Category: Interfaith
As Long as Possibility Remains: A Reflection on the Aftermath of Ariel Castro’s Suicide
A man killed himself last week. In itself, by itself, that’s not so uncommon, or even statistically noteworthy; in itself, by itself, it is staggering and significant. For me, Northeast Ohio is home... Read More
Secularism and Pluralism: Two Movements for Equality
As a humanist working in multifaith education, I sometimes feel tension between secularism and pluralism. Much of the new atheist movement is aimed at instituting and enforcing secularism in our commu... Read More
On Affront: A Quaker’s Response Towards Being Wronged
My bike was stolen this last week. It happened in broad daylight, whilst I was teaching my first class of the term. At 12:30pm, I parked my bike at the library on campus, locked it up with my Knog-loc... Read More
On Religion as it is Essential to Human Society
Religion is and has always been an essential element of human society. Our beliefs about why we are here and how we are here affect every relationship we have, from how we engage strangers on the stre... Read More
“Human” is the Most Important Label We Have
Human is the most important label we have. Our humanity unites us beyond nationality, beyond gender, beyond age, beyond money, beyond politics, beyond belief. Too often we forget our humanity—our ... Read More
Lightning Strikes
When Reverend Ray Hammond preaches, he electrifies the room. I saw lightning strike when he started his sermon with Ephesians 6:10-20. So did 10 people sitting with me. Usually, it takes more than an ... Read More
When Islamists Change Their Mind
Cartoons today, Egypt tomorrow? Recently a Catholic friend of mine revealed that he is considering going Episcopalian because, as a married man in his 30s, he is sensing a spiritual and vocational cal... Read More
Moving away from Jerry Springer: On Curiosity rather than Condemnation
“Do you know the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Savior?” the stranger asked me in the Reynolds Club café. Students from across the Chicago theological consortium gather at the Reynolds Club t... Read More