I am a juggler. No, not a juggalo. I am a juggler, as in, I know how to juggle. I like to think that knowing how to simultaneously keep three random objects afloat in the air compliments my editorial vocation; after all, to be a good editor, one needs to not only edit multiple essays at once, but also be able to read multiple essays at once. I won’t say that, upon learning how to juggle at age 10 at the Indiana State Fair, I was predestined to be an editor and vigorous reader. But I am a secret Calvinist, so forgive me if I continue to make that connection.
My coworkers here at Sojourners do not identify as jugglers, strictly speaking. But we are all readers and curators who enjoy sharing our favorite pieces of writing with one another.
For example: Who knew the internet had its own patron saint (well, not exactly)? Or that returning to “normal life” would be a bit more challenging than any of us anticipated? Speaking of challenges, Christianity is experiencing its own challenges when it comes to earning trust among BLM activists. Considering how Christianity and hate have become synonymous, that shouldn’t come as a surprise, but perhaps that’s what makes it hurt all the more. There’s much to think about here. Many things feel up in the air.
Below are a mix of stories that will have you scrambling for balance but also encouraging you to regain your focus. You’ll be juggling in no time flat.
1. The Internet’s Unofficial Patron Saint
What could someone who died 1,385 years ago have to say to us about the internet and the spread of disinformation? By Daniel José Camacho via The Revealer.
2. Can Churches Earn the Trust of Young Racial Justice Activists?
Church attendance among young activists is rapidly declining; can anything be done to stop it? By Madison Muller via sojo.net.
3. Our ‘Before’ No Longer Makes Sense. How Do We Live Now?
As we look ahead to life after the pandemic, many people are reflecting on deep, personal questions about loss, love, and how to live. By Elizabeth Dias and Audra D.S. Burch via The New York Times.
4. It’s Time To Rethink American Churches
A new Gallup poll shows church membership is declining at an alarming rate. How might the church respond? By Adam Russell Taylor via sojo.net.
5. Crowdfunding Hate in the Name of Christ
Right-wing extremists have found a safe haven on GiveSendGo, the “#1 Free Christian Crowdfunding Site.” By Talia Lavin via thenation.com.
6. Embracing Your Fragility in the Presence of Affliction
Sharon V. Betcher on hope for souls and societies once the pandemic ends. By Sharon V. Betcher via Sojourners.
7. How Lil Nas X Is Reclaiming Queerness to Proclaim His Own Blessedness
Rev. Jacqui Lewis explores the Black liberation theology roots of Lil Nas X’s Montero (Call Me By Your Name) video. By Rev. Jacqui Lewis via harpersbazaar.com.
8. Called to a Dangerous Oddness
Jesus is that great voice of otherwise, who saw the contradictions of the gospel to the Roman Empire and who acted out an alternative. By Walter Brueggemann via Sojourners.
9. My Heart Belongs to the MonsterVerse
Matt Zoller Seitz on why Godzilla and King Kong deliver more compelling cinematic glory than the other multiverses in the movie business. By Matt Zoller Seitz via vulture.com.
10. A Christian Call for Reparations
Christian theology has been used to legitimate white supremacist realities. We must tell that truth and push forward. By Kelly Brown Douglas via Sojourners.
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