I think Jesus would have had it in him to tolerate Valentine’s Day. But just barely. After all, if you believe what is and isn’t in scripture, to say nothing about how the tradition has dealt with Jesus’ sexuality and love life, it’s pretty clear he didn’t have a sweetheart who would have received chocolates on the Galilean equivalent of our February 14. more

…when the 96th General Assembly adjourned on January 11th, they left one crucial bill on the table. The comprehensive plan to achieve fiscal stability had included not only new revenue but also the issuing of debt restructuring bonds, so that the state could pay back the billions of dollars it owes to agencies, hospitals, schools, and businesses. In fact, the tax increase legislation specifically designated a portion of the new revenue to go towards the paying back the debt-restructuring bond. Unfortunately, the House failed to pass the bill and thus, the Senate never even got a chance to consider it. more

Christians argue with each other about the meaning and relevance of Paul’s exhortation to believers to be subject to the governing authorities (Romans 13:1–2). Obviously a tiny religious minority who revered a man executed as a criminal by the authorities had no leverage to secure its own benefit and liberty in an empire ruled by a pitiless emperor. As Paul saw it, the best chance for the early Christians to survive was to submit to the ruling authorities in all ways without resistance. The reason was simple: this authority had been established by God, so bucking civil authority was bucking God. The fact that civil authority was exploitive and oppressive was not important. Obedience was what was important. more

“Do you recall the story of Sodom and Gomorrah? We are told that had there been ten righteous men, the city would have been saved. For some time now, I have had the sneaking suspicion that there were 10 righteous men, but their righteousness wasn’t relevant. And that, I think, is the problem with the church.” —William Sloane Coffin more

In the fall of 2010, I conducted an education session in a church on the Illinois state budget crisis—agencies closing, human services being gutted, no real hope immediately in sight. The minister came up to me afterward. He apologized for the low attendance: there were only about 7 or 8 people at the session. Why? He tried to explain: “We’ve all heard about these problems, and it doesn’t seem like we can do very much about them. Don’t you ever get discouraged?” he asked. more

Watching the president’s State of the Union address with the self-selected inter-party seating arrangements lowering the usual partisan hype, I found myself wondering whether the civility on display was merely ceremonially contrived for the occasion, or a genuine indication that our politicos recognize the importance of collaborative political work to achieve the common good. more

Why did the Illinois General Assembly just pass a historic tax increase on individuals and corporations? Given our failures to address the state’s growing structural deficit for the past ten years, if not longer, it had no other choice. The critical question now is: “Where do we go from here?” more

If I remember correctly, there once was a time when, by his own admission, Paul Krugman was not particularly active in public debate about policy issues confronting the country and the world…Another Paul, long ago, faced the challenge of fundamental divisions among people sharing the same space. more

Rev. Linda Hanna Walling calls for a radical revolution of values in her Faithful Reform’s blog. more

For the first time in U.S. history, as I learned recently, the nation’s House of Representatives will begin its new session with a complete oral reading of our country’s Constitution. Great idea! more