by Ken Sehested
’Neath the canyons of vengeance
lies the valley of bones.
Many bones. Dry bones.
Bleached by remorse and hope’s demise.
Child of Eden’s failure and Noah’s fortune.
Forsaken.
Forgotten.
Forlorn.
Author: ppadmin
News, views, notes, and quotes
Signs of the Times • 14 March 2017 • No. 112
¶ Processional. “Feast of St. Brigid of Kildare,” O’hAnleigh.
The sinister side of Judeo-Christian Scripture and tradition regarding women
A brief summary of texts
by Ken Sehested
Thanks to our recent presidential election, more people know the meaning of “misogyny.” As with so many lingering patterns of structural discrimination (which is different from, and far worse than, simple prejudice), gender inequity remains even in societies considered culturally “advanced.”
Within the Judeo-Christian world, resistance to gender equity has deep roots in Scripture and church history. While it is true that alternative texts and traditions can be identified in these sources, it is still imperative that we openly confront and address the elemental texts and pretexts authorizing overt and covert patterns of domination.
Read more ›The things that make for peace
The purpose, promise and peril of interfaith engagement
by Ken Sehested
The only way I know to pluck from the hearts of enemies their desire
to destroy us is to remove from their lives the sense that, for their own physical
and spiritual survival, they must. —David James Duncan
In the early weeks of 2011, during the Arab Spring uprising, Egyptian blogger Nevine Zaki posted a photograph from Cairo’s Tahrir Square. It showed a group of Muslims bowing in prayer, surrounded by other people standing hand-in-hand, facing outward, a human security wall. Zaki affixed this caption: “A picture I took yesterday of Christians protecting Muslims during their prayers.” [1]
Read more ›News, views, notes, and quotes
Signs of the Times • 3 March 2017 • No. 111
¶ Processional. “The Prayer of the Refugee,” Rise Against.
Disciple: Accomplice in consecrated conspiracy
by Ken Sehested
“If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross, and follow me.”
—Mark 8:34
“I like my Bible tales, like Scotch, straight up. . . .”
—U.S. poet Maxine Kumin
Lent is the season when “Moonlight” upstages “La La Land”
A Fat Tuesday meditation
by Ken Sehested
Years ago I preached a Lenten sermon in the form of a defiant open letter to God.
“Dear God. I’ll be brief. Like sucks. And, with all due respect, what does that make you, you being the author of life and all?
News, views, notes, and quotes
Signs of the Times • 23 February 2017 • No. 110
¶ Processional. “Create In Me a Clean Heart (Psalm 51),” Thingamakid children’s choir, Jacobs Jewish Summer Camp.
Songs about immigrants and refugees
I pulled together my list of favorite songs about immigrants and refugees, shared it with some friends, got additional titles, for this chart of 26 songs (in no particular order). —Ken Sehested
• “Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor,” Irving Berlin, using lyrics from Emma Lazarus’ poem, performed by The Zamir Chorale
• “City of Immigrants,” Steve Earle
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Signs of the Times • 16 February 2017 • No. 109
¶ Processional. “What a Wonderful World,” Playing for Change.
