Archive for February, 2008
Seeking Faith–The Pew Research
Wednesday, February 27th, 2008Folks in the U.S. are changing religious affiliation in substantial numbers according to a Pew research study released this week. As the headline in the NY Times put it, we’re living a “fluid religious life.”
While the Pew study doesn’t attempt to offer an explanation, it documents churning as people move in and out of religious [...]
Four-year-old Pot Smoker
Monday, February 25th, 2008This story of a four-year-old demonstrating to police how to smoke pot caught my eye. It’s from my former hometown, Omaha.
It reminded me of another story from my current hometown. A teacher recently rewarded her third grade class with those straws containing powdered candy. Most of the kids tore the paper top from the straw [...]
Social Capitalism vs. Charity
Sunday, February 24th, 2008How to end poverty? The question is getting more serious attention today than I’ve seen in several years. Some contend, of course, that the bible says it’s an impossibility. I don’t read the bible that way. The point of Jesus’ often-cited statement (Matt 26:11) was that he was soon to be gone and his disciples [...]
Malaria’s Toll Continues
Thursday, February 14th, 2008Word came from Zimbabwe this week that the daughter of United Methodist Bishop Eben Nhiwatiwa died on Tuesday of malaria. While the disease wreaks havoc among the poor, it’s clear its reach is far wider.
A United Methodist bishop recently told me in Africa he had to step down from presiding at his annual conference because [...]
The End of Malaria
Friday, February 1st, 2008About two years ago I had a conversation with a physician who cautioned, admonished might be a better word, to not call for an end to malaria. It was a call destined to fail, he said.
Knowing he was well-informed about global health, it caused me great caution. His perspective is shared by veteran workers and [...]
The Gospel of Wealth
Friday, February 1st, 2008The gospel of wealth, about which I wrote in the previous post, presents a case for religion as upward mobility. For those who have been left out of the material economy it has a magnetic attraction. But the lifestyle of extravagance typified in the globetrotting television evangelists in private jets that supposedly proves the point [...]