The Christian Century: Thoughtful, Independent, Progressive
WEBThe midsummer of life. The season of tending and waiting can be tedious. “There’s a frog in our house!”. My daughter and I said the words together, but only one of us was excited. Embracing the random can open us up to the agitations of the Holy Spirit.
Does the promise still hold? Israel and the land: An essay and ...
WEBThe promise of the land will remain conditional until the dawn of the messianic age. Israel’s ability to retain its independence will depend on both its obedience to the commandments and the resolve and power of its military. The return of the Jews to Israel has also posed a challenge to Christians.
Who is Jesus for Muslims? | The Christian Century
WEBJun 7, 2017 · In Islam, Jesus, peace and blessings be upon him, is one of the five greatest messengers of God who are collectively known as the ‘Ul al-Azm or the Possessors of Steadfastness. Jesus is also a real person who lived in Roman Judea in the first century of the Common Era. Muslims share with Christians most of the basic outlines of Jesus’ story ...
The quiet rise of Christian dominionism
WEBThe quiet rise of Christian dominionism. Jerry Falwell wanted to prepare America for the end of the world. Ted Cruz’s evangelical backers want to take America over. by Keri Ladner in the November 2022 issue. US Senator Ted Cruz at the 2021 AmericaFest at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Gage Skidmore / Creative ...
Life after life after death - The Christian Century
WEBMay 30, 2012 · The standard view of life after death has long focused on a disembodied soul that, immediately pursuant to the expiration of the body, goes either to heaven or to hell. I remember the sermon preached at my father’s funeral some years ago. It was classic Platonism—Dad’s soul had now escaped the entrapping shell of his cancer-ravaged body ...
The religious aspect of the Israel-Palestine conflict
WEBJun 16, 2021 · The religious aspect of the Israel-Palestine conflict. Palestinians run away from tear gas during clashes with Israeli security forces at the Al-Asqa Mosque compound in Jerusalelm's Old City on May 10. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean) In mid-May, violence between Gaza and Israel intensified to levels not seen for years, with Hamas shooting hundreds of ...
“Dad, why does Deuteronomy 20 talk about killing the boys and …
WEBJun 30, 2021 · by Matthew Schlimm in the June 30, 2021 issue. (Source images by Titian (public domain) and Mitchell Luo on Unsplash) I recently felt heartbreak when my daughter, shortly after receiving her first Bible, stumbled onto Deuteronomy 20, which commands Israelites to kill all that breathes in Canaan (vv. 16–18). I’m a pacifist, and that chapter ...
Grace in the face of suicide: Theological questions and hopes
WEBMar 8, 2000 · Grace in the face of suicide: Theological questions and hopes. by Mary T. Stimming in the March 8, 2000 issue. Night Falls Fast: Understanding Suicide, by Kay Redfield Jamison. Every 17 minutes someone in America takes his or her own life. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students, and …
Imagining the future of theological education
WEBShifting the center from the university to the church produces a vision of Christian education that is more daring, provocative, and hopeful than other outlooks. Theologians Rowan Williams, Justo González, Emilie Townes, and Sam Wells each offer distinctive images and fresh possibilities for improving theological education today.
What pastors get paid, and when it’s not enough
WEBJun 19, 2019 · In 2017, the average elementary and middle school teacher in the United States made $60,900 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For many clergypersons, that figure looks pretty good since the average clergy salary is $50,800. But unlike most teachers, clergy are not in a position to strike for higher wages.