In times of fear, I return to Julian of Norwich
The medieval mystic offers challenging words for desperate times.
Have things changed for women since the time of Mary Magdalene?
In a world where we aren’t trusted, Mary’s encounter with the risen Jesus is an act of solidarity.
What can the church offer trans people right now?
Baptism and Eucharist should rework all of our ideas about identity.
Festival of the child
At Christmas, the least grown-up parts of us have free rein.
Virtuous friendship
Prudence and constancy might not sound like much fun, but they create the load-bearing relationships communities need to flourish.
Facing a world on fire
The contemplative life is about getting closer to reality, not retreating from it.
Speaking of death
Christians have an opportunity to eschew euphemisms and talk honestly about mortality.
Holy attachments
During the pandemic, I went six months without touching another human being. I felt starved.
My struggle with Mary
Can Jesus’ mother be redeemed from the church’s tendency to parcel her up into a patriarchal box and then label it “glory”?
Compassion makes us human
When we fail to be compassionate, the refrain “Well, we’re only human” is exactly wrong.
Atonement without participation?
In the substitution theory, God simply does stuff for us. What about the relational God of the Bible?
The skin of Christ
The church is a body: scarred and punctured but feeling its way through the world.
What sort of Christian story is viable in our time?
I’m hoping for one that’s lyrical, chastened, hallowed.