This papal document—which has not yet been repudiated by the Catholic Church—was the basis for the Christian justification of colonialism and the building of competitive Spanish, Portuguese, British,...
As a committed Christian, I have always struggled with locked doors—doors by which we on the inside lock out the others—Jews, Muslims, Mormons, liberals, doubters, agnostics, gay folks, whomever. The...
I’ve come to see that just as the Doctrine of Discovery was used to justify white Christian supremacy and the exploitation of nonwhites and non-Christians, the doctrine of dominion (Genesis 1:28) is s...
God unleashes history in the beginning. God helps the baby to stand in the beginning. But God is also out ahead, calling history homeward across the field or across the room. God doesn't force it. Som...
We must not define Jesus and his kingdom by fitting them within conventional understandings of kings and kingdoms. Rather, we must judge and deconstruct those conventional definitions in light of Jesu...
Schoolchildren don’t normally learn this poem about Columbus’s second voyage to Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic today): In fourteen hundred and ninety-five, sixteen hundred people he kidn...
Because I follow Jesus, then, I am bound to Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, agnostics, atheists, New Agers, everyone (even religious broadcasters, I was just reminded by a still, small voice). Not o...
In the previous few minutes, I had seen the most beautiful thing that eyes can see: the glory of God shining in the radiance of creation. I had heard the most beautiful thing that ears can hear: frien...
Why is it that the choice among churches always seems to be the choice between intelligence on ice and ignorance on fire? —as quoted by Diana Butler Bass1
We are not scholars researching an ancient Chinese emperor — a matter of objectivity and disinterestedness; we are sons and daughters who want to get to know our father — someone with whom we have an...
I'm raising the question of whether focusing on the afterlife beyond history can unintentionally but tragically lead to the abandonment of this earth and this life.
Whatever ember of love for goodness flickers within us, however feeble or small… that’s what the Spirit works with, until that spark glows warmer and brighter. From the tiniest beginning, our whole li...
People have no idea how strong a pull sex, money, and power have on them until they try to resist their pull.
Never accept and be content with unanalyzed assumptions, assumptions about the work, about the people, about the church or Christianity. Never be afraid to ask questions about the work we have inherit...
I have a confession to make.121 Almost every time I tune in to religious radio or TV, I want to change my religion. I
The statement serves as the basis for what is commonly called the Doctrine of Discovery, the teaching that whatever Christians discover, they can take and use as they wish. It is breathtaking in its t...
The romance of Creator and creation is far more wonderful and profound than anyone can ever capture in words.
Roman throats like the Zealots. Instead, if a Roman soldier backhands you with a blow
One might conclude that these were a few rogue rotten Spanish apples, acting in opposition to their faith. But notice the religious motivation for the cruelty described by Bartolomé: They took infants...
Jesus called disciples so He could send them out as apostles. They were called together to learn so they could be sent out to teach and serve.