Jesus’s flight into Egypt resonates with the symbolism of multiple religions.
Tag Archives: Christianity
Jesus and the Egyptian Gods
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Graham Greene on Real Christianity
Tuesday I applaud Washington Post’s conservative Michael Gerson, architect of George W. Bush’s “compassionate conservatism,” for a recent column using Graham Greene to critique Trump-supporting rightwing evangelicals. Applying Greene’s Power and Glory, Gerson essentially accuses these so-called Christians of opting for piety over love. Since Graham’s distinction may be unclear to many, I’ll let Gerson […]
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged Donald Trump, Graham Greene, Power and the Glory, rightwing evangelicals Comments closed
Mary Oliver’s Christian Vision
Spiritual Sunday It has become a tradition with this blog to share a Mary Oliver poem every Easter. Although the poet, who died this past Thursday, wasn’t overtly religious, many of her poems are dramas of grace intervening in a fallen world. She strikes me as the kind of Christian that Emily Dickinson was, finding […]
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged "Egrets", "Fawn", "How I Go to the Woods", Mary Oliver Comments closed
Religion in Class? Teach It, Don’t Preach It
Is academe biased against religion? Maybe to a degree, but religious background is essential for understanding most of the literature we teach.
Emily Dickinson’s “Smart Misery” of Doubt
Emily Dickinson struggled with religious doubt all of her life. Because she desperately wanted to belief, some of her poems show her faith being tested.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged "Of Course I Prayed", "The World is not Conclusion", belief, Bible, Doubt, Emily Dickinson, Faith, Jesus, John Calvin Comments closed
A Debate about Sex, Pullman vs. Milton
This is the 20th anniversary of Philip Pullman’s “His Dark Materials” series, which gives me an excuse for once again tilting with the fantasy author and figuring out my own thoughts on our vexed relationship with sexuality and our bodies. Once again I conclude that Milton goes far deeper into these issues than Pullman does.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged "Boom!", Everyman, His Dark Materials, Howard Nemerov, John Milton, Philip Pullman, Sin Comments closed
Sir Gawain and Celtic Spirituality
“Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” may represent the clash between two strains of Christianity which today we describe as Dominionism and Green Christianity. The 14th century poem definitely comes down on the green side.
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The Cross Recounts the Crucifixion
“Dream of the Rood” tells the story of the crucifixion from the cross’ point of view.
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Enthralled by Anglicanism’s Theatricality
Spiritual Sunday Last month I posted on a wonderful Alice Munro short story, “The Age of Faith,” about a girl wrestling with issues of faith. In today’s post I look specifically at the protagonist’s experience with the town’s Anglican church since I myself am Anglican (or, as we call it in America, Episcopalian). Most of […]
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged "Age of Faith", Alice Munro, Anglicanism, Episcopalianism, religious faith Comments closed
