Religion Dispatches
…way from the hard work of repentance, who tickle our ears with promises of cheap grace, and offer a vision of the cross of Jesus that has nothing to say to the crosses, and lynching trees, of history. But, if we do, we will be settling for the gospel of Caesar, not the good news of Jesus Christ. Perhaps it is time to put down the chalk, stop drawing pyrotechnical conspiracy theories that play into our worst fears and listen, instead, for the diffi…
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…Nation of Islam’s “Angels of Death,” and eventually plotted to bomb select Chicago buildings and shoot down airplanes over the Chicago skies—though no resume should neglect the routine work of murder, extortion, and theft. Moorish Science? The authors of this book argue that the story of the Black P Stone Nation matters not merely because the Stones are an innovative criminal organization, not merely because the terrorism case against Fort stands…
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…inly cross over into antisemitism. But let us read Rosen carefully. Tzedek Chicago “opposes the very concept of an exclusively Jewish nation-state in historic Palestine.” Not against a “Jewish nation-state” but “an exclusively Jewish nation-state.” This isn’t a claim against the land of Israel as the homeland of the Jewish people. In that regard “Jewish” could be attached to the nation-state that exists there. Just not exclusively, because it’s al…
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…e who consider themselves uninterested in toughness, in police work, or in Chicago; this is a book engaging in serious philosophical reflection on what it means to interpret the world. Consider Preib’s righteous anger about the use of cameras and microphones for constant on-duty surveillance of police officers. He makes sense of this not merely in terms of privacy rights or how such policy exemplifies condescension toward the job of cops; rather,…
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…We have an unprecedented access to cheap goods, yet we must recognize that cheap goods are cheaply made. I am not speaking of quality, I am speaking of cheap labor. We must recognize that through the act of shopping, whether it is for an article of clothing, a toy, a pint of strawberries, or even our morning cup of coffee, we participate in a global economy that values profit over people. Disposable goods are made by disposable people, faceless in…
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…e and faith, McHargue doesn’t avoid the political. During the Gathering in Denver, McHargue connected the liturgical reading of Jeremiah 4:11-12 with contemporary events. He tied the passage’s description of barrenness and destruction to Flint’s water crisis and to Ferguson. McHargue also challenged the concept of the post-racial during the Gathering, explaining that many white Americans believe we live in a post-racial society because they can fo…
Read More…f torture.) I wonder if that came up in the course of the deliberations in Denver. Although the outcome of the meeting, the endorsement of McCain, was predictable, the Denver gathering also illustrates the travails facing leaders of the Religious Right. Aside from Schlafly, none of the old-line leaders of the Religious Right—James Dobson, Pat Robertson, Donald Wildmon, Chuck Colson—were present, which underscores a leadership gap in the Religious…
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…f torture.) I wonder if that came up in the course of the deliberations in Denver. Although the outcome of the meeting, the endorsement of McCain, was predictable, the Denver gathering also illustrates the travails facing leaders of the Religious Right. Aside from Schlafly, none of the old-line leaders of the Religious Right—James Dobson, Pat Robertson, Donald Wildmon, Chuck Colson—were present, which underscores a leadership gap in the Religious…
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…e success either. The opening weekend saw sales of more than $6 million in tickets. That’s the kind of number that will inspire others to try and figure out the formula for the faith-and-family blockbuster. Yet, with the cost of the film reportedly exceeding $30 million, it’s an open question whether or not the Left Behind reboot will get a second installment. The marketing problem of evangelical movies is still, stubbornly, a problem. The general…
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…’ll take care of you.” In return, you’ll vote early and vote often, as the Chicago political machine used to say. The “post-partisan” political faith Obama has come to embrace offers more help than conservatism but fewer guarantees than secular liberalism. It doesn’t demand political loyalty, it asks for earnest acclamation. To conservatism’s business elite and secular liberalism’s political elite, it responds with yet another ruling class: a “res…
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