Posts in Opinion
šŸ“ŗ ā€˜Like Losing A Friend’: Why Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s Death Hit Gen Xers So Hard šŸ”Œ

Oh no, not Theo. That was the first thought of millions of Generation Xers when the news broke this week of Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s accidental drowning death in Costa Rica at age 54. Here’s why ā€œThe Cosby Showā€ actor was so influential and beloved.

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What An Online Theology Course Got Wrong About St. Francis

(OPINION) St. Francis of Assisi, like so many young people today, had experienced the ravages of war, spent time as a prisoner and came out of that trauma seeking something deeper in his life. He hungered for God and had the courage to step out boldly in his search. Heaping extraneous mumbo-jumbo on him really does a disservice. 

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ā›Ŗļø Conviction And Controversy: Pastor John MacArthur’s Legacy šŸ”Œ

When a high-profile religious leader dies, it’s always fascinating to see what words various news organizations choose to encapsulate that person. Such is the case with this week’s passing of the Rev. John MacArthur — after his hospitalization for pneumonia — at age 86.

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Religious Catholic Women Are Being Silenced By Power And Policy

(OPINION) As someone who works with Catholic religious communities, I hear things. Up until recently, what I’ve heard has been a hopeful message that includes how much God loves each and every one of us. In recent months, though, even what I hear from the various vowed religious women with whom I interact has become somewhat ominous.

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ā›ˆļø Grief And Guilt: Parents Who’ve Lost Children Reflect On Texas Flooding Deaths šŸ”Œ

The grief. The guilt. The giant fog. Matt Collins can’t help but experience the catastrophic Texas flooding — especially the deaths of children in a sudden natural disaster — through a deeply personal lens.

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Minister Makes News By Mixing Faith With Psychedelic Drugs

(OPINION) There’s been much academic and journalistic attention paid in recent years to the documentable benefits of treating a host of mental disorders with psychedelics. ā€œThis Is Your Priest on Drugsā€ looks at a published study in which researchers administered psilocybin to clergy from various religious traditions.

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The Humor In Our Eyes: How Laughter Heals More Than Vision

(OPINION) When was the last time you laughed in order to cope with some personal or social situation? 10 minutes ago? Today? Yesterday? Laughter can be a most effective coping medicine. In that way, laughter is an important spirituality tool. In many cultures, it always has been.

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The Road Back To New Jersey: How The Holy Spirit Led Me Home

(OPINION) We know that the Holy Spirit convicts the world (unbelievers) of sin (John 16:8). But he also convicts believers of our sins. I have never again felt the weight of conviction as I did that time in 1979. But I am thankful how God cleared my conscience through the work of his Holy Spirit.

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šŸ’™ Hoops and Healing: Why The Thunder’s First NBA Title Means So Much To OKC šŸ”Œ

Why did the Oklahoma City Thunder winning the NBA title mean so much to our Weekend Plug-in columnist — just a casual fan? It’s simple: This is about much more than basketball, y’all.

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šŸŸļø NBA Finals Prayers, Pope Rally At The Ballpark And NFL Coach’s Faith šŸ”Œ

The Oklahoma City Thunder are still praying. Presumably, so are the Indiana Pacers. Plus, a big rally for Pope XIV at the Chicago White Sox ballpark, and an NFL head coach says God guides him.

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ā€˜No Kings’: The Rise Of Religious Authoritarianism In America

(OPINION) As a historian of Christianity, I have studied how religion has been manipulated to bless empires. In the year 325, Constantine declared himself Christian and forged the Christian Empire. In 800, the Pope crowned Charlemagne, merging the power of church and state. During colonial expansion, Christianity was exported alongside conquest and commerce.

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šŸ’’ 5 Takeaways From Dallas: SBC Seeks Same-Sex Marriage Reversal And More šŸ”Œ

At its annual meeting in the Dallas, the nation’s largest Protestant nomination tackled social issues such as same-sex marriage, online porn and sports betting.

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Why The Pope Matters In A World Of Rivalries

(OPINION) We are all curious to see how Pope Leo XIV will engage with the Trump administration. The Chicago Archdiocese’s upcoming celebration of the pope, an American-Peruvian dual citizen, stands in contrast to the military parade being hosted in Washington, D.C. on the same day. At the same time, the Catholic Church has seen empires rise and fall.

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šŸ€ OKC Thunder In A League Of Their Own — When It Comes To Pregame Prayer šŸ”Œ

Just one of the NBA’s 30 franchises tips off each game with an invocation: the Oklahoma City Thunder. It’s a tradition that dates back to the Seattle SuperSonics’ move to OKC in 2008 — and even before that when the Bible Belt city served as the temporary home of the New Orleans Hornets after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

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The Drop In Religious Participation May Have Stabilized — For Now

(OPINION) Reading all about the decline of religion, I always find myself pondering the mystery of faith itself. Where does faith come from? Why do some people have it and others don’t? Why do some abandon it and others hold fast despite ill winds?

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āš¾ļø ā€˜New Pope, New Me’: Devout Catholic Baseball Star Finds His Hitting Groove šŸ”Œ

Texas Rangers slugger Jake Burger’s return to form coincided with the election of a fellow Midwesterner as the first U.S.-born pope. Faith is ingrained in the devout Catholic athlete and his family.

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Calvin Robinson’s Behavior Reveals Deficiencies Of Anglican Leadership

(OPINION) If you are a conservative, Bible-believing Christian, there’s a lot to like about the Rev. Calvin Robinson. His behavior of the past few years has demonstrated both a sharp mind and an enormous gift for communication, but also an unseemly appetite for controversy and the limelight.

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