Comfortable in the middle

This is the 6th post in the What my decade-long foray into the creation-evolution debate taught me about the human condition (and how it applies today) series . Truth, misinformation, and literacy This is a tough topic to cover succinctly.  In fact, as I’ve been working on this, I realize it will need to be split into two parts - this post addressing literacy in general, and the second post covering subject literacy. The topic of literacy is hugely important right now.  Right now, American society in particular is being inundated with misinformation, unlike anything I’ve seen previously.  The same sort of situation I witnessed happening in the relatively insignificant sideline battles of the creation-evolution debate a decade ago is now playing prime-time in front of the entire country (and world) and involves real consequences to people, spanning battles involving political power and public health.  Misinformation is certainly not new (there are warnings about misi...

  Pop quiz: Fill in the blank.  Complete the refrain of this popular 1960s hymn:  And they’ll know we are Christians by our _______. Purity Power Anger Politics Love As I was perusing the daily personalized video recommendations courtesy of YouTube’s algorithm, I saw a newly posted video featuring this old hymn (watch it below), which I enjoyed during my quick breakfast, before I headed out the door to work.  Here is a link to the sheet music for this hymn .  As I watched it, I felt how appropriate it was to sing this hymn right now, in the midst of multiple divisions in American society and culture.  I also wondered how well the refrain of this hymn is a reflection of the Christian church in America - do they (observers) really know that we are Christians by our love?  What do those outside the church associate with Christians? I certainly know this is complicated by the messaging created by news organizations, and everyone knows that news organ...

I feel like I’m watching an ongoing rerun of the story of Adam and Eve, and the Fall of Man. I have this image in my head that there are many seemingly important issues calling out for our attention and devotion, which are not from God, and are not part of God’s will for those who claim to be in relationship with God.  I see many people fully engaged in these issues, even Christians.  We all have a choice what to focus our attention on.  It doesn’t feel to me that these issues actually warrant the attention, time, and resources of the Christian community. The message of the story of Adam and Eve is how humankind, initially in relationship with their Creator, turns away from God and towards other things which are not meant to have our attention; things that were not intended for our consumption - things that ultimately lead to humankind's separation from God.    (Public domain) Is not the story of Adam and Eve the story of all of us?  Who can say they haven’...