Theolog

Living goddesses

What are the limits of cultural relativism? In Nepal, the supreme court is asking whether girls’ rights are violated by the Hindu/Buddhist tradition of choosing one of them, selected at age four or five, to become a virgin goddess. In order to qualify, a girl must possess 32 physical “perfections,” including excellent health, a sturdy body, unblemished skin, very black hair and eyes, attractive hands and feet, small genitalia, a clear voice, no body odor and all her teeth. Oh—and her horoscope must jibe with that of the king. See Dean Peerman's exploration of the issue.

Advent in the waiting room

By Debra Bendis

This week I waited in a hospital waiting room with my mother while my dad underwent surgery to repair an aortic aneurysm (successfully). The staff was cordial and efficient, the coffee was free, and an RN came around every hour or so to give us an update on surgery progress. Still, it was a hospital, and during the eight hour wait we became lethargic, stuck in our chairs except for a few forays into the cafeteria.

The God gap in politics

By David Heim

Despite their strong showing in the November elections, Democrats continue to be plagued by the “God gap” in electoral politics: religiously observant citizens vote overwhemingly for Republicans whereas those who never attend church vote overwhelmingly for Democrats.

Fade of religiously liberal magazines

John Dart responds to the recent story about the closing of several high-profile liberal-leaning religious magazines. The original story suggested the Christian Century was the only exception. It overlooked Sojourners.

Century streetcorner ministry

By Richard A. Kauffman

When I was a pastor I learned to ask people in pastoral care situations how they’d like me to pray for them. I asked this for two reasons: so as not to presume what their felt needs were; and because sometimes they would share with me fears and hopes that they wouldn’t otherwise express.

I think about that approach whenever I pass the street preacher near the Christian Century office . . .

Christmas: how offended should you be?

By Dennis Colby

This is traditionally the time of year when we Christians expect to be offended by the creeping assault on all things Christian by an insidious secularist conspiracy led by such arch-Leftist organizations as the American Civil Liberties Union and Macy's. Our annual hypersensitivity to all things relating to winter holidays has become as joyous a part of the season as caroling, family gatherings, and passing on awful gifts to your distant relatives.

Biblical artifacts at the Sackler Gallery

By Jean K. Dudek

A person walking through the exhibit at the Sackler Gallery in Washington who doesn’t know about the artifacts might think: “Ragged scrap with incomprehensible squiggles.” But someone who knows what they are will be amazed, and want to shout, as I did, “I can’t believe they have that here!”

Gender and the academy

By Jason Byassee

When we white male academic professionals get together, and no one else is around, we occasionally pity ourselves along these lines: “Boy, it sure would be easy to get job x if I were minority y.” Every school has too many white guys and needs minorities or women, so we figure our minority or women colleagues have a leg up for jobs. I’ve never attended an academic conference where I haven’t been in on this conversation several times.

America go home?

By Richard A. Kauffman

Many Americans are hoping that the Iraq Study Group will come up with a magic elixir that will help us find a way through the Iraq mess. But as one pundit put it, the assumption behind looking to the Baker-Hamilton group for a way forward on Iraq is that there is something the U. S. can still do to get the situation under control—when we lost control over the war nearly three years ago.