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, 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; the power of sin in an editorial about gun control; the power of memory and gratitude in a poem addressed to Jonas Salk.
Our video of the week is an energetic and thoughtful chat I had with ecologist-turned-pastor Andi Lloyd about the ways we and our planet grieve.
Email me: Where do you see power being used well/poorly?
“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.”
“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 . . .”
“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
A word from a subscriber . . .
“A subscriber since 1973, I believe this impressive-looking monthly volume may be your best step forward as to presentation and content.”
