Strong opinions about our articles

One of the joys of being the community engagement editor at the Century is helping to put together the Letters & Comments section in our magazine. For my first several years here, this section of letters to the editor appeared in print only. But we eventually realized that our website is a great second home for these collections—because online we can link directly to the articles that our readers’ letters are responding to. Check out the latest installment, from our June issue, with thoughtful and concise replies (and at times rebuttals) about preaching, atonement, the word “progressive,” the pro-life movement, and more.

The June issue contains not only some interesting letters from readers, but two feature articles about disability. Aaron Brian Davis draws upon several dimensions of disability theology to consider the place disabilities have within the concept of human flourishing. Melissa Florer-Bixler interviews two researchers in the field of disability and religion, and they share about a new resource related to multisensory and embodied worship practices.

Our video of the week features Hebrew Bible scholar Matt Thomas, who has tried to get to the bottom of a Bible translation mystery: Where did the specific wording of the Ten Commandments that is now appearing in some US classrooms come from? Plus a reflection on nonviolence during wartime in Bethlehem and even more great content below!

Jon Mathieu

Honest storytelling, rules for preaching, and more reader feedback

“I agree completely with the premise of your May editorial, and I’m glad to see the case laid out so clearly. I have said for a long time that if Trump were not president, I would have so much compassion for him.” —Grace Cangialosi

by CC readers

The scars of a flourishing human

“Some might suggest that ears are supposed to hear and that their failure to do so is an impairment, regardless of whether it causes negative effects in day-to-day life. But that presupposes a lot. Who or what determines what human bodies are for?”

by Aaron Brian Davis

Where did they come up with this translation of the Ten Commandments?

Scholar Matt Thomas chats with Jon about a Bible translation mystery affecting classrooms in several US states.

In the Lectionary (Ordinary 11A)

The psalmist’s declaration of love is also a declaration of voice.

by Kerry Hasler-Brooks

God’s whole body and ours

“We were curious about how existing multisensory worship experiences were developed for disability inclusion and how this impacted the culture of worship for the whole church.”

Melissa Florer-Bixler interviews Bill Gaventa and Jason Le Shana

Looking out the window in wartime

“In Bethlehem, where I am writing this, it is largely quiet, save for explosions and sirens in the distance. We mostly shelter in place, and I often remind myself to look out the window. On some days, looking out the window feels like a prayer. On others, it feels like resistance.”

by Stephanie Saldaña

A rabbi’s unlikely path

Angela Buchdahl writes honestly about her accomplishments, her hardest moments, and the routine difficulties of showing up in Jewish spaces with a Korean face.

review by Beth Kissileff