Political power, religious power, physical power, influential power, and more.

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** Understanding power
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If I gave you a million tries to guess what prompted me to ponder the topic of power last week, I don’t think you could get it. The answer is as funny as it is unlikely: my mom looks like Kevin Bacon. I should note that this is her own observation, not mine. I recently tweeted about it ([link removed]) , with adorable side-by-side photos, and it became my first ever truly “viral” tweet. At the time of this writing, over 277,000 people have seen the post!

Influence—even the online kind wielded by social media “influencers”—is a form of power. This was my first tiny taste of that particular power, and I’m not sure I love the flavor. But my musings caused me to realize how important it is to understand power in its many forms, and I’m glad our magazine helps with that. You can read about both political and religious power in a new piece about Christian dominionism ([link removed]) ; the power of sin in an editorial about gun control ([link removed]) ; the power of memory and gratitude in a poem addressed to Jonas Salk ([link removed]) .

Our video of the week is an energetic and thoughtful chat I had with ecologist-turned-pastor Andi Lloyd ([link removed]) about the ways we and our planet grieve.

Email me: Where do you see power being used well/poorly?
Jon Mathieu
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected]?subject=Re%3A%20Editors%E2%80%99%20Picks)
This week’s top articles:
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** The quiet rise of Christian dominionism ([link removed])
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“Dominionism is the belief that Christians should take moral, spiritual, and ecclesiastical control over society. It has made significant inroads in American evangelicalism over the last two decades—and shaped the political engagement of the religious right.”
by Keri Ladner
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** It’s about the guns ([link removed])
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To get serious about gun control, we’re going to have to try to control the actual guns—not just certain people we don’t trust to have them.
from the editors
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** Andi Lloyd on joining the land’s lament ([link removed])
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An engaging chat about how the planet is responding to climate change.
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** Living by the Word for October 2 (Ordinary 27C) ([link removed])
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These days it seems there are more and more opportunities for collective lament.

by Diane Roth

Ordinary 27C 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]) .


** Dear Jonas ([link removed])
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“Half a century later, I thought to thank you for this.
But too late. Now, my knees wobble, hips
are stiff from age as I traipse through the forest . . .”
by Donna Pucciani


** The priest behind the screen ([link removed])
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“Has any other show explored clerical issues as knowledgeably and sympathetically as Nothing Sacred (1997-1998)? Three in particular stand out—interesting, all from European countries generally regarded as quite secular.”
by Philip Jenkins
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** A word from a subscriber . . .
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“A subscriber since 1973, I believe this impressive-looking monthly volume may be your best step forward as to presentation and content.”
- Louis B. in Houston, Texas

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