Spirituality & Love

Spirituality & Love — what we offer to readers on this topic...

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Exploring Christians against White Nationalism

Exploring Christians against White Nationalism

A few months ago, guest contributor A. Adar Ayira wrote about keeping the faith in an age of white (supremacist) Christianity. She described the organized actions of Christian-led white supremacists and the threat to people of color and racial equality. She concluded by observing the absence of a visible opposition from white Christians who disagree with how the teachings and values of Jesus are being distorted. She pointed out that white people tend to rely on Black and non-Black people of color to lead the pushback. 

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Exploring the Gifts of Freedom

Exploring the Gifts of Freedom

It’s hard for me not to wonder about freedom and what it means this July. All the chaos and drama in our national discourse lead me to reflect on my personal freedom, and how that connects to my freedoms in the broader community. Today’s post will explore the connection between individual freedom and choices, and community freedom and choices. 

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Editor’s Note for July 9th

Editor’s Note for July 9th

Editor’s Note: I hope you enjoyed your celebration of the Fourth of July week! As mentioned last week, in thinking about my many freedoms, I realized I was free to take a couple weeks off from writing this blog! Critical Conversations will resume next Tuesday, July...

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Summer’s Gifts

Summer’s Gifts

Today’s post is a break for me and you from pondering life’s bigger challenges – structural racism, the 2024 elections, and the many other challenges we face daily.  Summer has always been and continues to be a time to take a break and appreciate.  Here are some reflections on recent summer observations.

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In Ukraine, war takes its spiritual toll

In Ukraine, war takes its spiritual toll

Our little delegation has returned from Ukraine.

Four of us went to that war-torn country, at our own expense, to bear witness to the suffering of the Ukrainian people and to listen to their voices regarding the war. Our focus was on the trauma of war and the mental health of the people, two years after the full-scale invasion by Russia. We also wanted to meet people working with the Ukrainian military, to see how they are holding up and what they need.

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The Forgiveness Man*

The Forgiveness Man*

After the launch of my new story collection, Universally Adored and Other One Dollar Stories (published by Vine Leaves Press), my friend and fellow writer Tom Adams invited me to submit a guest blog post for Critical Conversations, and I thought I should focus on hope.

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KEEPING THE FAITH IN THE AGE OF WHITE (SUPREMACIST) CHRISTIANITY

KEEPING THE FAITH IN THE AGE OF WHITE (SUPREMACIST) CHRISTIANITY

Editor’s Note: This week’s guest author courageously raises a challenging question for white Christians particularly and for all others committed to a world based on love and justice. My friend, anti-racist educator and activist A. Adar Ayira, decries the lack of response to the widespread Christian support for Donald Trump and his racist, oppressive policies. Adar is a founding member of Baltimore Racial Justice Action and the founder of Ayira Core Concepts LLC. Adar and her colleague Rebecca Pobee will join Racial Justice Conversations on Wednesday, May 1 at 5pm eastern time on Zoom to discuss this blog. For info on this session and the Zoom link, email me at [email protected].

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Together: Creating a Holistic Culture of Life

Together: Creating a Holistic Culture of Life

Human life is a precious gift, beautiful and sacred.  The very air sings the vibrancy of humanity– the cooing of a baby, the laughter of children, shared conversations, different cultures, and the worth of each person. Supporting the value and sanctity of life is paramount to the moral and spiritual health of a nation.  But what constitutes life?  Whom do we value and whom do we discard?  Currently, in our culture, there are two divergent ideas of the sanctity, and the importance of life.  We are living a spectrum, where on one end is the life of a woman, her needs and her right to choose whether or not she can support a pregnancy, and on the other end is the right of an unborn child to live.

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About Tom Adams

Tom AdamsTom Adams writes and speaks on topics vital to the intersection of our personal lives with our community and global lives. He has for decades been engaged in and written about nonprofit leadership and transitions, spirituality and spiritual growth, how we each contribute to a more just and equitable world and recovery from addictions and the Twelve Step recovery movement.