Tag: culture
-
Belonging and Exclusion – A Conversation
The latest issue of the Christian Courier takes the question of belonging as its theme, with a particular focus on issues of race and culture. Here is my “column” for this issue. __________________ The theme of belonging is rich with challenge and possibility and it seemed to me that I would do better not to…
-
The language of death – new column #MAID
We all know the power of language within public debates. In such debates, most participants will use language that aligns their point of view with that of the wider culture. And most will try to distance themselves, lexically, from attitudes and actions that have negative connotations. In the abortion debate, for example, both sides describe…
-
Daycare Debate (reprised)
There is, we discovered, no dearth of lines available to sooth parents who are wracked by guilt and fear in sending their child off to be cared for by near-strangers.
-
“may I have a word” — confession and correction #sermon
Has anyone every pulled you aside and said: “You know, what you are doing is really not a great idea.” Has anyone ever pulled you aside and said: “You know, you better stop and think about what you’re saying.” When someone pulls you aside it’s generally because they care about you – they want to…
-
esteem for the everyday – Mary, Weaving, and Peruvian culture
At the Musée des beaux-arts the other day, visiting the exhibition on Peruvian art and culture, I was intrigued with this 18th century (Cuzco School) painting of Mary. The painting owes a great deal to European traditions – both artistic and religious/cultural – and to some extent represents the effort to convert Inca peoples to…
-
gospel and the gazette
The beginning of a short sermon series – this week, looking at transformation through travel… ______________________ A few decades ago the Swiss theologian Karl Barth offered a suggestion to young seminary students and theologians, a suggestion we are going to take him up on over the next few weeks. Barth suggested that they read with…
encrusted words 