Tag: Christmas
Who’s Afraid of Secularism? The Starbucks Red Cup Fiasco, Or On Being Christian In A Pluralist Society
By now, I’ve been seeing more than enough about the “controversy” surrounding the red cups at Starbucks infiltrate my Facebook newsfeed. Whether it is posts supporting the lack of Ch... Read More
The Peace and Violence of Christmas
At church this Christmas Eve, we read one of my favorite passages. Isaiah 11:1-10 begins by prophesying the coming of the Messiah, the Rod of Jesse, and it ends with that unsurpassable vision o... Read More
Carrying the Spirit of Christmas beyond December
As I write this piece, the Christmas decorations in my house are already beginning to come down. My family took our Christmas tree down on New Year’s Eve and just a couple of days ago I helped pack ... Read More
Sing the Third Verse!
The spirit of Advent is one of sensitivity to oppression and suffering, to hunger and need. Under the weight of such sorrows, Advent finds in the prophets of Israel a hope that gives voice to these ... Read More
An Advertisement for Advent, the Anti-Holiday
Hey there, weary Christian! Are you a retail employee disillusioned by the singleminded zeal of shoppers determined to spread the spirit of giving, come hell or high water? Are you a stressed out chur... Read More
A “Muslim Problem” at Christmas?
"This is a time of giving and providing for those who cannot provide for themselves." Not an uncommon sentiment over the Christmas season. Words you're likely to hear in most church halls and sound by... Read More
Mary-Jesus Theology Part 2
As mentioned in Part 1, wherever the story of the birth of Jesus appears in scripture, Jesus is always upon Mary's bosom, effortlessly delivered and resting on her bosom, or speaking from within her w... Read More