Plus a note about Twitter, free speech, and public theology.
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Freedom of speech and public theology.
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It seems like many struggles in today's culture wars—whether in good faith or bad—claim that "freedom of speech" is at stake. This has been true in debates about Twitter, both when influential insurrection-starters were kicked off the app and now that Elon Musk is trying to buy the company. (I'm active on the bird app, by the way, so feel free to follow me ([link removed]) and I'll follow back!)
I was reminded of free speech today because I was invited to share in a thoughtful conversation with some Chicago-area clergy in the Chicago Commons Project ([link removed]) . The topic was public theology, and I was fascinated to hear about the ways these leaders engage public issues within their ministry contexts. Their work requires the freedom to speak, often in ways that challenge the status quo and lead to tension or conflict.
This week's new Century articles also include some provocative ideas about faith and culture. Debie Thomas explores just how radical ([link removed]) it is to think of God as a parent. Kathryn Lopez contends that for the book of Job to speak to our actual lives, it must be read as a parody ([link removed]) . Mordechai Beck reviews a Marcia Falk book that provides a feminist version ([link removed]) of the Passover Haggadah. Plus more below!
Email me: Do you use social media? Why or why not?
Jon Mathieu
[email protected]
This week's top articles:
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** God-as-parent is a radical metaphor ([link removed])
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“In this tender season of my life, I’m grateful to be in good company as a mother. Whatever else God might be, God is a parent who knows what it costs to hold and what it costs to let go.”
by Debie Thomas
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** The book of Job is a parody ([link removed])
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”The God of Job plays games with human suffering. Are we supposed to take this God seriously? The answer—via parody—is both yes and no.”
by Kathryn Lopez
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** Giving women a voice at the seder table ([link removed])
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“Poet and liturgist Marcia Falk attempts to correct the gender bias of the traditional Passover Haggadah.”
reviewed by Mordechai Beck
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** Living by the Word for May 8 (Easter 4C) ([link removed])
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Tabitha’s community embraces her in her season after loss.
by Kiki Barnes
Easter 4C archives ([link removed])
Get even more lectionary resources with Sunday’s Coming Premium, an email newsletter from the editors of the Christian Century. Learn more ([link removed]) .
** Byzantine and Catholic ([link removed])
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“The combination of names ‘Byzantine Catholic’ might puzzle many American Protestants—how can you be both Eastern Orthodox and Catholic?—but it speaks to a potent spiritual phenomenon found across very different parts of the Christian world.”
by Philip Jenkins
** Death ([link removed])
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“. . .You reached for Adam, holding him for grief
Wiping away your salt tears with his hand.
Hating and loving Cain, the murderer and thief
Of your loves . . .”
poem by Gracia Grindal
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