Locs, Heels, and the Bible

The opening ceremony of the Olympic Summer Games is always a spectacle with its blend of cultures, histories, and artistic expressions from around the world. Yet, there always seem to be killjoy clowns lurking in the arena waiting to find something to b*tch, gripe, and sh*t themselves about. Some person or group will take great offense over cultural representations that don't align with everyone’s beliefs or values. This phenomenon (or is it?) which is visible in the recent ceremony, highlights the power of the lenses through which we view the world. It’s easy to fall into the trap of believing that our way of looking at things, our values, and our moral outlook are the "right" way, and every other ideals are "wrong." Take, for instance, the recent uproar over the artistic depiction that some claimed resembled the Christian Last Supper. The criticism suggested that it was disrespectful and offensive to their religious sentiments. However, such a view often overl...

"Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people." - Isaiah 10:1-2 What would a prophet like Isaiah say about the scammy health insurance system? I feel like the health insurance (and likely other types of insurance) companies would have heard from God. Well, God has not gone silent and still speaks through prophets. I draw on the ancient text to respond to what is certainly acts of oppression by health insurance companies.  Prophets still call out injustices and oppressive systems that marginalize and harm the vulnerable. Today, one of the clearest examples of such systemic injustice is the health insurance industry in the United States. The way these companies operate is nothing short of a scam, with far-reaching implications for individual health, economic stability, and societal well-being. High Cost with Limited Benefits Health insurance premiums in the Unit...

"Ah, you who make iniquitous decrees, who write oppressive statutes, to turn aside the needy from justice and to rob the poor of my people of their right, that widows may be your spoil, and that you may make the orphans your prey!" - Isaiah 10:1-2 (NRSVA) "Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people." - Isaiah 10:1-2 (NIV) Christian nationalism. What in the name of passports is this?? Let's talk. This old and resurging ideology is a potent and dangerous political and cultural framework that conflates faith with national identity, and suggests that the United States is inherently a Christian nation AND that American patriotism is synonymous with Christian devotion. This ungodly craziness is underpinned by the belief that the United States has a divine mandate to be a Christian nation.  The images and language associated with this ideology—such as...