[GUEST POST] Curse you, Norman Rockwell! Wasn’t it you who painted pictures of the idyllic American life? You know the pictures I’m talking about? The ones where the whole family is gathered around the table with angelic faces, adoring gazes, and grateful hearts! No one is sick, no one appears hurt or angry, no one is depressed or drunk. The “perfect” family. Let’s add a little Instagram and Facebook into the equation. Look at that beautiful wedding, those sweet... Read more
SAYING 57: Jesus said, “What the kingdom of the father resembles is a man who had a [good] (kind of) seed. His enemy came at night and scattered grass seed in with the good seed. The man did not let them pluck out the grass,
Many Americans are increasingly concerned about the growing threat of A.I. and whether or not a day is coming soon when Artificial Intelligence overtakes humanity and our rights as humans are disregarded and we become manipulated. For example, just the other day I saw a short video clip on Twitter of an A.I. robot answering the question, “What would be the most nightmare scenario you can imagine with AI and robotics?” The A.I., created by researchers at Engineered Arts, was... Read more
A few decades ago, Christians were arguing over whether or not it was a sin to drink alcohol. Those who supported prohibition were largely Protestant Christians, from both the Republican and Democratic parties, and the Women’s Christian Temperance Union which also helped to drive a grass-roots movement that eventually led to victory. That victory led to a nationwide, constitutional ban on the production, importation, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages from 1920 to 1933. We call it the Prohibition era.... Read more
SAYING 56: Jesus said, “Whoever has become acquainted with the world has found a corpse, and the world is not worthy of the one who has found the corpse.” This may be one of the most straightforward sayings of its kind in the entire
In his novel, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, author Philip K. Dick imagines a futuristic religious movement called “Mercerism.” This new global faith movement centers around a messianic figure known as Wilbur Mercer. Not much is known – or explained – about who Mercer really is, but what we do know is that he is someone who endured intense hatred and persecution during his life and who persevered in spite of the violent opposition against him. Practitioners of Mercerism... Read more
SAYING 55: Jesus said, “Those who do not hate their fathers and their mothers cannot be disciples of me, and those who do not hate their brothers and their sisters and take up their cross like me will not become worthy of me.”
Saying 54: Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor, for yours in the Kingdom of God.” Taking into consideration all we have learned so far from Jesus in this Gospel of Thomas, it should be quite evident what this short saying is all about. The
Imagine, just for a moment, finding a place where you feel safe being who you are. Imagine finding yourself in a room full of people who know how you feel and who accept you just as you are. Your questions are welcome. Your doubts are acknowledged. You feel at home in your own skin. You can breathe. You feel yourself relaxing. You feel seen and known. As you look around you see faces familiar and new. They’re interested in... Read more
Saying 53: His disciples said to him, “Is circumcision beneficial or not?” He said to them, “If it were beneficial, their father would beget them from their mother’s womb already circumcised. Rather, the true circumcision in spirt has proved completely profitable.” This saying suggests
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