Words and their meanings

I will open this email with a confession: my wife and I recently binge-watched a season of Married at First Sight. On this “reality show,” relationship experts set up arranged marriages—but the newlyweds don’t meet until the altar. MAFS delivers the drama, plus it is a master class in (mis)communication. One groom’s mother advised her son and new daughter-in-law, “Pay attention to how you speak to each other. Words matter.” Spoiler: they didn’t pay enough attention.

Recent articles from our magazine are paying attention to words. Brian Bantum reconsiders the meanings of death and eternal life. Johnathan Richardson cautions that language centered on personal rights may not provide a sure foundation for discourse. Rachel Mann reflects on how a phrase like “protect women and girls” can be used by opposite sides of culture wars.

Our video of the week is a good one! I spoke with CC Screen Time columnist Kathryn Reklis about the importance of two recent films: Women Talking and She Said.

Email me: What TV shows have you been watching lately?

Jon Mathieu
[email protected]

Did God intend for Adam and Eve to live forever?

“Perhaps we miss the possibilities of our life when we believe human beings are intended to be exempt from death.”

by Brian Bantum

The language of rights and its limits

“On the one hand, I felt anti-vaxxers and anti-maskers were misusing the rights language that I hold dear. On the other, I found myself questioning that language and wanting to appeal to something different.”

Twisting words

“In the UK, it has been disconcerting to witness how readily people from the left and right have found common cause in the claim that to better protect women and girls it is necessary to treat trans women, drag queens, and other LGBTQ people with suspicion.”

In the Lectionary for March 26 (Lent 5A)

Martha hears Jesus’ promise, but she has a brother whose body is starting to decay.

[Video] Kathryn Reklis on Women Talking and She Said

CC Screen Time columnist Kathryn Reklis shares her thoughts about two recent films about the power of women’s speech, plus a fun detour to Everything Everywhere All at Once.

“Mister Icarus”

“Whose permission are you waiting for?
How long will you risk not plummeting,
leaving someone else’s hero to the summiting? . . .“

poem by Josh Dugat