In June 2016, we explored the lives of the Sisters of St. Margaret, an Episcopal order of sisters based in Duxbury, Massachusetts. During this current season of staying at home – for longer periods of time than most of us ever imagined – much has been written about silence, isolation, loneliness, and other results of […]
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Expressing Gratitude for Small Miracles
In order to keep sane during challenging times, it is always fruitful to express gratitude for things that go right or that bring hope. From a progressive perspective in the United States, we do have a few pieces of news for which we can shout “hurrah!” Confederate Monuments Come Tumbling Down In Richmond, VA, the […]
Women’s Occupations in Graeco-Roman Antiquity
We have met some of the women of Graeco-Roman antiquity in the past, especially those that may shed light on the early Jesus movement. We have looked at St. Paul’s female colleagues, a female ceramicist from Crete, the first apostle Mary Magdalene, several women named Salome, the sainted Thecla, and priestesses in pagan religion. This […]
Refuting the Homogeneity Argument: The Evidence is In
Often when the issue of European social safety net practices is broached among Americans the argument eventually turns to the question of our racial and ethnic diversity and our large size versus other countries’ relative homogeneity and small size. The argument asserts that the US cannot (and should not) implement European social practices because our […]
Two Powerful Messages for Our Times
From The Council of the Society of Biblical Literature and Executive Staff of the Society of Biblical Literature A Statement on Black Lives Matter, Right to Protest, and Bible as Prop The Council of the Society of Biblical Literature and Executive Staff of SBL issue the following statement: We are appalled at the murder of […]
The Voting Conundrum: More Impacts from the Coronavirus Pandemic
Shortly after the 2016 election, we discussed voting in the US and in our sister nations around the world. We noted the many initiatives being taken in the US to improve the way we vote in this country. We pointed out that other countries have much better turnout rates, in part because they offer different ways […]
Some Levity and Diversions in the Age of Coronavirus
In case you missed these, here are some offerings pertinent to our current situation. (Several are decidedly critical of the Trump Administration.) Enjoy! Quilted Northern Rustic Weave | Artisanal Toilet Paper Trump impressionist J-L Cauvin in late March on opening for Easter (April 12) Donald Goes to Rome (origin unknown): “I met with Pope […]
So-called “Flushable Wipes:” A Case Study in Hyperindividualism and Striving for the Common Good
One of the more bizarre and annoying fallouts from the COVID-19 pandemic has been the hoarding of toilet paper and other essentials. For weeks, shoppers found the TP shelf of their grocery store completely empty, with only a meager supply of so-called “flushable wipes” available as a substitute. Many psychological reasons have been given for […]
Television Ads in the Age of COVID-19
Watching just a few hours of television in early April 2020 reveals dozens of advertisements for the whole range of goods and services available in our society. Whatever we may think of the American version of capitalism (more properly “hypercapitalism”), it is our economic reality. It is thus an interesting and instructive exercise to examine […]
The Right Reverend Barbara C. Harris (1930-2020): A Tribute
Barbara Harris was a force of nature! (photo here) She crossed to the other side, at age 89, on Friday the 13th of March 2020. This post will be more personal than usual. I had the privilege to know Barbara for 30 years, and here I want to share some memories that one probably cannot […]