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Archive: Brian D. McLaren
Exceptionalism can degenerate into superiority
The kind of exceptionalism being proclaimed by too many Americans today is, I think, a recipe for self-delusion and disaster.
By Brian D. McLaren | December 1, 2010; 06:18 PM ET | Comments (9)
Let there be peace in our individual identities
Those who emphasize the similarity of all religions are interested in peace. They're worried that when differences are emphasized, feelings of religious superiority or supremacy will rise, resulting in inter-religious conflict, violence, war, and death. Things well worth being against! Those who emphasize the distinctiveness of all religions are interested in identity.
By Brian D. McLaren | July 6, 2010; 01:23 PM ET | Comments (4)
New kinds of Christianity
I wonder if the Christian community as a whole is intended to deepen in its appraisal of the saturated events of Holy Week year by year, century by century, millennium by millennium.
By Brian D. McLaren | March 29, 2010; 11:32 AM ET | Comments (0)
Lenten season calls us together
If Lent marks an intersection of faith, death, and sin, then it's a good season to think about what I call The Pluralism Question, because we're all keenly aware lately that religion itself can become a force for death and an excuse for some of the most terrible kinds of sin.
By Brian D. McLaren | March 29, 2010; 11:27 AM ET | Comments (0)
The Church and the Sex Question
Amid the loud public debates about gays in the military, the church and the courthouse, private dramas are playing out in agonized prayers and secret tears behind closed doors.
By Brian D. McLaren | March 4, 2010; 09:15 AM ET | Comments (131)
Christian majority's special responsibility
The Christian faith is the largest faith community in the U.S. (and world) by a strong majority, which means that we Christians have to take special pains not to use our advantages inappropriately.
By Brian D. McLaren | January 14, 2010; 12:30 PM ET | Comments (6)
People of faith continue to serve
The most important news story of 2009? Sin abounded in all its forms - personal and social, sexual and financial, racial and religious, private and public. But grace abounded all the more. That, thank God, is good news for everyone.
By Brian D. McLaren | December 28, 2009; 04:05 PM ET | Comments (5)
Wisdom and Compassion
I would say that the most contradictory evidence for faith in God: believers marked more by arrogance than compassion or make-believe than wisdom.
By Brian D. McLaren | October 9, 2009; 10:11 AM ET | Comments (3)
Can't Ignore the Fourth 'R' -- Religion
No doubt, if religion becomes a less-taboo subject in public schools, some will abuse the change as an opportunity for proselytism, and no doubt, others will complain about it.
By Brian D. McLaren | September 1, 2009; 10:41 AM ET | Comments (1)
Ranting on the Right and Left
What remains truly stupid, in my opinion, is for the discussion to stop where it seems to stop among many cable news pundits, sanctimoniously blaming Gates, Crowley, or Obama for this or that transgression.
By Brian D. McLaren | July 25, 2009; 03:49 PM ET | Comments (5)
A Model of Respectful Discourse
The President's speech at Notre Dame was an example of the kind of respectful discourse we need when grappling with issues over which we disagree.
By Brian D. McLaren | May 18, 2009; 10:03 AM ET | Comments (2)
A "Christian" Nation Wouldn't Act This Way
When people tell me that we are or have been a Christian nation, I want to ask, "When?"
By Brian D. McLaren | April 16, 2009; 08:30 AM ET | Comments (10)
God Calls Us to Mutual Care, Respect
I'm sickened when I hear that a person's religion makes him unwilling to let other human beings live in dignity and peace. I'm disgusted when people make it sound like God plays favorites - loving their own kind and hating others.
By Brian D. McLaren | January 6, 2009; 02:32 AM ET | Comments (1)
Warren A Good Choice; Here's a Better One
I would have chosen someone unknown to the media in order to draw attention to the thousands of humble, good-hearted women and men who are serving quietly for the common good, with no public fanfare.
By Brian D. McLaren | December 27, 2008; 02:02 PM ET | Comments (5)
Compassion a Value All Faiths Share
We shouldn't minimize the differences between religions. But when it comes to ethics, there's a lot of truth to Karen Armstrong's premise about compassion. The golden rule or something like it is inherent to the ethical vision of all major faiths.
By Brian D. McLaren | November 12, 2008; 05:19 AM ET | Comments (5)
The Maturing of America
During this election, I felt that our nation was poised between the chance to grow up a little and the chance to prolong its adolescence a little longer. By choosing Barack Obama, I believe, we've chosen to mature into a more responsible and humble young adulthood as a nation.
By Brian D. McLaren | November 7, 2008; 12:21 PM ET | Comments (1)
We Need a Voice, Vision for Healing
Election rhetoric has doubtless increased division in our already divided nation, and so I'm looking for a leader who has the best chance to heal our wounds, to help us get beyond a culture wars mentality, and to pull together to face our challenges and seek the common good. The Obama-Biden ticket seems far better poised for this important task than the McCain-Palin ticket, but it will be hard for anyone.
By Brian D. McLaren | October 31, 2008; 01:29 PM ET | Comments (2)
Convenient "Truths"
Conservative religious leaders believe the New Testament texts regarding women only apply to the church and not the secular world. I find that line of interpretation very convenient for conservative churches, and impossible to justify theologically
By Brian D. McLaren | September 5, 2008; 05:19 PM ET | Comments (54)
Finally, A Thoughtful Conversation with Candidates
Too many journalists habitually turn communication towards a fight narrative, which makes for what some people call "good television." Warren, on the other hand, wanted to create a context for understanding.
By Brian D. McLaren | August 21, 2008; 12:19 AM ET | Comments (5)
The Search for Christian Hospitality
I think that Tim would have interpreted her choice with a "hermeneutic of grace," seeing in her action -- which strictly speaking, did violate Catholic protocols -- as a step of faith, and not as an act of disrespect for his religion.
By Brian D. McLaren | July 10, 2008; 05:04 AM ET | Comments (12)
Which God Don't You Believe In?
When people call themselves atheists, they often mean not that they don't believe in any god at all as the term would indicate, but they don't believe in a particular version or description of God.
By Brian D. McLaren | July 1, 2008; 10:56 AM ET | Comments (16)
Time to Renounce the Renouncing
We should collectively denounce and renounce denouncing and renouncing.
By Brian D. McLaren | April 1, 2008; 01:56 AM ET | Comments (9)
Making Room for New Neighbors
While some might be saying the the Archbishop of Canterbury is guilty of dangerous compromise, I would suggest we are witnessing a sincere attempt to express a truly Christian love of neighbor.
By Brian D. McLaren | February 13, 2008; 08:25 AM ET | Comments (42)
The Moral Cost of Torture
Torturing secretly and then seeking to defend torture as a valid moral option only hardens us in a monstrous identity.
By Brian D. McLaren | November 7, 2007; 05:18 AM ET | Comments (21)
Both Sides Need Help with Facts, Truth
The alliance Wilson calls for is necessary and possible, but its progress will be halting and shallow until both sides experience a deep shift in their thinking.
By Brian D. McLaren | October 24, 2007; 08:15 AM ET | Comments (82)
Faithful Often Fail, Never Give Up
Many of us - inspired by our faith - are devoting our lives to working for justice, compassion, equality, mutual care and respect, and the pursuit of peace and wisdom.
By Brian D. McLaren | September 30, 2007; 05:04 AM ET | Comments (25)
No Pain, No Gain
Sometimes doubt is absolutely essential. I think of doubt as analogous to pain.
By Brian D. McLaren | August 30, 2007; 07:02 AM ET | Comments (30)
The Sermon on the Mount
Matthew 5-7 puts into words what Jesus lived in deed, and it keeps surprising me with new levels of meaning - and challenge.
By Brian D. McLaren | August 15, 2007; 09:12 AM ET | Comments (1486)
Dare to Wonder
For too many people, faith is a kind of "auto-pilot" flight plan.
By Brian D. McLaren | June 15, 2007; 10:35 AM ET | Comments (76)
The Seach for Higher Common Ground
It shows there are more than three alternatives: religious right, religious left, and secular left.
By Brian D. McLaren | June 7, 2007; 08:08 AM ET | Comments (26)
Love Among the Ruins
In times of war, my faith teaches me to look for signs of love gathering around the evil and violence.
By Brian D. McLaren | May 30, 2007; 10:00 AM ET | Comments (523)
on atheism
Atheism, I believe, becomes more popular when religious communities become more corrupt – and especially when their corruption includes violence. This occurred in the decades after the Thirty Years War in European history, and I think we're entering a similar...
By Brian D. McLaren | December 27, 2006; 02:21 PM ET | Comments (18)
Questioning the Question
As with so many questions, we need to respond to “Is America a Christian nation?” with another question: “What do you mean by a Christian nation?” If we mean, “Are the majority of the people in America affiliated with the...
By Brian D. McLaren | December 13, 2006; 06:58 PM ET | Comments (15)
God's Greatness Defeats All Efforts to Monopolize Truth
If we believe that God is so great that our best thought of God is like a child's crayon picture of the sky ...then we'll know that however true, beautiful, and good our knowledge of God may be, it is nothing close to a monopoly
By Brian D. McLaren | November 14, 2006; 06:30 PM ET | Comments (49)
