Religion Column
- Religion Column
-
-
Work is an important part of our spiritual life, but so is rest
My brothers and I knew that picnics, swimming parties and ballgames were supposed to be the order of the day for Labor Day. But our father had decidedly different opinions. It was true that he didn't have to don his suit and drive to work that first Monday in September. But Labor Day still meant laboring. One year we painted the barn. Other times it was mending the fence, sealing the driveway, building a tree house in the backyard. Dad wasn't going to pass up the opportunities presented by three strong boys, a bright summer day and a big sale at the hardware store.
-
There's a reason for separating church and state
Government is a God-ordained institution created to give order and stability.
-
Unlearning the 'us' and 'them' tendency
Human beings seem predisposed to see differences, to divide the world into good vs. bad, safe vs. dangerous, self vs. other.
-
United Methodist Church needs to be inclusive From gluten-free Communion to same-sex marriage
I come from a very "sacramental theology." That is simply a fancy way of saying that I experience God in a profound way in the sharing of the bread and cup in Holy Communion and in the waters of Baptism as we welcome a new member into the family of Christ.
-
Church's decision echoes Jesus' call to love our neighbors
I feel a profound sense of hope: on July 10, my faith home, the Presbyterian Church (USA), put into practice its new policy to drop all barriers to ordination for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
-
Weekly worship is a joyous obligation
In the Otsego County Lutheran Parish, where I have the privilege to serve as pastor, three of our four congregations have a midweek worship service. In the reality of our society these days, many Christian people have "obligations" (reasons; excuses) why they choose not to come to Sunday worship on any given "Lord's Day."
-
Church's decision echoes Jesus' call to love our neighbors
I feel a profound sense of hope: on July 10, my faith home, the Presbyterian Church (USA), put into practice its new policy to drop all barriers to ordination for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
-
Alcohol and drugs don't add to a well-balanced life
For thousands of years humans have produced and consumed alcohol and recreational drugs. It's something that we've taken for granted as an everyday part of our lives. But in the Baha'i Faith, as in many other religions and spiritual traditions, we are forbidden to drink alcohol or take any type of mind altering drug unless prescribed by a qualified physician.
-
Even though one religion doesn't fit all, love does
I wonder how many religions, denominations and sects claim to know the only way to God, and promise that all who follow their rules will be among the chosen few who will share the glory of heaven for eternity? It seems that the number of such exclusive faith groups has grown with the passage of time, but thankfully there has also been an increase in the number of people who recognize that a God of Love who created all of us would not be so selective.
-
Elijah is a role model for how we should pray
Have you ever asked the question "Where is the God of Elijah?" I really believe that the question we need to be asking is "Where are God's Elijahs?"
- More Religion Column Headlines
-
Work is an important part of our spiritual life, but so is rest
