Fifth Sunday of Easter (Year 4, NL)

Christianity is, finally, a story in which communication prevails over violence.

While struggling with this question as a church songwriter, I came up with six guidelines.

Early-20th-century European and North American missionaries grew concerned about it—but never in their own churches.

I was diagnosed just after Christmas. It changed my perspective on the incarnation.

Hart thunders like Amos against cruel, incoherent religion.

The incarnation doesn’t require a miracle; it reveals one that’s already there.

Can Christianity make universal claims without being exclusivist?

Paul's approach in Athens is refreshing.

In Athens, the apostle bears witness—and doesn't try to be cool.

The Areopagus--the former location of the Athenian equivalent of the Roman senate--was a center of civic life. The name comes from "Ares," the Greek god of war, and "pagos," which means "hill" or "rock." The Roman equivalent of Ares is Mars, hence the translation sometimes used: the Mars Hill.

Whether we choose to believe it or not, we human beings are embodied creatures. There have been many times throughout the history of philosophy and religion when great thinkers have tried to minimize or deny the physicality of human existence. Simple phrases such as “mind over matter” and biblical passages such as 1 Corinthians 9:27, “but I punish my body and enslave it,” have contributed to the misleading belief that we are at our best as human beings when some spiritual core that is separate from our physical nature governs our lives.

I've seen the Athenians' approach in southern California.

Paul refuses to let God become just another novelty.