masochistic—that they would remain present for the torture and death of the beloved son, the beloved friend. I especially wonder if they said anything in response to those words,” writes Carol Mead regarding the crucifixion of Jesus. Read her commentary “Woman, Behold Your Son” here.
A skeptic’s guide to Passover
Was Moses tripping on acid when he claimed to have seen the “burning bush?” Michael Lukas at Slate.com explores some possible explanations for the parting of the red sea, the ten plagues, and the burning bush. Read it here.
Tony Blair to Pope: You’re wrong about homosexuality
Blair said: “When people quote the passages in Leviticus condemning homosexuality, I say to them — if you read the whole of the Old Testament and took everything that was there in a literal way, as being what God and religion is about, you’d have some pretty tough policies across the whole of the piece.” Read more here.
Two more for same sex marriage
The Washington D.C. council voted to recognize gay marriage from other states. Meanwhile, Vermont legislators overrode a veto by the governor to make Vermont the fourth state in the US to allow same-sex marriage.
The sun returns to it’s original position
According to Talmudic tradition, once every 28 years the sun returns to the same position it occupied at the time of it’s creation. This past Wednesday (April 8), many Jews around the globe recognized this rare occasion. Learn more here.
Obama’s faith-based council is full
President Obama named nine advisers to the White House office for religious and community groups on Monday (April 6), adding a gay rights leader, an Orthodox Jew, a black bishop and others to an eclectic 25-person council. Read the White House press release here. Then read Frances Kissling’s commentary here.
Another atheist vs. believer debate
April 4th, Biola University sponsored a debate between prominent atheist writer Christopher Hitchens and Biola’s own Dr. William Lane Craig, one of the world’s foremost philosophers of religion. One might ask, what is the point? Read about it here.
No more pleasantries in church
A few priests in the Diocese of Leeds in England came to the conclusion that it’s inappropriate to say “good morning” after standing in front of the congregation and making the sign of the cross. So they’ve decided they’re no longer going to do it. Read the God Blog story here.
Holy Mavericks looks at the ministries of mega-pastors
Shayne Lee, a Tulane University sociologist, has followed up his book on Bishop T.D. Jakes by co-writing a book called Holy Mavericks.
“Figure of Jesus on the Cross at The Cloisters” photo courtesy of Tony the Misfit.
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