Christian – Dr. Cox’s Desk

Dear White Christians

This one is just for the white Christians. If you’re Black, I love you, but there isn’t really anything I can tell you right now that you don’t already know; much of what I have to say here I learned from Black people. If you’re not Christian, then arguing on the basis of Christian scriptureContinue reading “Dear White Christians”

Things That Are Incompatible With Christianity

It’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in the U.S. That means we’ll hear all the usual “I Have A Dream” platitudes. In churches yesterday, hymns were sung along themes to honor the reverend doctor, such as traditional Aftican American spirituals. In the U.S., the word “Christian” is often conflated with conservative, Republican, etc. It’s aContinue reading “Things That Are Incompatible With Christianity”

Escapism and Peace on Earth

Once upon a time, when my father worked for the Department of Defense, I asked him, “What do you want for Christmas?” He paused for a moment on the stairs and answered, “World peace.” “But,” I argued, “then you’d be out of a job.” Then he paused a bit longer this time, looking down asContinue reading “Escapism and Peace on Earth”

Double Feature: Finishing NaNoWriMo and Starting Advent

I’ve got two things that I need to talk about TODAY, so if you’re here for just one, feel free to skip down to wherever you want to start reading. I’ve marked them with section headers. Or, just keep scrolling for both. Finishing NaNoWriMo It’s always a little weird, finishing November. There’s a sort ofContinue reading “Double Feature: Finishing NaNoWriMo and Starting Advent”

Halloween, Grace, and Kindness

If, as it should be, Christianity is marked by a desire to, as scripture tells us, do justice and love kindness (Micah 6:8), if we are truly to love our neighbors and understand that all the people whom God places in front of us are our neighbors, then Halloween is the most Christian of holidaysContinue reading “Halloween, Grace, and Kindness”

Nostalgia and Christianity

Although certainly many people who call themselves Christian today cling to the idea that the past was better than the present, I suggest that nostalgia is incompatible with Christian theology. Nostalgia requires a belief that things were better in the past than they are now or will be in the future, mistrusts youth and newness,Continue reading “Nostalgia and Christianity”